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Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Supreme Court.

“It is a sad day for the Supreme Court and a dangerous day for the Rule of Law.

“The radical assault on our institutions and the Constitution itself has reached a new level with the release of a draft opinion on a major issue facing the Court. Whether you are a liberal, conservative or moderate, the integrity of the Court has been compromised by this outrageous act – an affront to the Rule of Law.

“For over two hundred years, the Supreme Court has been able to deliberate and build consensus without its decisions being compromised in this manner. This has been forever changed by this leak. 

“In America, the radical Left is hell-bent on reshaping institutions that have stood in the way of the outcomes they desire.  They want to pack the Supreme Court to change the current conservative nature of the Court which was achieved through the democratic process. They intend to abolish the Electoral College to shift power away from rural states to large, blue states. They would also have a federal takeover of our state election systems and undermine election integrity.  The radical Left is now calling for the end of the Senate filibuster as a response to the draft opinion being released publicly. This only compounds the problem.  Why destroy the Senate after this outrage against the Supreme Court’s deliberative process? When it comes to outcomes, the radical Left will do whatever they view as necessary – institutions be damned.

“If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, which I believe was one of the largest power grabs in the history of the Court, it means that every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms. That, in my view, is the most constitutionally sound way of dealing with this issue and the way the United States handled the issue until 1973.”

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Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on news the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) awarded the final construction contract for the Berlin G. Myers Parkway in Summerville, South Carolina. This award marks the conclusion of an 18-year process to improve roadway connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance safety within the Summerville area.

“Today’s announcement is great news. One of the best things about this job is working with local, state, and federal officials to get big things done for the future of South Carolina.

“Anybody who has been in Summerville lately knows they need relief when it comes to Main Street. The parkway extension will create a new artery for the people of Summerville and help relieve congestion on the roads. It is going to be a great addition to the community, and I was glad to be part of it.

“Hats off to everybody who has tried to find a way to get to yes. I truly appreciate all the hard work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the South Carolina Department of Transportation, Secretary Christy Hall, State Senator Sean Bennett, Summerville Mayor Ricky Waring, and many others along the way. God bless, and I look forward to the ribbon-cutting.”

Watch Graham’s Full Remarks Here

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Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Pat Toomey

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is urging Congress to create an exclusion process for 301 tariffs as the House and Senate come together to reconcile the differences between the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the America Creating Opportunities, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act.
“American manufacturing must be able to effectively compete with everyone, including China. With a Section 301 tariff exclusion process, American manufacturers will be better positioned to obtain the materials they need for production. As the conference committee coalesces to improve USICA and the COMPETES Act, I strongly urge its members to prioritize the reestablishment of this exclusion process. Failure to allow this remedy will harm our own manufacturers, disadvantaging these companies relative to foreign competitors at a time when we should be enabling their success,” said Toomey.
Senator Toomey offered a motion to instruct (MTI) this week, which recommends the conference committee reestablish an exclusion process for 301 tariffs as part of the consolidated legislation. MTIs serve as nonbinding recommendations for the conference committee.
The prior administration created a Section 301 tariff exclusion process, which allowed American manufacturers to apply for temporary tariff relief on imported components which they were unable to procure from alternate sources. The Biden Administration has thus far failed to fully reinstate this exclusion process, which has resulted in many American manufacturers being unduly burdened by the tariffs even on inputs with no viable domestic source. 
When the Senate considered USICA, Senators Wyden and Crapo introduced an amendment that, among other things, would reestablish the Section 301 exclusion process. This amendment passed the Senate 91-4 with strong bipartisan support; yet, the House failed to include the 301 exclusion process in their own version of the bill. 

Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Pat Toomey

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the following statement after a leaked draft opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was provided to the press.
“Leaking a premature Supreme Court opinion—regardless of subject matter—undermines the Court as an institution and erodes America’s trust in this pillar of our constitutional structure. While the motive behind this leak is unclear, I’m concerned it was released as a political ploy to pressure Justices to change their views when the rule of law—not public opinion—should determine the outcome and reasoning of a case.
“I would encourage each of the Supreme Court Justices to disregard the resulting explosion of heated rhetoric from both sides of the political spectrum as they conclude their evaluation of this case, and I hope, with the leadership of Chief Justice Roberts, that the perpetrator of this gross breach in Court procedure is held accountable.”

Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Pat Toomey

Washington, D.C. – Today, during National Crime Victims’ week, Senator Toomey with the support of nine Senate colleagues introduced the Fairness for Crime Victims Act to ensure that crime victims receive the funding promised to them through the Crime Victims Fund (CVF).
“The money in the Crime Victims Fund belongs to those harmed by child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes, but congressional appropriators instead have withheld this money as a budget gimmick to fund other projects. To stop this injustice, I along with nine Senate colleagues introduced the Fairness for Crime Victims Act, which would require a minimum annual distribution of CVF funds to the rightful recipients,” said Senator Toomey.  
The CVF was created to provide crime victims with the money the federal government collected through fines and penalties from convicted criminals as a result of their crimes. Taxpayer dollars do not contribute to this fund.
For years, billions from the CVF have not been allocated in an intentional attempt by Congressional appropriators to create a façade of savings. No money leaves the CVF, but it creates the appearance that this money is saved, which allows Congress to appropriate funds towards other projects instead of distributing the CVF where it belongs — to victims.
Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) joined Senator Toomey in introducing the Fairness for Crime Victims Act.
“CHILD USA is delighted to see Senator Toomey pushing for justice and service provision for survivors of violent crime with The Fairness for Crime Victims Act.  Ensuring adequate funding to assist child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, and compensation to survivors is essential to assist survivors in escaping and overcoming their abusers,” said CEO and Founder of CHILD USA Marci Hamilton.
Heritage Action, FreedomWorks, the R Street Institute, and the Pennsylvania chapter of Child Advocacy Centers have also voiced support for the legislation.
 
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Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Pat Toomey

Every one of us knows someone who has been impacted by the deadly opioid epidemic. Tragically, illicit fentanyl crosses our borders and ruins too many lives and communities across Pennsylvania and the nation. We must do more to stop the flow of this deadly drug that is 50 times more powerful than heroin.
That is why I introduced the bipartisan Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act. This legislation is a commonsense update to existing law that will hold nations accountable for producing and exporting illicit fentanyl into the United States.
I hosted two events this week – in York and Bethlehem – to hear from those fighting this epidemic on the ground. Our communities are making progress, but it’s going to take all of us – elected officials, law enforcement, health care providers, neighbors and friends – to stem the tide of the epidemic and save lives.
Read more about my visit to York in the York Dispatch.

Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Pat Toomey

On Thursday, I joined a bipartisan majority in the Senate in voting to terminate the president’s national emergency declaration. I explained my thinking on the vote in this op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Why I don’t support Trump’s national emergency declarationBy Senator Pat Toomey
“Illegal immigration is wrong, plain and simple. Until the American people are convinced that we will stop future flows of illegal immigration, we will make no progress on dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants who are here now, and on rationalizing our system of legal immigration. That’s plain and simple and unavoidable.”
Those words were not spoken by President Donald Trump or any Republican. They’re from Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in 2009 — and he was right.
Since then, our government has failed to secure the border. Large numbers of individuals, including some who are violent criminals, cross the southern border illegally. On the dangerous journey to the U.S., many migrant women and children are exploited by human traffickers. And deadly illicit drugs, like fentanyl, are smuggled over the border through and between ports of entry, coming into our towns and ruining lives.
For these reasons, President Trump has sensibly made securing the southern border a central goal of his presidency. Last year, I voted for $25 billion in border security funding because I support him in these efforts to keep Americans safe, including his recent request for $5.7 billion to build 234 miles of physical barriers at the 10 most critical locations as determined by the border patrol.
Unfortunately, when the president’s request came before Congress, Sen. Schumer and his Democratic colleagues changed their position on border security. After having voted for up to $24 billion in funding for physical barriers in 2018, this year, Democrats agreed to fund only a small fraction of the amount needed to build physical barriers.
The president’s most recent predecessors — two Republicans and two Democrats — built physical barriers at the border. None faced the obstruction that President Trump has. This unreasonable opposition led the president to declare a national emergency that reallocates funds from future military construction projects toward construction of physical barriers.
The president has, under existing law, adequate discretion over funding sources that would enable him to secure $5.7 billion without having to invoke emergency powers. Nevertheless, the president decided to declare a national emergency, which gives him virtually unlimited access to funds that Congress specifically dedicated for military construction projects.
I share the president’s frustration and goal of securing the border, but I have serious concerns about his national emergency declaration. Well before the president declared an emergency, I made clear that such a declaration was ill-advised.
While past presidents have, on rare occasions, used national emergency declarations to reallocate federal funds, never has one been used to circumvent duly enacted legislation after Congress refused a president’s funding request.
Our Constitution specifically gives Congress, not the president, the power to authorize federal spending. Congress’ “power of the purse” limits the executive branch from spending the people’s money without the consent of their representatives. This feature reflects a key pillar of our constitutional government: Responsibilities are to be separated between the different branches of government so as to prevent any single branch from centralizing power.
Were the president to successfully circumvent Congress using an emergency declaration, not only would our Constitution’s separation of powers be weakened, but a dangerous precedent would be set. Future presidents, frustrated by Congress, could declare national emergencies to unilaterally advance whatever controversial policy they might favor. It’s easy to envision a Democratic president declaring a national emergency on climate change to impose the very harmful provisions of the so-called Green New Deal. This isn’t just idle fear-mongering. Presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she would declare a national emergency on climate change.
Regardless of the party in the White House, it is unacceptable for presidents to do what the Constitution only gives Congress the responsibility to do. I repeatedly criticized President Obama when he did this by unilaterally rewriting Obamacare, making unconstitutional executive appointments and granting legal status to millions of illegal immigrants.
It was wrong when President Obama did it and it is wrong for President Trump to do so now. It would be wrong for a future president to do it, too, which is why Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah) and I are supporting reforms to the National Emergencies Act that protect the separation of powers. There’s no reason why Democrats, who have said they oppose President Trump’s emergency declaration on constitutional grounds, shouldn’t join us.
I’ve worked with President Trump when I think he’s right and will continue to do so. Together we have gotten many important things accomplished, like reducing taxes and regulations to grow our economy. But I promised Pennsylvanians I would never be a rubber stamp for any president, even one in my own party. While I agree that the situation on the southern border is terrible, I will not support unilateral action by this president or any other president when it undermines fundamental constitutional principles. That is why I joined a bipartisan majority of Senators in voting to terminate the president’s emergency declaration.

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

Washington, DC — Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement: 

“I am excited that the White House will hold a conference on nutrition, hunger, and health this fall. Throughout this pandemic, we have seen firsthand how our nation’s failed food policies have left millions of Americans without access to affordable, nutritious foods and have caused an explosion of diet-related diseases, contributing to much higher rates of hospitalizations and death from COVID-19. By bringing together stakeholders of different backgrounds, including anti-hunger, nutrition, and health experts as well as family farmers and ranchers, I am confident we will begin to chart a new path forward. I look forward to working with President Biden to create a roadmap to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, healthy, and nutritious foods.”

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

Washington, DC — Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:

“The Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade — repudiating nearly half a century of legal precedent in the process — would be an outrageous attack on Americans’ most fundamental rights.

“This opinion would strip people of the constitutional right to make their own medical decisions with their doctor, even in the most extreme and unthinkable circumstances, such as in the case of rape, incest, or if someone’s life is endangered by continuing a pregnancy.

“In recent years Republican officeholders have accelerated their longstanding effort to control, criminalize, and dehumanize people’s most personal reproductive health decisions. Already, 13 states have laws on the books that would automatically ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. And it’s clear that Republicans in Congress are preparing to outlaw and criminalize all abortions nationwide.

“Abortion is health care, and it’s the federal government’s mandate to protect people’s most fundamental rights.”

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), John Larson (D-CT), and Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced legislation that would boost teacher compensation by putting tax money back in their pockets and help diversify the teaching workforce. The bill, called the Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators (RAISE) Act, would provide educators with a minimum of $1000 in refundable tax credits and as much as $15,000.

Through refundable tax credits, the RAISE Act will help boost the compensation of early childhood, elementary, and secondary school teachers. Depending on the level of poverty in the schools educators serve, public school teachers would be eligible for a tax credit up to $15,000. The bill would also double the educator tax deduction, which teachers can use to offset the cost of school supplies, and expand eligibility to early childhood educators.

“Educators are constantly asked to do more and more without any significant increase in their compensation, and often at their own expense,” said Senator Booker. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these hardships, leading many teachers to leave the profession. This legislation would help support educators by using the federal tax code to put more resources back in teachers’ pockets. It’s time to reward our society’s unsung heroes by increasing teachers’ take-home pay.” 

“There’s no greater investment we can make in supporting children and families than supporting the teachers who dedicate their lives to caring for and supporting students,” said Representative Schiff. “Teachers are the bedrock of our public education system – and they deserve fair compensation for the irreplaceable role they play in shaping America’s future. The RAISE Act would deliver long-overdue salary increases to early childhood, elementary, and secondary educators, helping ease the financial constraints that block quality teachers from entering and remaining in the profession. Educators hold the future of the nation in their hands, and it’s past time we honored their service with the fair wages they deserve.” 

“This Teacher Appreciation Day, we recognize the remarkable public servants who work to inspire students across our country each and every day,” said Representative Hayes. “Teachers pour their hearts into educating the young minds that will lead our nation into a brighter tomorrow. Unfortunately, despite their incredible dedication to the profession, far too often educators are overwhelmed with financial burdens that force them to leave the classroom. Teacher pay has not kept pace with that of other professionals, leaving educators feeling woefully undervalued. From shrinking school budgets to overwhelming student debt, teachers are often faced with the difficult decision to leave a career they love just to pay their bills. The RAISE Act closes the wage gap for teachers and acknowledges them as the professionals they are. Supporting our teacher workforce makes our schools and communities stronger.”

“As we recognize Teacher Appreciation Week, I am honored to introduce the RAISE Act alongside my colleagues today to increase teacher pay and do more to recruit and retain educators,” said Representative John B. Larson. “When I served as a public school teacher, it was not possible to make ends meet without working a second job. Today we are taking a step forward toward ensuring teachers are fairly paid for their work and contributions to society.”

“As a former public school teacher for 24 years, I know what a tremendous impact educators have on the lives of their students,” said Representative Mark Takano. “Teachers lay the foundation for a child’s education, and they didn’t waver from that responsibility even in the midst of a pandemic. They deserve to be paid for it. I’m proud to be introducing the RAISE Act with my colleagues to boost teacher salaries, reduce the teacher wage gap, and ensure a high-quality education for students of all ages. Together, we can support our teachers so they can continue inspiring our next generation of leaders and changemakers.”

Specifically, The RAISE Act would:

• Provide all eligible early childhood and K-12 educators with a $1000 refundable tax credit, regardless of the level of poverty in the school in which they teach.
• Create a refundable tax credit of up to $15,000 for eligible public elementary and secondary educators and for early childhood educators with a bachelor’s degree.
• Create a refundable tax credit of up to $10,000 for early childhood educators with an associate degree or a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate.
• Encourage teacher recruitment and retention in under-resourced schools and communities most in need by utilizing a sliding scale for the tax credit, based on school and early education program poverty levels.
• Provide labor protections to prevent the tax credit from being used unfairly in labor negotiations.
• Increase the educator tax deduction from $250 to $500 to offset teachers’ purchases of school supplies, and expand eligibility to early childhood educators 
• Provide at least $5.2 billion in annual mandatory funding for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s Title II (a nearly $3 billion increase), which supports educator recruitment, retention, professional development, and class size reduction, which can improve teaching and learning conditions.
• Create and fund a federal grant program to support and incentivize local educational agencies to increase teacher salaries, and provide related programs to strengthen, retain, and diversity the educator workforce.

The following Senators co-sponsored the legislation: Blumenthal (D-CT), Brown (D-OH), Duckworth (D-IL), Heinrich (D- NM) Menendez (D-NJ), Padilla (D-CA), Van Hollen (D-MD)

“The Raise Act introduced by Senator Booker and Representatives Schiff, Hayes, Larson, and Takano not only recognizes the commitment and dedication of our early childhood, elementary and secondary school teachers, it is a step towards addressing this problem. While giving tax credits doesn’t solve the underpaying of teachers, it will help with district’s recruiting and retaining efforts. The popular child tax credits that so many Americans received in 2021 brought to light positive financial impact tax credits can have on individuals and families’ lives. The bill also rewards districts that maintain or increase salaries with additional grants that can be used for more recruiting and retaining efforts especially in our neediest districts. AFTNJ thanks Senator Booker and Representatives Schiff, Hayes, Larson, and Takano for introducing and advocating for this important and necessary legislation,” said Donna M. Chiera, President, American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ).

“The National Association for the Education of Young Children is proud to support the RAISE Act, which lifts up the valuable work of early childhood educators by boosting their compensation alongside their K-12 counterparts. Increasing educators’ salaries increases both the quality and supply of teaching, and is particularly vital as our nation grapples with a worsening teacher shortage for children of all ages. While long-term, substantial federal and state investment is necessary to increase the baseline compensation for early childhood educators, we appreciate Senator Booker’s tax-side solutions and the inclusion of early childhood educators working across settings in the urgently needed efforts to elevate and invest in the education profession,” said Rhian Evans Allvin, CEO of NAEYC.

“Educators are such vital members of the New Jersey PTA, and we are pleased to see that the Raise Act bill recognizes that our teachers have always gone above and beyond to advocate for our children by working extra hours in a day and reaching into their pockets to make sure their classroom is always well-stocked. This bill will help recruit and retain great teachers and motivate them to continue to educate our children, who are sure to be our future leaders,” said Candy Fredericks, NJPTA President.  

“Every child deserves access to a high-quality educator, yet our nation is facing crippling teaching shortages—broadly, but especially in schools serving students from low-income communities. The RAISE Act will help expand the teaching pipeline by attracting and retaining educators through fair compensation so that every child can benefit from an excellent teacher,” said Shavar Jeffries, President, Education Reform Now. 

“Teachers’ salaries are lower than those of other similarly educated professionals, making it difficult to recruit and retain diverse, highly qualified teachers. The RAISE Act is an important and exciting step to move us toward more equitable access to great teachers for all students,” said Roby Chatterji, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress. 

“Reports have made it clear that the educator staffing crisis denies students from the support that they need.  Through insufficient educator salaries and chronic underfunding to our public schools, we have created an unsustainable model for the educator profession and must start treating educators with the respect they deserve,” said National Education Association (NEA), Director of Government Relations, Marc Egan. “NEA members applaud Sen. Booker and Reps. Schiff, Hayes, Larson, and Takano, for introducing The Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators (RAISE) Act, as it will work to eliminate the wage gap between educators and comparable professionals.”

“Senator Booker and Representatives Schiff, Hayes, Larson & Takano have done what every elected leader needs to be doing – putting public resources toward the greatest impact: our teachers. In the past week alone, new data has shown that inflation-adjusted teacher salaries declined by over $2,179 over the past decade (NEA), that 74% of teachers believe their pay is unfair (Education Week Research Center), and that salaries are the least positive attribute of teaching (Upbeat). This adds to a mounting body of evidence that the RAISE Act is addressing head-on. The Teacher Salary Project has been documenting the strong bi-partisan support for making teaching a financially viable profession. The RAISE Act is the right bill at the right time to right this wrong and chart a new path for the teaching profession,” said Ellen Sherratt, Board President, The Teacher Salary Project. 

“As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation week, it is more important than ever that we give our nation’s teachers the gratitude and support they deserve. They go beyond the call of duty to support our children’s learning and development and ensure they have the tools they need to reach their full potential,” said Anna King, president of National PTA. “We join New Jersey PTA in applauding Senator Booker for introducing the RAISE Act. Investing in our nation’s teachers is an investment in our nation’s future.”

“Teachers—whether they’re early childhood, elementary, middle or high school educators—play a critical role in our kids’ development, helping set them up for social, emotional and academic success and providing a critical foundation for their future. But far too many earn near-poverty wages and often must work second and third jobs to support their own families. Teaching is a profession that needs more respect, more resources and better conditions, so people can stay in these jobs and can do them well. This Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s help boost the compensation of teachers through refundable tax credits and help offset the money these educators spend out of their own pockets. Let’s especially help support and retain educators at high-poverty schools through the tax credits outlined in the RAISE Act. In the midst of teacher shortages, burnout and ongoing political attacks, this bill sends a clear message (and follows it up with action): to value the teaching profession and give teachers the support they need to help their students,” said Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers.

Supporting Organizations: Advance CTE, American Association of School Personnel Administrators, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of Teachers of New Jersey (AFTNJ), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Bank Street College of Education, California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), California Teachers Association (CTA), Californians for Quality Early Learning (CQEL), Center for American Progress (CAP), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Child Care Aware of New Jersey, Child Care Services Association, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), Deans for Impact, Early Edge California, Education Law Center (ELC), Education Reform Now, Every Child California, the Education Trust, First Five Years Fund, First Focus Campaign for Children, Head Start California, Joint National Committee for Languages, Latinos for Education (L4E), Learning Forward, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, National Center for Teacher Residencies, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Education Association (NEA), National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY), National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), National Rural Education Association (NREA), National Women’s Law Center, National Writing Project, Network for Public Education (NPE), New Jersey Educators Association (NJEA), New Jersey Parent Teacher Association (NJPTA), New Leaders, New Teacher Project, Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK), San Diego Unified School District, Southern Education Foundation, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center, Teach for America, Teach Plus, Teacher Salary Project, The Arc, UnidosUS, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA)