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Tennessee Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger To Host Third Annual Military Academy Day

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Tennessee Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger To Host Third Annual Military Academy Day

Below is a press release from Tennessee Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) is pleased to announce that she will be hosting her third annual Military Service Academy Day for students and their families in Tennessee’s First Congressional District who are interested in learning about the educational opportunities available at the United States Service Academies.

“Attending one of our nation’s elite service academies is a tremendous honor, and I am proud to assist students in East Tennessee who seek to serve our country in the future,” said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. “I am excited to announce my office’s third annual Military Service Academy Day, and connect prospective cadets with representatives from our nation’s military academies. Through sharing their distinct experiences and unique programs with students intending to serve, this annual event is an important opportunity for our nation’s next generation of military leadership.”

Students will have an opportunity to speak with representatives about course selections, extracurricular activities, and more.

The event will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Kingsport Center for Higher Education, located at 300 W. Market Street in Kingsport, TN. Registration begins at 9:00 AM.

RSVPs are required for attendance. Attendees are encouraged to contact Congresswoman Harshbarger’s office for updates and seat confirmations at: TN01.Academy@mail.house.gov.

Representatives from the following Military Academies will be in attendance:

  • U.S. Air Force Academy
  • U.S. Coast Guard Academy
  • U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
  • U.S. Naval Academy
  • U.S. Military Academy – West Point

Missouri Congressman Sam Graves’ Statement on EPA’s Implementation of Supreme Court WOTUS Ruling

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Missouri Congressman Sam Graves’ Statement on EPA’s Implementation of Supreme Court WOTUS Ruling

Below is a press release from Missouri Congressman Sam Graves.

WASHINGTON, DC – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releasing its updated Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule following the U.S. Supreme Court’s May ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case: 

“The Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett was a decisive win for America’s farmers, small businesses, property owners, and those who build our infrastructure. We said from the very beginning that the Biden Administration should have waited on Sackett, knowing how much of an impact the decision could have on their costly, burdensome, and overreaching WOTUS rule. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration’s revised rule barely pays lip service to the Sackett decision. The Court was clear that Clean Water Act overreach is illegal. The Administration is now trying to make Sackett fit with a rule that never should have been issued in the first place. This revised rule ignores fundamental concerns laid out in Sackett and is a missed opportunity to finally end longstanding confusion over what constitutes a WOTUS.”

Background Information:

On February 2, 2023, Graves and Rouzer introduced a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) on the Biden Administration’s flawed and burdensome WOTUS rule.

On March 9, 2023, the House of Representatives approved the Graves-Rouzer resolution with bipartisan support in a vote of 227-198.

On March 29, 2023, the Senate also passed the resolution of disapproval in bipartisan fashion in a 53-43 vote.

On April 6, 2023, President Biden vetoed the resolution of disapproval, siding with far-left environmental activists over everyday Americans, as well as majorities in both Houses of Congress. 

On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court struck down the Biden WOTUS Rule in Sackett v. EPA.

On June 21, 2023, House and Senate Republican committee leaders asked the Biden Administration for a detailed update on their plans to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett.

Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver Introduces Legislation to Protect Voting Rights of Unhoused Americans

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Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver Introduces Legislation to Protect Voting Rights of Unhoused Americans

Below is a press release from Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.

Following the sixtieth anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, announced the introduction of the Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act (Unhoused VOTE Act) in the House of Representatives. Congressman Cleaver, along with Representatives Nikema Williams (D-GA), Colin Allred (D-TX), Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Marc Veasey (D-TX), introduced the legislation this month to protect voting rights and remove barriers that prevent unhoused individuals from registering and voting in federal elections.

“Every citizen of this great nation deserves the right to make their voice heard in our democracy—and there should be no exception for Americans that are temporarily unhoused or who choose to live in nontraditional housing,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Whether or not someone has fallen on hard times financially should not determine that individual’s ability to participate in elections, and the Unhoused VOTE Act will help to ensure that is no longer the case for Americans facing housing instability. As someone who has spent their life advocating for the expansion and protection of voting rights for all Americans, I’m proud to introduce this long overdue legislation with Rep. Williams and fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives.”

“Your housing status shouldn’t determine your ability to vote. That’s why I worked with Congressman Cleaver to include the Unhoused VOTE Act in my voting rights legislative package. Our bill takes an important step to ensuring everyone has free and fair access to the ballot box–no matter your ZIP Code, no matter your housing status,” said Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), co-chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus and the Task Force for Strengthening Democracy.

Specifically, the Unhoused VOTE Act would protect voting rights for unhoused Americans by:

  1. Formally establishing in law that no state may deny an individual the right to vote because they do not have a traditional home—an idea that was first put forth by Congressman John Lewis through the Voting Rights of Homeless Citizens Act;
  2. Setting federal standards and formal protections for voting rights of unhoused people, such as:
    1. Ensuring voting dropboxes are deployed in accessible locations;
    2. Requiring shelters be eligible to be used as a place of residence when registering to vote;
    3. Ensuring that people can use an unsheltered street location in order to vote;
    4. Requiring that an ID issued by a criminal justice entity is eligible for use as voter ID;
    5. Requiring outreach and resources be made available online and to relevant stakeholders; and more.
  3. Conducting a study on the voting rights of unhoused Americans to determine the extent to which unhoused people are able or unable to register and vote in elections; and
  4. Providing grant funding to expand access to voting for unhoused individuals.

The Unhoused VOTE Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Shontel Brown (D-OH), AndréCarson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Al Green (D-TX), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Katie Porter (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Juan Vargas (D-CA).

The Unhoused VOTE Act is endorsed by Campaign Legal Center, National Coalition for the Homeless, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Low Income Housing Coalition, Southern Poverty Law Center, National Housing Law Project, American Civil Liberties Union, Public Citizen, ECU/LAV, Common Cause, Demand Progress, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Care in Action, Voto Latino, National Council of Jewish Women, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Fair Fight Action, Black Voters Matter Fund, People For the American Way, MoveOn, National Council of Negro Women, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), and more.

Official text of the Unhoused VOTE Act is available here.

Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner’s Statement on Steve Scalise Cancer Diagnosis

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Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner’s Statement on Steve Scalise Cancer Diagnosis

Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s diagnosis:

“Nobody is as prepared as Steve Scalise is to take on this new trial, and win.  With his faith in God, the love of his life Jennifer at his side, and his children and loving family there to support him, I know Steve will fight through this and come out stronger and more purpose driven than before. 

“When I lost my father during my first race for Congress, Steve was there for me, stepping in and taking charge at a time when I needed a friend the most.  In the House, he has not just been one of my closest friends, but a true mentor, ally, and partner in our efforts to represent our constituents and the American people in the manner we know best.  While he battles this very treatable cancer, I and countless others are prepared to stand at his side, in whatever manner he needs, to help our Conference keep the promises we made to the American people.  Working together, standing together, and leading as a team, we can meet those goals with Leader Scalise helming the ship and guiding us with his leadership, wisdom, hard work and strong faith.”

Arkansas Delegation Supports Governor’s Request for Major Disaster Declaration

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Arkansas Delegation Supports Governor’s Request for Major Disaster Declaration

Congressman Bruce Westerman, along with U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, and Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, and Steve Womack—wrote to President Joe Biden urging him to support Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ request for a major disaster declaration for Arkansas, Faulkner, Lonoke, Mississippi, Poinsett, Pope and Pulaski Counties due to severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds on June 25, 2023.

“The resourcefulness and resilience of Arkansans in recent months have been impressive; however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in these restoration efforts,” members wrote in the letter.

The letter can be found here and below:

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the State of Arkansas, we are writing to support Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ request to declare a major disaster, pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act, as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds that occurred on June 25, 2023.

As Governor Sanders noted in her request, these storms created enormous amounts of debris, extensive power outages and resulted in the tragic death of two citizens. Thunderstorm activity produced up to grapefruit-sized hail; 60-100 mile per hour wind gusts across Arkansas, Faulkner, Lonoke, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Pulaski Counties; and tornados in Pope and Pulaski Counties. Multiple counties reported widespread power outages, downed trees, and damage to homes. In the aftermath of the storms, many counties were left without power for days, with the heat index in the state reaching up to 115°F in some areas affected.

Based on preliminary damage assessments conducted by FEMA, an estimated $3,736,719 is needed to cover the cost of temporary housing, repairs, and replacement housing, as well as provide for other needs required by citizens of the seven counties mentioned above. The impact on local jurisdictions is staggering and cannot be overlooked. Due to this, we believe the severe magnitude of these weather events warrants supplemental federal assistance.

The resourcefulness and resilience of Arkansans in recent months have been impressive; however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in these restoration efforts. As you know, this has been a tumultuous year for extreme weather events in Arkansas, with two Presidential Major Disaster and Emergency Declarations already declared.

The entire Arkansas delegation is eager to assist in any way possible to ensure expedited evaluation of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices with any questions. We thank you for your support and respectfully ask for your attention and assistance in providing the resources necessary to ensure the safety of Arkansas.

Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack Statement on SEC Private Fund Advisers Rule

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Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack Statement on SEC Private Fund Advisers Rule

The Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), and the Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-4), released the following statement on the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Private Fund Advisers rule.

Chairman Womack and Chairman Huizenga said, “The decision by the SEC to finalize new rules for private fund advisers without addressing its impact on underserved businesses and communities, including emerging minority and women-owned asset managers, is disappointing. Specifically, failing to act upon the congressional directive to re-conduct the economic analysis is the latest example of the SEC’s complete disregard for oversight. While it is questionable at best that the SEC has the statutory authority to finalize this rule, the lack of transparency is even more concerning. We will continue to look for ways to hold Chair Gensler accountable as he pursues another bureaucratic mandate that lacks congressional approval.”

Background:

In July, Womack and Huizenga sent the following letter to the Chair of the SEC, Gary Gensler, and SEC’s Chief Economist, Jessica Wachter, concerning the bipartisan congressional directive to reconduct an economic analysis of the private fund adviser’s rule.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Arkansas Congressman French Hill Statement on Visit to Syria

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Arkansas Congressman French Hill Statement on Visit to Syria

Below is a press release from Arkansas Congressman French Hill.

Rep. French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after visiting Syria on Sunday morning:

“Over the past seven years, I have worked tirelessly as a voice in Congress for the innocent people of Syria who are being brutally murdered by Bashar al-Assad’s regime. I am proud that the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), a non-profit based in central Arkansas, which I represent in Congress, has been a strong advocate in leading humanitarian efforts in the region. Alongside Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), on Sunday, I had the pleasure of visiting both the beautiful children of SETF’s sponsored school for orphans, the Wisdom House, in northwest Syria and their sponsored healthcare residence for chronically ill Syrians, the House of Healing, in Gaziantep, Turkey.

“My trip to the region is a continuation of consultations I have held this year with diplomats and other partners in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Italy to address the Arab League’s initiative to normalize relations with Assad and to discuss the U.S. government’s strategy to dismantle the production and trafficking of captagon, as directed by my bill, the CAPTAGON Act. The Assad regime’s production and distribution of this illegal drug is threatening regional societies and financially fueling Assad’s reign of terror, which must be stopped.

“The Syrian people have endured more than a decade of war, murder, and torture. It is imperative that nations across the globe, including the United States, work together to provide humanitarian aid to the Syrian people and to counter the Assad regime. As a co-chair of the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus alongside Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), I will continue my work in Congress on the issue of Syria and its future. I thank the amazing, dedicated staffs at the Wisdom House and House of Healing for their incredible work in helping the Syrian people and for all Arkansans who support the SETF-backed organizations helping Syrians throughout the region.”

Further Background:

  • Rep. Hill’s CAPTAGON Act passed in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and was signed into law in December 2022. On June 29, 2023, the Biden Administration released their strategy in their report to Congress, which can be found HERE. 

Florida Congressman Gus Bilirakis Postpones Local Forums Due to Hurricane

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Florida Congressman Gus Bilirakis Postpones Local Forums Due to Hurricane

Below is a press release from Florida Congressman Congressman Gus Bilirakis.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis who was scheduled to host a Behavioral Health Forum and a Veterans Town Hall on August 29, 2023,  has decided to postpone both events due to the projected path and impact of Hurricane Idalia.  Information about the rescheduled date and time for both events will be shared publicly as soon as they are confirmed.  In the interim, constituents are reminded to take the threat of this storm serious, adhere to the advice of emergency management professionals, and take all necessary precautions to stay safe and limit property damage.  In addition to monitoring local news reports, any constituent in need of help may call Congressman Bilirakis’s office for assistance.

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