In the News
The President has requested $3.7 billion for immigration judges, detention centers, and border patrol agents to respond to a national security and humanitarian crisis he has allowed to develop. The crisis along our southern border is simply a consequence of this Administration’s failure to enforce our immigration laws. Without such enforcement, immigrants from failed countries believe that once they reach U.S. soil, they will be allowed to stay here indefinitely. Making matters worse, children are caught in the middle.
While sitting back and doing nothing is not an option, handing the President a blank check certainly won’t fix the situation either. Rather than asking the American taxpayers to foot another billion dollar-plus bill for something they didn’t ask for, the President should instead start enforcing our laws and using the resources that he already has at his disposal. These include deploying the National Guard to secure the border and sending a clear message to all countries that illegal immigration will not be tolerated. Those who have come here illegally must be deported and promptly returned to their home countries.
I have said time and again, we must secure our border and encourage immigrants to come in the right way. This is why I am a cosponsor of H.R.4962, which would direct the completion of fencing along the southern border, provide for 6,000 new full-time border patrol agents and additional infrastructure to assist Border Patrol, and require more federal collaboration with state and local authorities. Keeping our southern border open and handing free passes to those who cut the line sends the wrong message to those patiently waiting and those seeking to come to our country illegally that we are a Nation of laws meant to be ignored, and that is something for which I will not stand.
Veterans Corner
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act
I joined Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN), Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and several of my colleagues on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee in introducing H.R.5059, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. Named in honor of Clay Hunt, an Iraq and Afghanistan War Veteran and suicide prevention advocate who took his own life in 2011, H.R.5059 would help create a greater accounting of available services and an enhanced community approach to delivering veteran’s suicide prevention and mental health care treatment. Over the past seven years, VA's mental health care staff and budget have grown by nearly 40 percent, but veterans are still committing suicide at a frightening pace. This slow-motion national tragedy is likely to continue as long as the Department of Veterans Affairs sticks to its normal, business-as-usual approach of treating veterans where and how VA wants as opposed to where and how veterans want. I appreciate the support of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and all veterans services organizations who have joined in this collaborative effort in support of our returning heroes. Hearing to Examine How the VA Handles Whistleblower Complaints
In instance after instance at VA facilities around the country, department employees who have spoken out about mismanagement and negligence that harms veterans have been harassed, punished, and in some cases, fired. Meanwhile, VA administrators and executives who have presided over a rash of preventable deaths, patient safety incidents, and long wait times have been rewarded with glowing performance reviews and huge bonuses. The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs met to examine the systemic problems identified by whistleblowers and look at VA’s failure to safeguard them from retribution, as well as explore the steps VA is taking to correct these problems and hold employees who have engaged in whistleblower retaliation accountable. According to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), a federal whistleblower protection agency, VA whistleblower complaints represent more than a quarter of all such matters across the federal government being investigated by the agency. The OSC is currently investigating more than 50 VA whistleblower complaints and has sharply criticized VA’s Office of the Medical Inspector for repeatedly undermining whistleblowers by downplaying their concerns.
Washington Update
H.R.5061 – To amend the Federal Credit Union Act to exclude extensions of credit made to veterans from the definition of a member business loan
Last week, I was proud to introduce H.R.5061, to amend the Federal Credit Union Act to exclude extensions of credit made to veterans from the definition of a member business loan. Once our men and women hang up the uniform, they possess very unique skill sets and leadership traits which can be of great value in the private sector. Currently, credit unions are only able to lend members 12.25 percent of the institution’s assets. This legislation would exempt qualified veterans from that definition and provide greater access to capital for veterans looking to start a small business or pursue other entrepreneurial endeavors. Veterans have proven themselves as talented leaders, and this legislation is just one more step towards showing our appreciation and faith in their abilities. I thank the League of Southeastern Credit Unions for their assistance in this effort and credit unions everywhere for the invaluable services they provide their members and our veterans.
Constituent Voice
I continue to hear from folks from home regarding the plight of veteran U.S. Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi and the President's continued blatant disregard of the law. Support for Expediting Sgt. Tahmooressi's Case
It's now been over 100 days since Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi was arrested on March 31, 2014, by Mexican authorities after crossing the Mexican border with three firearms in his possession. Last Wednesday, Sgt. Tahmooressi had his first hearing before the Mexican federal judge and was later sent back to prison. I have joined my colleagues in sending letters to both Sgt. Tahmooressi’s lawyer, Mr. Fernando Benitez, and Judge Escobedo, urging them to address his case quickly and to take into account the substantial evidence in the case demonstrating how he mistakenly entered Mexico. Sgt. Tahmooressi is a Marine Corps veteran who served our Nation with distinction and honor while enduring two combat tours. If the facts show that Sgt. Tahmooressi is indeed innocent, I continue to urge the Administration to do whatever it can to get this American patriot back home.
Condemning the President’s Taliban Prisoner Exchange
The controversial decision by the President and Secretary of Defense to exchange five senior Taliban detainees for Sergeant Bergdahl, simply speaking, broke the law. Therefore, I cosponsored H.Res. 644, which condemns the Administration’s failure to comply with the lawful requirement to notify Congress of the prisoner exchange. It also expresses Congress’ national security concerns over negotiations with terrorists, declares misgivings about the prospect of similar Guantanamo Bay detainees, and states that the unlawful exchange has jeopardized trust in the Administration’s commitment to work with the legislative branch, which works against the best interests of the United States. This is a significant issue, and in light of all of the numerous other failures of this Administration, must not be swept under the rug.
House Unveils Draft Legislation Authorizing a Lawsuit against the President
The House unveiled a draft resolution that would authorize a lawsuit against the President for his disrespect of law and failure to uphold the oath of office in which he serves. The House Rules Committee is expected to meet this week to discuss the measure. While the draft resolution focuses specifically on the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, the legislation speaks to the much larger issue at hand, that of the President's executive overreach and indifference to the legislative branch. The fact of the matter is the President has an obligation and duty to uphold the law, not bypass the law or change the law at his choosing.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Constituent Voice