Below is a press release from Georgia Congressman Austin Scott.
U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced that he is hosting a U.S. Service Academy Day on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Ga.
“In order to retain America’s military strength and national security, we need young patriots to continue to join and serve in all of our military branches,” Rep. Scott said. “Our nation’s service academies offer unique opportunities for many students, and I urge interested candidates and their families to attend my office’s Service Academy Day event to gain valuable insight about attending our nation’s service academies.”
Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, along with representatives from several preparatory schools and the GA Army National Guard will be in attendance.
Service Academy Day is free and open to the public. All high school students and their parents are welcome to attend.
Where:
Museum of Aviation – Eagle Building
1942 Heritage Boulevard
Robins AFB, Georgia 31098
When:
Saturday, September 9, 2023
9:00 am- Doors Open
10:00 am – Program with Rep. Scott and Academy Representatives
For more information on the application process or visit here or call Rep. Scott’s Tifton office at (229) 396-5175.
Washington, D.C. – Recently, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL) introduced H.R. 5082, the Revising Existing Procedures On Reporting via Technology (REPORT) Act to help end the online exploitation of children. The original cosponsors of the bipartisan bill include Reps. Susie Lee (D-NV-03), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04).
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) CyberTipline is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children, allowing electronic communication service providers to make reports of activities such as child sex trafficking, enticement of children for sexual acts, and unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child.
“Today, more and more children are using technology which has unfortunately made them vulnerable to exploitation by online predators. The REPORT Act will help fight against the exploitation of children online by strengthening existing reporting procedures and requiring companies to disclose crimes involving child sexual abuse to NCMEC,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “I am proud to champion this bipartisan legislation that will help law enforcement quickly identify and prosecute perpetrators to protect our children from threats online.”
The bipartisan bill would provide much needed reforms to the CyberTipline, such as:
Adding sex trafficking of children and enticement crimes to reporting obligations by websites and social media platforms
Increasing penalties for failure to report exploitative content (fines up to $850,000)
Requires websites and social media platforms to report violations of federal trafficking and enticement
Increases the time evidence that has been submitted to the CyberTipline is preserved by websites and social media platforms to give law enforcement more time to investigate and prosecute.
“Nevada has one of the highest rates of human trafficking in the nation, and a sickening number of those crimes involve children,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “We must have zero tolerance for those who target innocent children for abuse. That’s why we need critical tools like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline to use the most state-of-the-art technology, alongside robust reporting requirements and serious penalties. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Laurel Lee to introduce this bipartisan legislation to protect our children, crack down on human trafficking, and hold those accountable who turn a blind eye to these sickening crimes.”
“We must create a safe environment for children to access the internet without fear of exploitation,” said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. “I am proud to support the REPORT Act, which strengthens policies that shield children from unwanted and coerced interactions online.”
“The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is proud to support the Revising Existing Procedures on Reporting via Technology (REPORT) Act and thanks Rep. Laurel Lee, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Rep. Susie Lee for their leadership in introducing this critically needed legislation. The volume of online child sexual exploitation continues to rise exponentially, and last year NCMEC’s CyberTipline received over 32 million reports containing more than 88 million images/videos and other content concerning child sexual exploitation,” said Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). “The REPORT Act will modernize how CyberTipline data is handled by NCMEC and investigated by law enforcement; enable minors to report sexually exploitative content in which they are depicted to NCMEC; modernize efforts to identify child victims and maintain CyberTipline reports; and facilitate law enforcement investigations by extending retention time for information reported to the CyberTipline from 90 days to one year. NCMEC is proud to support the REPORT Act, and we look forward to continuing our work with Representatives Laurel Lee, Madeleine Dean, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Susie Lee to see this timely legislation become law.”
“Online sexual exploitation of children is a global crime, demanding a global response by government, civil society, the private sector, and survivor leaders. Of the 32 million reports that the CyberTipline received in 2022, nearly 90% resolved to locations outside of the U.S. The sheer volume of reports consistently outpaces law enforcement’s capacity to respond, especially in the Global South. International Justice Mission (IJM) has firsthand experience working alongside under-resourced law enforcement partners in response to this challenge,” said John Tanagho, Executive Director of IJM’s Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children. “Together with NCMEC, IJM’s Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children provides specialized training that builds capacity for investigators to access, review, and act on CyberTipline reports through NCMEC’s Case Management Tool. The REPORT Act will give law enforcement much needed time to triage and respond to CyberTipline reports. Critically, the REPORT Act will also improve the quality of reports ESPs submit, which can have a downstream impact of more victims identified and arrests made.”
“Over the years NCMEC has discussed an electronic submission as a solution for the CVIP process. This idea and concept really excited investigators who felt like this has been needed for some time. Unfortunately, it’s been years since the initial discussion, and we are still left with the mail in option. Most investigators don’t trust this option and they also view the process as time consuming in an already overtasked and overburdened field of work. As a result, we know that our submission numbers aren’t where they should be and we are missing out on the opportunity to help investigators everywhere,” saidDetective Sergeant Chris King, North Florida ICAC Task Force Commander, Gainesville Police Department.
Earlier this year, Congresswoman Laurel Lee introduced the bipartisan National Human Trafficking Hotline Enhancement Act alongside Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) following a letter from 36 attorneys general to Congress expressing their outrage that the Hotline is not reporting human trafficking tips to law enforcement unless the victim self-reports, disrupting the federal-state partnership to end human trafficking. Read the full letter here.
Click here to read the bipartisan Revising Existing Procedures On Reporting via Technology (REPORT) Act.
Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) And Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the REPORT Act in the Senate.
Below is a press release from Alabama Congressman Doug Strong.
Representative Dale W. Strong (AL-05) sent a letter to House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) expressing his outrage over the recent announcement regarding U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) headquarters.
“I find it unbelievable that anyone, upon reviewing the reasoning for the initial headquarters decision which was supported by investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Defense Inspector General, would willingly choose the fifth-place ranked location of Petersen Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO, over the first-place ranked location of Redstone Arsenal,” said Representative Strong.
Representative Strong’s letter calls attention to serious behavior and commitment concerns displayed by senior Department of Defense officials through the USSPACECOM basing process. Strong also notes the Biden administration’s hostile behavior towards the State of Alabama.
“Considering these negligent actions, I strongly urge the Committee to use its authority to compel the Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, and Commander of USSPACECOM, General James Dickinson, to appear before us at the earliest opportunity,” said Strong.
This letter follows the July 31, 2023, announcement that President Biden had selected Peterson Space Force Base to house USSPACECOM headquarters, over Redstone Arsenal, the Air Force’s preferred location.
I write to express my extreme concern and outrage regarding the 31 July 2023 announcement that President Biden has chosen to disregard the U.S. Air Force’s preferred location for U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) headquarters.
In recent months, senior Department of Defense officials have displayed an alarming lack of commitment to the Air Force’s Strategic Basing Process and the strategic interests of the United States, as proven by their contradictory statements and refusal to comply with Committee requests for information and interviews regarding headquarters selection.
I find it unbelievable that anyone, upon reviewing the reasoning for the initial headquarters decision which was supported by investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Defense Inspector General, would willingly choose the fifth-place ranked location of Petersen Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO, over the first-place ranked location of Redstone Arsenal. I share your view expressed in a July 18 letter to Secretary Kendall and General Dickinson: The Department of the Air Force and the leadership of USSPACECOM have engaged in deliberate, taxpayer-funded manipulation of a competitive selection process.
Further, I believe that President Biden’s decision is undeniably malicious, partly driven political factors and by a sense of retribution against the State of Alabama in response to disagreements over its democratically enacted state laws. This decision allows national security to succumb to political preferences, undermines the trust placed within the Department of Defense to uphold the highest standards of integrity, and sets dangerous precedents for future basing decisions.
Considering these negligent actions, I strongly urge the Committee to use its authority to compel the Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, and Commander of USSPACECOM, General James Dickinson, to appear before us at the earliest opportunity.
Rep. William Timmons (R-SC), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY), and Rep. David Trone (D-MD) recently introduced the Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023 to advance federal government innovation through the implementation and use of multi-cloud computing software technology.
“As we modernize the federal government with 21st Century technology, we must ensure that our data is protected,” said Rep. William Timmons (SC-04). “Implementing multi-cloud security helps to prevent leaks of sensitive information, allows for constant monitoring of cyberattacks and exposure risks, and creates centralized visibility. As businesses and the private sector move to multi-cloud technology, the federal government should have plans in place to be prepared for a multi-cloud future.”
“Multi-cloud solutions allow users to distribute data across multiple different cloud systems, and they can improve efficiency, enhance security, and provide increased flexibility for the federal government. However, the federal workforce must have the necessary capabilities to use this technology,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-16). “The bipartisan Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act I’ve introduced will help move the federal government’s IT systems into the 21st Century by directing the federal government to examine how it can adopt multi-cloud computing and what resources it needs to do so.”
“Today, the threats to America’s national security transcend the confines of the physical world and have taken root in the digital realm,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23). “Safeguarding America’s cyberspace is of paramount importance, and the Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023 marks a significant stride in that direction. Our federal agencies must establish robust protocols to shield sensitive national security information and the private data of our citizens.”
“Building a business, I quickly learned that to succeed, you must invest in your people and your toolbox,” said Rep. David Trone (MD-06). “Today, as a Member of Congress, that means ensuring our agencies are equipped with the latest technology to operate efficiently and effectively. Americans deserve top-tier service from our federal agencies, and this legislation aims to help deliver just that.”
Background:
Multi-cloud computing is the simultaneous use of cloud services from more than one cloud vendor or cloud service provider (CSP). For businesses, multi-cloud typically refers to running enterprise applications on platform-as-a-service or infrastructure-as-a-service from multiple CSPs. The primary benefit of using multi-cloud technology is enhanced security because data is broken up and stored across multiple networks and services. Any multi-cloud strategy should include a multi-cloud security solution to help protect against cyberattacks, data loss, and unauthorized access.
The federal government’s shift to cloud-based technologies has created greater efficiencies amongst its agencies, and the adoption of multi-cloud technology can deliver operational consistency and greater resiliency. The Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act requires the General Services Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and United States Digital Service to collaborate and issue guidance as to how agencies can implement multi-cloud computing to increase efficiency and interoperability within federal networks.
Following the announcement of the Department of Justice indicting Former President Trump, Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) released the following statement:
“The latest indictment appears to be an even greater stretch of the law in an effort to destroy Donald Trump,” said Rep. Gary Palmer. “Much of this indictment centers on statements made by President Trump on January 6th that create legal problems for the prosecution in regard to free speech. Regardless of any opinions about President Trump or his statements about the outcome of the 2020 election, President Trump’s statements are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech, especially political speech.”
Rep. Palmer continued, “As some legal experts have already pointed out, this is criminalization of disinformation and misinformation which raises serious concerns about the public’s right to speak openly in opposition to policies they oppose. This is especially troublesome in view of the Biden Administration’s aborted attempt to establish a bureau of disinformation that many believe would have been weaponized against the political opponents of President Biden and the Democratic Party.
Consequently, this indictment falls short of the criminal legal standard for charging anyone and has the appearance of indicting political speech.”
Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Barry Moore (AL-02) introduced the “Securing American Classrooms Act of 2023”, which would use some of the $1 billion in unspent COVID relief funds to provide grant funding for partnerships between schools and local law enforcement agencies to increase school safety and provide jobs for veterans.
“Instead of tolerating the same old, same old Washington status quo and letting unspent COVID funding sit unused in our treasury, my legislation puts that money to use to protect our children and hire our veterans,” said Moore. “The Democrat plan to defund the police and use bureaucracy to take guns away from law-abiding citizens trying to protect themselves is counterproductive and dangerous. We can better protect our children by giving schools the resources to increase security measures and encouraging stronger partnerships between schools and law enforcement.”
The Securing American Classrooms Act of 2023:
Uses $1,000,000,000 in funds currently sitting in our treasury for grants to increase school safety.
Creates a stronger partnership link between schools and local law enforcement agencies.
Ensures that at least one veteran is hired as a school resource officer to receive grant funding.
Read the bill’s text, below.
To make certain amounts available for grants under the COPS program to be used for establishing school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and local school systems by using school resource officers. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing American Classrooms Act of 2023’’.
SEC. 2. IN GENERAL. Notwithstanding any provision of section 9705 of title 31, United States Code, $1,000,000,000 of the funds available in the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund established under that section shall be made avail6 able to the Attorney General, to remain available until expended. The Attorney General shall use such funds to make grants under part Q of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, except that $750,000,000 of such grants may only be made to grantees who certify that they will use such funds for the purpose under section 1701(b) of such part, and who will be hiring at least one veteran as a school resource officer.
From her college career at the Citadel, to her remarks about fellow Republicans, and her humorous remarks at a recent prayer breakfast, Congresswoman Nancy Mace has made headlines throughout the past two decades for a variety of reasons.
“Congresswoman Nancy Mace has the ability to vote according to the needs and values of her district,” Political talk show host Ben Burnett said. “Although she is pro life, she votes in favor of common sense legislation that may prioritize a woman’s right to choose, over her own wishes. She’s also shown that you can have adversity in her personal life, and you can still be desirable to your constituency.”
Mace on Donald Trump
Mace has received praise and criticism from Trump and his supporters for certain public criticisms of former President Donald Trump. After the breach of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, Mace said Trump’s “entire legacy was wiped out” on Jan. 6, 2021. but she has also publicly stated that she would endorse Trump if he were to win the 2024 Republican Party Primary and become the nominee. One fact that may surprise many Trump supporters is that Mace worked as a multistate field director on Trump’s 2016 race. Her campaign media consultant, Chris LaCivita, is one of Trump’s senior advisers. Additionally, Mace’s campaign manager, Austin McCubbin, now serves as Trump’s state director in South Carolina.
Whether or not Trump would consider Mace remains a mystery. Trump called Mace a “grandstanding loser” and a “RINO” in response to her Jan. 6 comments.
When Politico pressed Mace on whether or not she would endorse Trump in 2024, she said “We can’t afford four more years of Joe Biden. I’m willing to bury the hatchet to save the country, and I know President Trump is too.”
Mace attends the same church as Sen. Tim Scott, one of the Republican Primary challengers to Trump, and she introduced Scott at a prayer breakfast last week, where one of her statements went viral within the same day. “When I woke up this morning at seven, I was getting picked up at 7:45. Patrick, my fiancé, tried to pull me by my waist over this morning in bed and I was like, ‘No, baby, we don’t got time for that this morning. I got to get to the prayer breakfast and I got to be on time.’ A little TMI,” Mace, 45, told the event attendees. Mace defended the comments, saying she attends church because she’s a sinner, not a saint. On her official Facebook page, Mace wrote:
“My speech was actually about a very vulnerable time in life and I shed a few tears telling the story about how the church changed my life.
Getting saved 4 years ago gave me the second chance I needed. Finding my faith was also life changing for my family – and we haven’t looked back since.
I am indebted to Tim Scott for guiding me to his church, and I am indebted to our church for helping me get back on track, to find purpose in life and do good; to leave the world better than I found it. We can do all things through him.
Jeremiah 6:16 Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Mace’s Educational Background
Mace’s resume prior to her election to Congress includes a historical milestone at The Citadel, where she was the first female to graduate from the Corps of Cadets, where she received a degree in business administration.
In 2019, Mace successfully advocated for the inclusion of exceptions for rape and incest in a bill for a six-week abortion ban that passed the South Carolina state house.
Mace on Abortion
In a speech on the state house floor, Mace revealed that she had been raped at age 16. She has said she opposes abortion but does not believe the government has the right to tell a victim of rape or incest they do not have the right to an abortion. Mace recently gained attention for her effort to get Republicans to seek a middle-ground compromise with Democrats on the sensitive issue of abortion. Mace criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing a ban on abortions after six weeks. Other policy positions where Mace has gone against the grain include supporting legalization of marijuana and voting to hold ex-Trump chief of strategy Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena calling upon him to testify before the House Select Committee investigating January 6.
Mace on Gun Rights / 2nd Amendment
Below are some of Mace’s comments on gun rights, the 2nd Amendment, and gun control.
“Every time a criminal tragically breaks the law using a firearm, the far left wants to take away the rights of law abiding citizens. This is after the left says they want to defund the police and sparked a new crime wave in our nation’s cities.”
“It doesn’t matter whether or not you like guns – if the 2nd Amendment isn’t safe, neither is the 1st Amendment. The founders believed Americans should have a right to defend themselves, and that the state shouldn’t have the ultimate power.”
“I will never waiver from defending our constitutional rights. I remain committed to opposing laws restricting law-abiding citizens rights. At the same time, I will continue to work to keep guns out of the hands of bad guys.”
“There are several measures we can take to reduce gun violence, but first we have to acknowledge the system is broken. Gun violence is not the result of citizens following the law, it is the result of criminals and those seeking to do real harm, breaking the laws we already have in place.”
“We know gun control doesn’t work. Look at Chicago, where no larger than a 9mm is allowed within the city limits, yet every weekend, on average, more than 50 people are shot every weekend.”
“A recent vote to ban certain firearms for those under the age of 21, won’t put a dent in preventing gun violence because the vast majority of shootings are conducted by those over the age of 21.”
“Here are some reforms to reduce gun violence and keep guns out of the hands of bad guys and yet these solutions also don’t violate the rights of law abiding citizens. We can, and we should, find common ground on these and every issue:
Streamline all criminal records into one database at the state level (combining SLED, counties, municipalities, courts, DNR, etc.).
Streamline and strengthen criminal background checks.
Prohibit the sale of firearms to those who have previously used guns to shoot others (Uvalde).
Allow FBI to use more than a fax machine (no kidding) to communicate information about criminals to state and local agencies. The FBI should be allowed to use phone and internet. Today, they are not.
Provide resources for local law enforcement to utilize a “threat matrix” when certain individuals show disturbing signs or are reported to law enforcement.
Mace on Voter Registration and Election Security
“As a member of the House Election Integrity Caucus, it should be easy to vote and hard to cheat. Strong Voter ID laws go a long way to ensuring the sanctity of our elections.”
“Additionally, we have to stop social media billionaires and private entities from providing funding to state or local election offices to have influence over the election process. Mace co-sponsored H.R. 7117, the Protect American Election Administration Act of 2022.”
“I voted NO on #HR1 in the House and am glad to see the Senate sees it for what it is — a partisan power play to tilt scales in favor of the Left. Leave it to the Left to now go after their own members who are brave enough to say enough is enough. This is why people hate politics.H.R. 1. would give Washington control of every state’s election processes, and so much more. So, for starters, it’s unconstitutional.”
H.R. 1 would:
Impose federal mandates that violate state constitutional election laws
Legalize ballot harvesting nationwide
Prevent states from issuing Voter ID laws
Provide taxpayer funding for political campaigns
Make voter fraud easier than ever before
Mace on Transgender Male Athletes Joining Female Sports Teams
“As the mom of a young female athlete, and as a former athlete myself, I understand the unfair disadvantages these young women feel when a biological male competes against them. Today I cosponsored The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.”
Mace on U.S. Border Security and Illegal Immigration
“Joe Biden’s administration couldn’t be more reckless in its border policies. Can you believe the President mandated vaccines for our troops and border patrol agents, while letting unvaccinated and untested illegal immigrants flood our border with COVID-19?
Biden allows millions of illegal immigrants into our country without vaccines, yet our troops are forced out of the military if they refuse the vaccine? It makes no sense. It’s not putting America and its citizens first.”
Rep. Mace’s questions for David Grusch at a House hearing on UFO’s and UAP’s gained national attention. Grusch, an Air Force veteran who worked with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), recently made international headlines when he claimed to have seen evidence of a secret UFO crash retrieval program.
During the questioning, one exchange included Mace asking if the government had possession of the bodies of UFO pilots.
“If you believe we have crashed craft, do we have the bodies of the pilots who piloted this craft?” Mace asked.
Grusch replied, “As I’ve stated publicly already … biologics came with some of these recoveries, yeah.”
Mace continued, “Were they human or non-human biologics?”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18) led a letter signed by 41 Congressional Republicans to Secretary of Commerce Raimondo, demanding answers about lingering COVID-19 mandates in effect at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) sites.
“Months after Biden acknowledged the end of the pandemic and both the White House and Congress acted to end the COVID emergencies, his administration still harasses Americans with unconstitutional COVID mandates,” Rep. Franklin said. “It’s clear to me Washington liberals who viewed the pandemic as cover to grow the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy have slow rolled returning to normal after the pandemic. Americans are operating business as usual—they expect their government to as well. It’s time the Department of Commerce and NOAA end this overreach, and I thank my colleagues who joined me to demand accountability for this unacceptable abuse of power.”
The Department of Commerce’s own “Workplace Safety” policy forbids pressuring employees or visitors to disclose their vaccine status or other COVID-related information. However, COVID mandates at NOAA facilities including the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) remain in place. OMAO Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) currently requires individuals fill out a “Visitor Clearance form” which inquires about individuals’ vaccination status and physical symptoms.
In electronic correspondence, NOAA personnel informed congressional staff that “[guests] must attest to their vaccination status and be pre-cleared by filling out this form… in accordance with OMAO COVID requirements,” as recent as July 2023. These requirements are inconsistent with the federal government’s posture regarding coronavirus management.
The letter requests the answers to the following questions no later than August 31, 2023:
1. Why is NOAA requiring visitors and guests to report their coronavirus vaccination status after the end of the emergency declaration?
2. How long does the Department and its agencies, plan to screen visitors based on their coronavirus vaccination status?
3. Are Department employees also required to disclose their vaccination status with E.O. 14099 in effect?
a. If so, what is the procedure for employees who refuse to comply?
4. Did the OMAO consult with the DOC COVID-19 Coordination Team and the Office of the General Counsel before implementing any onsite contractor or visitor COVID-19 screening testing requirements?
