Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss)

MISS. DELEGATION REQUESTS FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION FOR MARCH STORMS

Tornadoes, Severe Storms Destroyed or Damaged More Than 150 Homes across State

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), along with U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), and Michael Guest (R-Miss.) today requested that President Joe Biden approve Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’ request for federal major disaster declarations to recover from severe storms across the state in March 2022.

The damage from March storms has strained emergency response resources and capabilities, as more than 150 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and more than $2 million in property damage has been reported.  If approved, the disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts.

“Currently available resources from state and local governments and volunteer organizations are inadequate to meet the state’s recovery needs,” the congressional delegation wrote.  “Significant federal assistance and cooperation are needed for Mississippi to rebuild.”

Read the letter here or below:

Dear President Biden,

In the wake of recent extreme weather that brought dozens of tornadoes to the State of Mississippi, we request your full consideration of Governor Tate Reeves’s recent requests for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act.

We appreciate the continued efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and anticipate expeditious support from the agency in assisting state and local officials in Mississippi as they continue assessing the severity of damages.  Mississippi experienced 27 tornadoes across four counties on March 22, 2022, and then 30 tornadoes across eight counties on March 30, 2022.  Winds topped 100 miles per hour and damaged or destroyed over 150 homes.

As Governor Reeves indicated in his request, the Joint Public Assistance damage assessments conducted by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), FEMA, and other agencies indicated that on March 22, 2022, 68 homes were destroyed or suffered major damage, with more than $1 million in estimated property damage. These tornadoes also injured three people.  Regarding the second disaster declaration for March 30, 2022, additional assessments showed 85 homes were destroyed or suffered major damage, with more than $1 million in estimated property damage and three people injured.

Currently available resources from state and local governments and volunteer organizations are inadequate to meet the state’s recovery needs.  Significant federal assistance and cooperation are needed for Mississippi to rebuild.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.  Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.

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Source: United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss)

HYDE-SMITH ASKS HOMELAND SEC. WHEN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BECOMES A THREAT, RECEIVES NO ANSWER

Appropriations Subcommittee Challenges DHS Secretary Mayorkas in FY2023 Budget Review

VIDEO:  Senator Hyde-Smith Presses Homeland Secretary to Determine when Migrant Influx Constitutes a National Threat.
PHOTO:  Senator Hyde-Smith and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the outlook for the ongoing border crisis projected to get worse in coming weeks, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today pressured Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to define the level at which the record-breaking influx of illegal immigrants becomes a homeland security threat.

During a Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the FY2023 budget request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Hyde-Smith challenging Mayorkas’ assertions that the Biden administration’s border security and immigration policies are working.

“It’s remarkable to me that the Secretary of Homeland Security can’t, or won’t, articulate the point at which the alarming and growing influx of illegal immigrants at the border represents a threat to homeland security,” Hyde-Smith said following the hearing.  “That inability is at the core of the border crisis we’re experiencing today, and it’s only going to get worse.”

In an extended exchange, Mayorkas would not respond specifically to Hyde-Smith’s repeated question:  “At what point, in your judgement, does the growing number of encounters become a threat to homeland security?”

“Like many of my colleagues, I have traveled to the southwest border and seen the admirable work that the Border Patrol agents do on a daily basis.  An unbelievable task,” Hyde-Smith said.  “We’ve heard statistics of border security operations under your leadership versus previous DHS secretaries.  During the month of March, there were 220,000 encounters at the southwest border—220,000.  As Secretary of Homeland Security, would you consider the 220,000 migrant encounters in March a threat to the homeland security?”

Mayorkas instead repeatedly pointed to a six-pillar plan to confront an unprecedented immigration surge when the Title 42 public health rule is lifted on May 23.  Many subcommittee members believe the plan is designed to process migrants into the country more quickly rather than to secure the border.

The overall $97.3 billion DHS budget request includes a request for $375 million to expedite processing of asylum claims and $389 million to reduce asylum petition backlogs.

Related to aircraft manufacturing in Mississippi, Hyde-Smith also asked Mayorkas whether a $20.5 million request for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Light Enforcement Platform aircraft procurement will focus on rotary wing aircraft.  Congress last year appropriated an additional $8.8 million for more light enforcement helicopters.

“Equipping our Border Patrol with the workforce, tools, and technology needed to secure our borders is vital to meet the growing crisis that we face at our southwest border.  As I’m sure you are aware, CBP’s Light Enforcement Helicopter fleet is critical to providing surveillance and supporting Border Patrol agents on the ground disrupting unlawful activity,” Hyde-Smith told Mayorkas.

Also as part of his testimony, Mayorkas attempted to defend his agency’s Disinformation Governance Board, which he downplayed as a “working group.”  Hyde-Smith this week cosponsored legislation to defund and terminate this board.

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Source: United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss)

HYDE-SMITH TO HHS SECRETARY:  YOUR AGENCY LACKS URGENCY IN HELPING THOSE HURT BY COVID-19 VACCINES

Senator Cites Miss. Case during Appropriations Subcommittee Review of FY23 HHS Budget

VIDEO:  Senator Hyde-Smith Cites Mississippi Case in Questioning HHS Injury Compensation Program.
PHOTO:  Senator Hyde-Smith Questions HHS Secretary Becerra.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing the case of a Mississippi constituent, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today asked Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra about his agency’s lack of transparency and urgency in resolving compensation claims filed by people who experienced severe health reactions from COVID-19 vaccines.

Hyde-Smith addressed the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) process during a Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing regarding the FY2023 budget request for the HHS Department.

“I certainly still advocate for the vaccine, and I myself received the vaccine and encourage others to speak with their doctors about receiving it.  However, as with any new medical product, some people will have side effects.  The CICP exists for that very reason.  I am very concerned by the amount of time it takes your agency to process claims and the lack of clarity given to these folks who were adversely affected,” Hyde-Smith told Becerra.

Hyde-Smith cited the case of Cody Flint, an agricultural pilot from Boyle, Miss., who filed a CICP claim after experiencing severe side effects immediately after receiving his first COVID-19 vaccine in February 2021.  The continued serious health issues have prevented him from returning to his job.

“For more than a year, Mr. Flint has been painstakingly going through the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program seeking compensation he may be entitled to based on his experience.  I have worked with him to try to navigate this process, and I have been stunned not only by your agency’s lack of urgency in reviewing such claims, many claims, but also by the total lack of transparency throughout the process,” Hyde-Smith said.  

“He’s totally lost his income,” the Senator added.  “The financial burden is just unbelievable, but the frustration of trying to just get some answers of when something could be done for him for this compensation has been very great.”

Becerra acknowledged the CICP backlog, discussed the need for more transparency, and the required accountability in dealing with cases.  He offered to work with Hyde-Smith on resolving the Flint case.

“We have heard this story on many occasions.  We know that millions have been saved because of the vaccine, but we know many people are still suffering,” Becerra said.

Successfully obtaining CICP compensation, particularly related to COVID-19 countermeasures, is extremely difficult as Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) data indicates.  As of April 1, 2022, of the 7,669 COVID-19 countermeasure claims filed—accounting for more than 90 percent of all CICP claims ever filed—none have received any compensation. 

In March, Hyde-Smith cosponsored the Countermeasure Injury Compensation Amendment Act (S.3810), legislation to reform and improve the CICP process.

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Source: United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss)

HYDE-SMITH SEEKS JUSTIFICATION FOR INCREASING IRS BUDGET

Senate Subcommittee Weighs IRS Budget Requests for FY2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today said funding increases sought by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must be met with “fiscally-responsible decision making” for the agency to overcome persistent backlogs and deficient customer service.

Hyde-Smith, ranking member of the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, questioned IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig at a hearing to review the agency’s FY2023 budget request.  

“The IRS entered this year’s tax filing season with a historically high backlog of unprocessed paper returns and correspondence.  When such issues arise, the IRS usually speaks about the need for more funding,” Hyde-Smith said.  “Despite robust funding, critical IT modernization projects lag, the tax gap remains wide, the backlogs remain high, and customer service is at an all-time low.”

“I believe it is time for these funding increases to be met with fiscally-responsible decision making — decision making that prioritizes the everyday taxpayer and efficiency,” she said.  “I want to ensure that money appropriated to the IRS is no longer diverted away from measures and programs devoted to improving taxpayer services and enforcement.”

The Biden administration’s FY2023 budget recommends $14.1 billion for the IRS, a 12 percent increase over the $12.6 billion provided by Congress for FY2022.  Hyde-Smith noted that $1.0 billion of $3.0 billion in supplemental funding provided since 2020 remains unused.

Hyde-Smith covered a variety of issues with Rettig, including:  efforts to eliminate backlogs that include 3.3 million unprocessed paper tax returns and 380,000 pieces of unopened mail; technology upgrades to prevent future backlogs; poor customer service; harboring data on IRS employees who request COVID-19 vaccine religious exemptions; and other topics.

Additionally, Hyde-Smith sought information on the IRS “Special Delta Initiative,” part of an effort to increase work opportunities in underserved areas.  The IRS in March announced job openings for an automated collection system site in Clarksdale.  

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Source: United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss)

HYDE-SMITH WANTS BIDEN’S ‘DISINFORMATION’ BOARD DEFUNDED

Miss. Senator Cosponsors Bill to Stop all Funding for Homeland Security Censorship Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today helped introduce legislation to prohibit the use of any taxpayer funding for the Biden administration’s new Disinformation Governance Board at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, is an original cosponsor of S.4124, a measure to prohibit the use of federal funds “to establish or support the activities of a Disinformation Governance Board at the Department of Homeland Security, or any other similar entity established in the Department of Homeland Security.”

“All Americans should distrust any government plan to monitor and control what they say or don’t say,” Hyde-Smith said.  “Officials with the Biden administration swear this board won’t censor Americans, but their testimony and other statements make it clear that’s not true.  This is an unconstitutional and terrible idea that needs to be stopped immediately.”

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last week announced the formation of the Disinformation Board, which immediately generated concerns about muzzling free speech rights and drawing comparisons to the “Ministry of Truth” in George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984.  

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced S.4124.  In addition to Hyde-Smith, other cosponsors include Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Kennedy (R-La.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).

Access a PDF copy of the legislation here.

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