Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, joined several Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in response to recent reports indicating that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will stop using “all familial DNA testing” at the U.S. southern border this month. This decision will significantly increase the risk for children to be exploited and trafficked through fraud schemes along the U.S. southern border.

The letter – led by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) – demands that CBP continue to conduct familial DNA testing at the U.S. southern border. In addition to Senators Capito and Rubio, the following senators also joined the letter: Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

“The decision to halt DNA testing at the southern border would be a clear mistake, and just the latest example of the misguided policy decisions the Biden administration has made regarding the southern border. Through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I strongly advocated for and funded efforts to improve our DNA testing capabilities at the southern border. That is because proper testing is crucial to not only the safety of Americans, but also children who were potentially being exploited. The fact that DHS is considering halting these tests is another misstep among a series of blunders made by the Biden administration when it comes to border security,” Senator Capito said.

The full text of the letter is available here and below: 

Dear Secretary Mayorkas:

Recent reporting indicates that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to end “all familial DNA testing” at the U.S. southern border on May 31, 2023. We write to demand that CBP continue to conduct familial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing at the U.S. southern border. 

As you know, familial DNA testing has played a vital role in combatting child trafficking and family fraud. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG), from June 2019 to September 2021, 8.5 percent of all rapid DNA tests came back as “negative for claimed parent-child relationships. ”Further, in fiscal year 2019, CBP noted that “Board Patrol agents identified more than 6,200 fraudulent family members.” This action also follows recent reports and Congressional inquiries pertaining to the Biden Administration’s willful neglect of migrant children who have fallen victim to labor trafficking in the United States.

After years of consistent inadequacy in addressing the crisis at the U.S. southern border and unwillingness to protect migrant children from exploitation, the decision to end “all familial DNA testing” will inevitably result in further exploitation of these desperate children. Specifically, it will enable human smuggling and trafficking and will deepen the pockets of criminal enterprises seeking to traumatize and take advantage of vulnerable families and children. This result is unacceptable and your agency has a responsibility to mitigate and prevent such outcomes.

Given these concerns, we demand that CBP continue to conduct familial DNA testing at the U.S. southern border. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt response. 

Sincerely,

# # # 

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $27,764,717 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana.

“New Orleans is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina’s damage, and Calcasieu Parish is rebuilding from Hurricane Laura. I am grateful this $27.8 million will benefit Louisianians in both communities,” said Kennedy.

The FEMA aid will fund the following:

• $20,990,022 to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for damages from Hurricane Laura.
• $4,683,479 to the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board for Hurricane Katrina.
• $2,091,216 to the city of New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement after the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution urging Congress to pursue a climate and trade policy. 

“Louisiana leads in manufacturing the goods that we all need in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Louisiana’s economy and workers will benefit if U.S. trade laws penalize overseas companies that don’t spend the money that our companies spend on pollution control.” 

The resolution sponsored by House Republican Leader Blake Miguez (R-49) and Senator Caleb Kleinpeter (R-17) is entitled, “A resolution to memorialize Congress to enact a trade policy that supports United States businesses and workers while penalizing global polluters.” 

The resolution notes that “rewarding United States firms for their environmental performance would bolster domestic manufacturing and generate good paying jobs, particularly in rural areas, and reduce dependence on imports from high emitting producers like Russia and China.”

Following its passage, the resolution was transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate, clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Louisiana Congressional delegation.

The Louisiana Senate and House resolution aligns with Cassidy’s efforts to create a “Foreign Pollution Fee.” A Foreign Pollution Fee, coupled with permitting reform, would hold China accountable, expand domestic production, increase opportunities for the American family, and decrease global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Background

Cassidy penned an op-ed in the Washington Times discussing the geopolitical threats China poses to U.S. global standing. Cassidy stressed the need for a U.S. foreign policy towards China that meets at the nexus of national security, energy security, economic policy, and climate policy.

Cassidy recently joined Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax to discuss his foreign pollution fee, noting the competitive advantage China receives from intentionally ignoring environmental standards.

Last year, Cassidy released a landmark energy & climate policy outline in response to the Biden administration’s assault on domestic energy. The outline details how we can successfully reset U.S. energy policy, including Cassidy’s plan for an Energy Operation Warp Speed to cut permitting red tape and unleash domestic energy.

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Source: United States Senator for South Dakota John Thune

During the month of May, we mark Military Appreciation Month, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. It is a time to honor those who have served and continue to serve our nation in uniform and to reflect on the patriotic values that these brave men and women embody. It’s an opportunity to remember those who have fought and died for our freedoms. And it’s a chance to renew our commitment to honor their memory.
South Dakota has a rich heritage of military service. Generations of South Dakotans have left the comforts of home to answer the call to serve. I would guess there are few families in our state that don’t have a family member or a friend who has spent time in uniform. I don’t think this is a coincidence. Small-town values like hard work, integrity, community, and humility shape a desire to work for something larger than oneself. I saw this firsthand in my dad, who grew up in Murdo and flew Hellcats off the U.S.S. Intrepid during World War II. Dad was the embodiment of those small-town values that made his generation of Americans the Greatest Generation, and they’re still the hallmark of those serving today.
It might be hard to imagine how a small-town kid could play a role in world events, but countless South Dakotans, including my dad and patriots like Cecil Harris from Cresbard, have distinguished themselves in advancing the cause of freedom. Nine South Dakotans have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for going beyond the call of duty. Among the South Dakotans who have received the nation’s highest military honor are soldiers like Captain Arlo Olson from Toronto, who died bravely leading an assault in Italy during World War II; Private Herbert Littleton from Black Hawk, who threw himself on a hand grenade to save his comrades’ lives during the Korean War; and Major Patrick Brady of Philip, who, as a Huey pilot, saved 51 seriously wounded men in one day in Vietnam.
Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and guardians do extraordinary things, but when you ask most veterans about their service, they often turn the conversation to those they served with, especially those who never came home. In every generation, South Dakotans have given their lives in defense of our country and the values we hold dear. South Dakota’s fallen are memorialized in monuments across the state, ensuring their sacrifice is not forgotten by the generations who enjoy the freedom that their service helped secure. I was humbled by the recent opportunity to greet dozens of South Dakota Vietnam and Korean War veterans at the war memorials built in our nation’s capital to honor their service and sacrifice to the nation.
On Memorial Day, we honor those who chose service above self and were willing to give their lives for our country. We owe them our eternal gratitude. And we owe it to their memory to preserve the security and liberty they helped protect or, in the words of President Lincoln, to “take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.”

Source: United States Senator for South Dakota John Thune

Federal spending has grown increasingly out of control under the Biden administration. The federal government will spend 40 percent more this year than it did just four years ago, yet the president and Democrats continue to propose more reckless spending and balk at Republicans’ responsible attempts to rein it in. Democrats have added trillions to the debt in the last two years and fueled an inflation crisis with their overspending. And their reluctance to engage in serious negotiations to reduce excess government spending risks precipitating a debt crisis.
At $31.4 trillion, our national debt already exceeds the size of the entire U.S. economy, and it’s projected to rise to over $50 trillion in the next decade. This level of debt is not only unsustainable, it’s unacceptable. Government debt drives up interest rates, crowds out private investment, and weakens America’s economic and national security.  
Just paying the interest alone on this much debt is an increasingly serious challenge. Unless common-sense fiscal policy is prioritized, 50 cents out of every dollar the government borrows over the next decade will go toward making interest payments. In a few years, interest payments will exceed what we spend on national defense, with Medicare and Social Security not far behind.  
Making tough choices today can help ensure we avoid these dire circumstances in the future. But President Biden doesn’t seem to see it this way. He has consistently proposed budgets that call for more federal spending, which he hopes to pay for, in part, with trillions of dollars in tax hikes. But the truth is that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Taxing the rich may be a convenient political slogan, but it will not bring in enough money to dig us out of the hole we’re in. We have to find a way to responsibly rein in federal spending.
Historically, the debt ceiling has provided an opportunity to do just this. The eight largest deficit reduction laws since 1985 have all been attached to debt limit legislation. The president’s refusal to negotiate for three months and his repeated calls for Congress to raise the debt ceiling without any meaningful spending reforms defies precedent and it indicates a lack of seriousness.
There has never been a more important time to address the problem of reckless government spending. The trajectory it’s on now is not just dangerous in the long-run, it can cause serious problems in the not-too-distant future. It’s time for the president to join Republicans in taking this problem seriously and work toward a solution that puts us on a more sustainable and responsible fiscal path.

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

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Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott

Tuesday | May 30, 2023

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the Know Your App Act to increase transparency and provide parents with information to protect their children online in making informed decisions. The bill would require online app stores to display the country where apps are developed and owned.

“Americans should be able to make informed decisions about the online services they use in order to protect their data and security. Requiring app stores to display an app’s country of origin is a common-sense solution that can help them do just that,” said Ranking Member Scott. “Parents shouldn’t fear that their family’s online privacy and security could be compromised when unknowingly using an app owned by a foreign adversary.”

“Our adversaries will exploit every available tool, including popular apps that gather huge amounts of data on Americans, to gain an advantage over the United States,” said Senator Wicker. “It is crucial for users to take steps to limit their exposure and be made aware of the risks associated with using foreign-controlled apps. The Know Your App Act would bring much-needed transparency to app stores, empowering Americans to safeguard their families from exploitation.”

“Seeing ‘Made in China’ on nearly any product nowadays is frustrating to Oklahomans trying their best not to prop up the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese government with their hard-earned money,” said Senator Lankford. “We already see the ways the TikTok app is a dangerous extension of the CCP that is collecting every user’s personal data and all of their contacts. I want the ‘Made in China’ label and labels for any other countries where apps like TikTok originate to be clearly marked when and where they are downloaded. Americans should remain free to buy items from wherever they want, but the least Big Tech can do is label where Americans’ money is going when they download in the app store.”

Additionally, several national organizations have voiced support for the Know Your App Act:

Ryan Walker, Vice President of Government Relations, Heritage Action: “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other adversarial nations view Americans’ personal data as a strategic resource, and they will utilize whatever means necessary to get their hands on it. This includes forcing companies under their jurisdiction to turn this data over if asked, something that malign actors like TikTok-owner ByteDance, is more than happy to do. Senator Tim Scott’s “Know Your App Act” is a serious first step towards protecting Americans’ data by requiring online app stores to tell users where the developers and owners of foreign apps are based and giving them tools to avoid downloading apps from adversarial countries, including China. The Senate should quickly pass this bill, to give consumers the information they need to make an informed choice.”

Michael Stumo, CEO, Coalition for a Prosperous America: “Americans deserve to know when they are downloading apps and purchasing goods from hostile, adversarial nations like China. CPA has long-called for country of origin labeling for goods sold online, and it is common sense to provide Americans with the same information for apps they download.”

Hadley Heath Manning, Vice President for Policy, Independent Women’s Voice: “Independent Women’s Voice, which fights to enhance people’s freedom, opportunities, and well-being, is proud to support the Know Your App Act, introduced by Senator Tim Scott…The reality is that when it comes to the use of online applications and platforms, consumers – and our data – often become the product. We deserve to know who controls the applications we use and to whom they are accountable. Importantly, the bill also gives consumers the option to filter out applications from the list of identified countries so they can protect themselves, and their loved ones, against potential threats. This approach should draw broad support; it offers application users (and parents) information, but still allows them to make their own choices about which apps to download and use. This is common sense.”

Clare Morell, Senior Policy Analyst at The Ethics and Public Policy Center: “Senator Scott’s “Know Your App Act” is a necessary step to provide greater transparency in mobile app stores to U.S. consumers so they can make more-informed decisions about the apps they download. The bill would critically help inform consumers of the country of origin for each app, and have specific warnings for apps that are from countries with adversarial governments to the United States (as designated by the Treasury and Commerce Departments). The “Know Your App Act” would play an important role in preventing the threats to Americans and our children posed by foreign applications, like TikTok and beyond.”

BACKGROUND: 
As of March, four of the five most popular apps in the U.S. were developed in China. This is particularly concerning given that China’s national security laws provide a pathway for the Chinese Communist Party to compel application developers to control an application’s content or user data. 

The Know Your App Act responds to this risk by requiring online app stores to prominently display the country where apps are developed and owned, allowing users to make informed decisions about the applications they access. The bill also requires the U.S. Department of Treasury and U.S. Department of Commerce to produce a list of adversarial governments that may have undue control over application content moderation, algorithm design, or user data transfers. App stores would be required to provide users the ability to filter out applications from the identified adversarial countries and warn users about the risk of downloading one of the foreign applications on these lists. If a developer fails to provide sufficient information to the app store about its country affiliation, the app store would be required to issue multiple warnings over a designated period. If the developer still refused to comply, the app store would be required to remove the app from its store.

Read full text of the bill here. 

Related Issues: 

Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

WASHINGTON, May 30 – The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), will hold a hearing Wednesday, May 31 at 10:00 a.m. ET titled, “Solving the Child Care Crisis: Meeting the Needs of Working Families and Child Care Workers.”

Today, the care workforce at large represents millions of workers across the country, including 2 million child care workers. Despite their important work, on average, child care workers make less than parking lot attendants and pet sitters at just $13.31 per hour, and more than 50 percent rely on public assistance programs.

Meanwhile, child care is increasingly unaffordable and hard to find for working families, who rely on child care to ensure their children are safe and cared for while they go to work each day.

Details
What: Hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions to consider “Solving the Child Care Crisis: Meeting the Needs of Working Families and Child Care Workers”
When: 10:00 a.m. ET, Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Where: Room 430, Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing will also be livestreamed on the HELP Committee’s website and Sanders’ social media pages.
Who:

• Ms. Elizabeth Groginsky, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department
• Ms. Lauren Hogan, Managing Director of Policy and Professional Advancement, National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Ms. Cheryl Morman, Family Child Care Provider and President, Virginia Alliance for Family Child Care Associations
• Ms. Carrie Lukas, President, Independent Women’s Forum
• Ms. Kathryn Larin, Director in Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office