Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Team Emord: Join Ron Paul in Supporting Jonathan Emord for U.S. Senate


Ron Paul knows Jonathan well. He has endorsed him for the U.S. Senate. Jonathan wrote bills for Congressman Ron Paul, including the predecessor to the Right to Try Act signed into law by President Trump. That predecessor bill, the Access to Medical Treatment Act, was introduced again and again by Ron Paul and was blocked every session of Congress by the drug lobby. Then Rand Paul introduced an updated version of the bill Jonathan originally wrote, and this time, with the backing of President Trump, the bill became law. The Right to Try Act saved countless lives by removing FDA from blocking terminally ill patients from having access to experimental treatments.


That is but one of Jonathan's many accomplishments that have saved American lives and liberty. A renowned constitutional litigator and scholar, Jonathan holds the record or defeating FDA censorship in court, eight times, earning him the name "FDA Dragon Slayer." He is one of the few attorneys in American history to defeat the federal bureaucracy repeatedly, gaining him great respect from his colleagues and an AV rating (highest in legal ability and ethics) from the Martindale Hubbell law rating organization. Jonathan's victories have saved countless lives, including those of the unborn.


Jonathan seems destined for his role to restore our republic and uphold the Constitution against those who would replace it with a communist dictatorship. With a boxing legend and career military father and an off-the-charts smart mother, Jonathan had wonderfully patriotic and intelligent role models early in life that inspired him to fight for liberty, against communism and tyranny, and in defense of the American republic his entire career. 


A masterful debater who has outperformed the best attorneys the Department of Justice has to offer, Jonathan will defeat Kaine. But even Jonathan can't win this fight alone. The June primaries are our battleground to oust career politicians like Tim Kaine. Your support is the ammunition we need.

Nick Freitas at Young Leaders Summit




Gary Bauer: Failing Again, That Terrible Deal

Yesterday, we told you about the absurd statement from White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre on the deaths of three military heroes in Jordan. She referred to them as "folks fighting for the administration." What?!


I realize that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is still recovering from an illness that he lied about. But his statement yesterday sounded like it was written by some of the White House interns who periodically go outside the White House to join the protests against Israel.


Every administration spokesman I heard yesterday began by saying, "We're not looking for a major war with Iran." Who are they trying to reassure? The American people or the ayatollah?


But not once did I see the level of anger that Biden routinely directs against the governor of Texas for securing the border.


Or against Americans who did their own research and decided they didn't want the COVID vaccine.


Or against frustrated parents who don't want their children subjected to leftist indoctrination.


Or pro-life activists who don't believe innocent babies deserve to be ripped apart.


I could come up with more examples of Americans who are threatened, put on "watch lists" and treated with a mailed fist by our own government.


But if you're the mullahs of Iran, the Houthis or the terrorists of Hezbollah, the best Joe Biden can come up with is "Don't." That's his foreign policy.


Well, the radical Islamists obviously "don't" care what Joe Biden says. They have attacked us 160 times in the past few months.


This is not worthy of the men and women in uniform whose lives Biden is recklessly sacrificing.




That Terrible Deal


I want to revisit the Senate border security deal and address some of the arguments that are being made by advocates of this disastrous deal.


Defenders, like Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, are blasting the critics for being "political" in their opposition. They claim that the only reason conservatives in the House and Senate, along with Speaker Mike Johnson, oppose this "wonderful bipartisan bill" is because they are afraid it will help Joe Biden by taking the issue off the table.


That's a lie.


Even if the bill had some good things in it, three years of experience under Biden have proven that those provisions would be used to the detriment of our country. Here's a simple example.


Sen. Lankford addressed the frustration many people have that illegal aliens claiming asylum are being released into the country with court dates that are years down the road. We all know they won't show up and we won't be able to find them.


Lankford said the bill has money for 375 additional immigration judges, so these cases can be quickly adjudicated. Well, I'm pretty sure that Sen. Lankford won't be the one picking the judges. Joe Biden will fill these new positions with ACLU open borders advocates.


I would applaud that provision if a conservative were president. Then I would know what kind of judges he would appoint to those courts.


Lankford said the bill adds more Border Patrol officers. We have plenty of Border Patrol officers. The problem is that Joe Biden turned them into babysitters and won't let them do their jobs.


Under a conservative president, I would have more confidence that these additional Border Patrol officers would be allowed to guard the border and stop illegal aliens from entering the country.


But any Republican who thinks Joe Biden will allow them to do that is too dumb to be holding electing office!


By the way, our Border Patrol officers aren't the only ones Biden won't allow to do their jobs. Instead of protecting airline passengers, Biden has redeployed air marshals to the border – not to stop illegal aliens from entering the country but to help process illegal aliens more quickly.  


Incredibly, Lankford and other defenders of this deal are claiming that conservatives are attacking a bill they haven't seen yet. They really should think twice about offering that as a defense. The senators are the ones not letting us see the bill!


This gang of senators has been negotiating for months, and no one (other than themselves and the Biden White House) knows what's in the bill. Speaker Mike Johnson has been totally excluded from the discussions.


Oh, sure, they're promising to give the rest of the Senate a few days to read it before a vote. How many times have we watched massive bills get passed that everyone supposedly read only to find out months later that page 857 does something no one understood?


Why aren't they putting this bill through the normal open and transparent committee process? Will Chuck Schumer allow amendments to the bill? Will he allow open debate on those amendments?


One final point. According to leaks, there is nothing in this deal that restricts Biden's "parole authority," which he has used "at a historic scale" to resettle more than one million so-called "refugees" in the United States. In other words, he has opened the borders in every way imaginable.




Go Home & Ask The People


It seems Senator Lankford has gotten a bad case of "Swamp fever." I'm begging him to go back to Oklahoma this weekend, before this bill hits the Senate floor, to recuperate.


If he announced today that he's going to hold a town hall event in Oklahoma City or Tulsa to ask the people of Oklahoma what they want him to do on border security and immigration, I know he would get a totally different perspective.




A Bad Impersonation


Polling on the border crisis is crystal clear. The American people side with Texas and want the border secured. They support building a border wall by a 17-point margin. They overwhelmingly oppose Biden's handling of the issue.


That's why Joe Biden is suddenly doing a really bad Donald Trump impersonation and claiming that he will shut down the border.


Don't fall for it. He's gaslighting the country again.


Here's the bottom line: Joe Biden has spent the last three years refusing to enforce existing immigration laws and repealing every border security order Donald Trump put into place. Now he's claiming he needs a new law to give him the authority to do what he has refused to do.


By the way, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and "Border Czar" Kamala Harris have repeatedly assured us that "the border is secure." Well, if that's true, then why does Biden need another new law to secure the border?

Dan Stein, FAIR: The Hidden Impacts & Costs of the 2023 Border Invasion


If we don't stop it soon, our country won't be able to deliver any future for Americans. We are already at max capacity. FAIR is out-resourced by the open borders coalition, which is driven by greed and power. Additional firepower is needed right now to help FAIR push Congress, uncover the truth, and drive public opposition at this key moment for our nation. There is so much at stake!

FRC to Co-Host IRF Summit Panel on Religious Freedom Violations in Western Democracies

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Tomorrow, January 31, Family Research Council's Director of the Center for Religious Liberty, Arielle Del Turco, will be moderating a panel at the International Religious Freedom Summit 2024. The panel, co-hosted by International Christian Concern, is titled "Religious Freedom Violations in Western Democracies" and will feature Canada's first Ambassador for Religious Freedom Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett; author and academic theologian Dr. Aaron Edwards; Advancing American Freedom Executive Director Dr. Paul Teller; as well as Alliance Defending Freedom International Legal Counsel Elizabeth Francis.

Today, FRC released an updated edition of its report "Free to Believe? The Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West," which seeks to provide a better understanding of religious freedom violations perpetrated by Western governments against Christian individuals, organizations, and churches. Between January 2020 and December 2023, FRC identified 168 such incidents across 16 countries.

WHO:

Arielle Del Turco, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty, Family Research Council

Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett, Cardus & Canada's first Ambassador for Religious Freedom

Dr. Aaron Edwards, Author & Academic Theologian

Dr. Paul Teller, Executive Director, Advancing American Freedom

Elizabeth Francis, Legal Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom International

WHAT: Panel Discussion on Religious Freedom Violations in Western Democracies

WHEN: Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 1:00pm Eastern

WHERE: Washington Hilton; 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Steve Kirsch's newsletter

Renew America Newsletter



January 26, 2024
To help curb invasion of 'illegals'
TELEGRAM — Donald J. Trump: "We encourage all willing states to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of illegals, and to remove them back across the border. All Americans should support the commonsense measures by Texas authorities to protect the safety, security, and sovereignty of Texas, and of the American people."... (more)

Rep. Bob Good Endorsed by Senator Rand Paul

Today, the Good for Congress re-election campaign announces the endorsement of U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky with the following statement from the Senator:

"Bob Good is one of the few elected leaders that we can count on in Washington D.C. to deliver on his word. He has stood firm against the D.C. elites, and now they are trying to defeat him with one of their own. Bob is a true freedom loving conservative, and has been on the front lines of the fight each and every day while serving the people of Virginia's fifth district.

I hope you will join me in supporting his re-election campaign."

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (KY)

Of the endorsement, Congressman Good said, "I'm honored to have the endorsement of conservative stalwart Senator Rand Paul. He has long been a leader in the fight for freedom in Washington, and I have had the privilege of working with him these past 3 years to reduce the size and scope of government. I am grateful for Senator Paul's support, and Iook forward to continuing to fight alongside him in the future."

The Bull Elephant:

Virginia Senate committee kills bill that would have eliminated 1% grocery tax

Author: Jeanine Martin

Democrats will never, ever, vote to eliminate a tax
Virginia Senate committee kills bill that would have eliminated 1% grocery tax

Mike Clancy: Stand with Texas!





It is time to STAND WITH TEXAS!

We have an unprecedented crisis at our southern border.

For three years now Biden and the Democrats have operated our border as a wide-open gateway for massive illegal immigration that has brought members from terrorist groups into our country, human trafficking, and a fentanyl pipeline to local communities and schools across our country.

Every state is now a border state.

Texas is fighting back to secure its border, to protect its sovereignty, and to protect its citizens. Yet Biden and the Democrats are doing everything possible -- including a lawsuit against the Governor of Texas -- to keep the southern border wide open for illegal immigration and to perpetuate this massive chaotic crisis.





Texas has every right to protect its sovereignty and its citizens.

Article 1, section 10 of the Constitution provides a state the right to act when there is "imminent danger," which is certainly the situation confronting Texas and our country today.

In this regard, James Madison highlighted in Federalist 45 that the states retain "active sovereignty" under the Constitution, and that the "powers reserved to the several states extend to all the objects, which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties and properties of the people; and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the state."

Further, in Federalist 46, Madison emphasized that a state, acting individually or collectively with other states and their citizens, are empowered to oppose and "repel the danger" from unwarranted encroachments by the federal government and federal "schemes of usurpation."

We have a national crisis precipitated by a deliberate scheme of the federal government acting against the states. Indeed, 75% of Americans consider the situation at the U.S. - Mexico border a crisis or very serious.


situationatborder.png

Over eight million illegal immigrants to date -- a record number since Biden became president -- from 170 countries and tens of thousands coming every day are being released en masse into the United States through Texas. This massive influx of illegal immigrants is overwhelming our states and cities and costing taxpayers billions of dollars. The dangerous consequences of Biden's open border policy include terrorists, human trafficking, fentanyl, and crime.

We must secure our southern border.

We must enforce our laws.

We must STAND WITH TEXAS!

As Ronald Reagan warned us, "A nation that cannot control its border is not a nation."

Mike Clancy is the Republican candidate for Congress in Virginia's 10th Congressional District.

SIMON'S LAW FAILS IN COMMITTEE

Democrats Vote to Kill Simon's Law, a Bill to Require Parental Permission for Do Not Resuscitate Orders
 
Democrats Deal a Blow to Parental Rights: Simon's Law, a crucial bill spearheaded by Delegate Phillip Scott, aimed at securing parental permission for Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNR).
 
Richmond VA, 1/30/24 - In a controversial vote, Democrats on the Health and Human Services committee voted against the advancement of Simon's Law, a critical piece of legislation aimed at ensuring parental consent for Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders. The bill, named after the late Simon Crosier, has been a focal point of bipartisan efforts in various states to protect the rights of parents in end-of-life decisions concerning their children.
 
Simon's Law seeks to address concerns raised by parents who have faced the devastating reality of having Do Not Resuscitate Orders placed on their children without their knowledge or consent. The legislation, which had gained widespread support, aimed to establish a legal framework requiring healthcare providers to obtain explicit parental permission before implementing DNR Orders for minors.
 
Delegate Phillip Scott, the patron of Simon's Law and a parent who understands the challenges faced by families dealing with Edwards syndrome, expressed his disappointment at the bill's setback. He remarked, "As a father of a child with Edward's syndrome, I intimately understand the complexities and emotional toll that families endure. Simon's Law was not just about legislation; it was about compassion, empathy, and recognizing the fundamental right of parents to be involved in critical decisions for their children. The defeat of Simon's Law is disheartening, but our commitment to protecting parental rights remains unwavering. We will continue to advocate for families who deserve a voice in the most challenging moments of their lives."
 
However, despite the emotional testimonies of parents who have been directly affected by the lack of parental involvement in such decisions, Democrats in Virginia (Delegate Sickles, Delegate Tran, Delegate Hope, Delegate Price, Delegate Hayes, Delegate Willett, Delegate Herring, Delegate Shin, Delegate Cole, Delegate Srinivasan, Delegate Henson, and Delegate Gardner) voted against moving Simon's Law forward. Critics argue that the decision raises questions about the party's commitment to parental fundamental rights concerning the medical care of their children and the importance of family input in healthcare decisions.
 
Simon's Law advocates vow to continue their fight for parental rights.
 

Monday, January 29, 2024

SUVGOP: SAVE THE DATE!


CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CONVENTION


7th Congressional District GOP Convention is set for Saturday, March 23, 11:00am (Registration opens at 8:30am), Riverbend High School, 12301 Spotwood Furnace Rd, Fredericksburg 22407.


The Family Foundation: Will You Stand Behind These Moms on Feb. 15?

Donalds Probes SEC For Potential Election Interference

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) sent a letter to Chairman Gary Gensler of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to express serious concerns regarding the SEC's investigation into the video platform, web hosting, and cloud services business, Rumble.

 

It is no secret that Rumble has risen to prominence by serving as the preeminent free speech alternative to Big Tech media platforms and is home to many who were wrongfully censored or deplatformed by Big Tech, often in coordination with the federal government. With the presidential cycle now in full swing, the timing of this investigation suggests an effort to either implicitly or explicitly influence Rumble's role in the 2024 election under the threat of constant litigation.

 

 

Dear Chairman Gensler:

 

I write to you to express serious concerns regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation into the video platform, web hosting and cloud services business, Rumble.

 

In the denial of a November 2023 public records request from the outlet WIRED, the Assistant General Counsel for Litigation and Administrative Practice at the SEC, Melinda Hardy, confirmed that the documents sought pertaining to Rumble were a part of an "active and ongoing" investigation.1 Following Rumble's denial of wrongdoing and voluntary compliance with SEC's investigation, Rumble founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski accused the SEC of collaborating with the investment research firm and activist short seller, Culper Research, in an astroturfing effort to damage Rumble.2 Not only does Culper Research have a short position against Rumble and would thus financially benefit from its demise, but this is hardly the first allegation of astroturfing by your agency.3 In fact, astroturfing seems to be common practice at the SEC. Further, the timing and implication of this specific instance reeks of government weaponization and political interference.

 

It is no secret that Rumble has risen to prominence by serving as the preeminent free speech alternative to Big Tech media platforms. Having gone public in September 2022, Rumble is quickly becoming one of the centerpieces of political and social discourse. In 2023, Rumble was granted the exclusive online streaming rights to the Republican presidential primary debates and is home to many who were wrongfully censored or deplatformed by Big Tech, often in coordination with the federal government. With the presidential cycle now in full swing, the timing of this investigation suggests an effort to either implicitly or explicitly influence Rumble's role in the 2024 election under the threat of constant litigation. Given these facts, I respectfully request a written response to the following questions:

 

  1. Has anyone at, associated with or acting on behalf of the SEC contacted or been contacted by Christian Lamarco or any representative of Culper Research?

  2. If yes, when and how frequently?

  3. Did the SEC consider or in any way rely on an April 27th, 2023, report by Culper Research in opening its investigation into Rumble?

  4. Did the SEC consider or in any way rely on a May 16th, 2023, report by Culper Research in opening its investigation into Rumble?

  5. Has anyone at, associated with or acting on behalf of the SEC contacted or been contacted by anyone in the Biden administration regarding Rumble?

  6. Has anyone at, associated with or acting on behalf of the SEC contacted or been contacted by anyone at, associated with or acting on behalf of any other federal regulatory or law enforcement agency?

  7. Has anyone at, associated with or acting on behalf of the SEC contacted or been contacted by anyone at, associated with or acting on behalf of the Biden campaign?

 

In addition to a written response to the questions above, I respectfully request that your agency preserve and provide my office with any and all documents and communications pertaining to the SEC's investigation into Rumble. To follow up or if you have any questions, please reach out to my office directly at (202) 225-2536. Thank you for your time and attention, I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Byron Donalds (FL-19) Member of Congress

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Because... dementia.



Nick Arama: Biden has no clue



Its Happening...



Carol Bauer: Capital Prayer Alert

Heavenly Father, these are days of personal reflection and worry for our country, its direction and the impact of the country's future on those we love. So much of what we are experiencing makes us feel like things are out of control.

 

Walk alongside us and whisper to us that You know all we are experiencing and feeling and that You are right there with us. Let us be open to the balm you offer each of us just where we are. And prompt us to not only know you are right there with us, but to seek Your guidance and be open to following Your lead in our lives.

 

Bring us peace amidst the storms in our personal lives and the life of our country. Remind us that You are The God of All Comfort in each of life's seasons.


Dear Lord, take our hand and lead us away from a sense of feeling helpless. Plant in our minds the seeds of encouragement, purpose and initiative. Surround us with others of like mind that we may build up one another as Your word tells us (Thessalonians 5:11).

 

Prompt us to be strong and courageous and keep our eyes on You as we labor in the vineyards this side of heaven. Show us how to be happy warriors standing for You in a challenging culture. Amen.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

National Federation of Republican Women: *Primary Season in Full Swing*



DEFUND and Depart from the UN



CWA marches for LIFE across the country!

Women for America March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Last Friday, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC), the largest public policy women's organization in the country, and its Young Women for America (YWA) leaders marched on Washington D.C., to celebrate the overturn of Roe v. Wade and look to the future of championing life in the country. January 22 was the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion federally and was overturned in June 2022 with the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Read CWA's press release of the event here.

You can also click here to watch our Instagram reel, and head over to any of our social media pages for more pictures from the March!

Senator Mark Obenshain: Weeks 1 and 2 in the Books

 

On Wednesday, January 10, the 2024 Session of the Virginia General Assembly was gaveled to order by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. This year looks and feels a lot different than last.  First, we are in our new General Assembly Building (GAB) on Capitol Square after about a 5-year hiatus.  The "old" General Assembly was demolished, and a new building constructed from the ground up. During that time our legislative offices were in the Pocahontas Building down the hill from the Capitol. We now have a beautiful, welcoming legislative building of which we can all be proud.

 

https://stratus.campaign-image.com/images/picture1_zc_v2_938000068968066.jpg 

New General Assembly Building

 

In addition to a new building, there are lots of new members in both chambers.  With redistricting this year, it affected many legislators – some were drawn into districts with fellow legislators, some were drawn out of districts, and some were drawn into new districts.  Because of all these shifts, we saw a number of retirements on the Senate side; many of whom had been serving and leading the Senate for decades.  This year, we welcome 17 brand new legislators to the Senate.  


 Even though the Republicans gained one seat in the November election, the Senate is still controlled by a slim majority of Democrats – 21 to 19 and the House of Delegates is controlled by the Democrats with a majority of 51-49.   With the legislature being in Democratic control and the Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General all being Republicans what does this mean?  It means that there will be lots of noise but little substantive action on many high-profile bills.  The Democrats are making a push for increased minimum wage, abortion on demand up to the moment of birth, and more restrictions on our Second Amendment rights.  While many of these Democrat initiatives may GA, the Governor's Veto Pen is ready and is likely to get a workout this session.


 Retirements and elections have left me the senior most Republican in the Senate. I'm proud to have been selected by my colleagues as Republican Caucus Chairman this year which means I'll be working closely with my friend the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Ryan McDougle on our strategy and planning for our Republican Caucus.  I still remain a member of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, Commerce & Labor and Agriculture/Conservation & Natural Resources; and after a four-year absence, I am back on the Senate Finance Committee. I will serve on three Finance Subcommittees:  Education, Health & Human Resources and Capital Outlay/Transportation.  We will be very busy as we set the budget for the next two years.


 Speaking of budget, this year is the first year Governor Youngkin gets to present his biennial budget.  His priorities this year include personal income tax relief, repealing the Clean Car Act of 2021 which mandates all new cars sold in Virginia by 2035 to be electric, mental health investments, and his "Building Blocks'' childcare initiative to track supply and demand for childcare and to ensure that low-income families do not lose their financial support that the post-Covid ARPA funds provided.  Since this is a 60-day session, there will be lots of budget discussion and debate between now and March 9- and I hope that our colleagues will complete our budget work over the course of the next 8 weeks.


    Here's a quick preview of some of the legislation I introduced and will be working on during Session:

 

INTERSTATE 81

       I have introduced a budget amendment that would allocate significant additional reserves over the next two years to jumpstart improvements to Interstate 81. I was the author of legislation in 2019 to create the I-81 Commission. Through the framework established in that legislation, VDOT developed a plan of improvements to improve and address choke points and dangerous sections of I-81. Last year, when we had a record budget surplus, the budget negotiators allocated $470 million of general fund dollars for construction on Interstate 64 between Williamsburg and Richmond. They included $0 of additional funding, however, for Interstate 81. This year, while I'm pleased the Governor included some new funding for I-81, it's not enough and it's not as much as has been allocated for Interstate 64.  Everyone who lives in or travels the I-81 corridor knows how dangerous and unpredictable that vital highway has become. It is time for us to treat the need for I-81 improvements as a budget priority as opposed to an aspirational long-term goal.

 

LINE OF DUTY ACT

       Over the past two years, we have had two tragic incidents (Bridgewater College and Wintergreen) where private college or private police force officers have given their lives to save others.  These officers made the ultimate sacrifice yet because of the way the Code of Virginia is written, their families were not eligible for any Line of Duty Act death benefits.  While I am pleased the Governor did budget amendments in the last two budgets to ensure these families receive the benefit, we need this codified, so these private college and university police departments and private police departments have the option of paying to participate in this benefit program.  SB 466 does just that.  Last year, my LODA bill passed the Senate unanimously, but died in the House.  I am hopeful that this bill will make it to the Governor's desk this year.


      I will be highlighting more of my legislation in the weeks to come. You can look here for a full list of my bills this year.   


       In addition to bills that I am sponsoring, I have also been responsible for voting on legislation both in committee and on the floor of the Senate. There have been a number of important bills that have been heard, which started with a vote in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Virginia's law to follow California's lead in mandating the sale of electric vehicles. A few years ago, the Democrat majority in the House and Senate passed a bill requiring Virginia to adopt electric vehicle mandates set by California bureaucrats and since then, we have been trying to roll back that law so that we have the autonomy to make our own decisions. Virginians should be free to drive the vehicles of their choice, not a vehicle mandated by an unelected bureaucrat in California. Despite our best attempts, the bill to repeal this law failed.


       Another issue that came before a committee on which I sit, in this case the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, dealt with increased penalties for drug dealers found guilty of dealing deadly drugs. Senator McDougle introduced legislation to crack down on the epidemic of fentanyl that is causing overdoses and killing our children. Under this bill, a drug dealer causing the death of a customer with fentanyl laced drugs would be guilty of murder—period. Unfortunately, a majority of Democrats on the Courts of Justice committee voted to kill this bill.


       A third issue that came up, not in a committee on which I sit but on an issue about which I've deeply cared, is the topic of election integrity. Senator Mark Peake from Lynchburg brought a number of bills which dealt with protecting our elections, including a bill requiring photo ID in order to vote. Unfortunately, all five of these election integrity bills died in committee.


       Lastly, this past Monday, a number of pro and anti-Second Amendment bills were heard in the Courts of Justice Committee. A number of them would have severely limited our 2A rights and a Democrat majority on the committee voted to pass those onto the full Senate. And all of the bills that sought to protect our right to bear arms were killed.

Congressman Bob Good: Texas On the Frontlines

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could remove razor wire Texas has been using to try to secure our Southern Border. Texas is trying to step into the gap and protect their citizens from further harm from the Biden Administration's open border policies. I was pleased to see Governor Youngkin declare his public support for Texas Governor Abbott's efforts.

Unfortunately, the Biden Administration is doing everything it can to fight Texas' efforts and prevent Governor Abbott from protecting his citizens. Governor Abbott should take it to another level, and start actually returning illegals back to Mexico, and dare the Biden Administration to try and stop them.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are negotiating a secret backroom deal with the Biden Administration that, according to reports, would permit 5,000 daily illegal border crossings, continue to permit unlimited "parole" of illegals into the country, give automatic work permits to everyone who crosses the border illegally, and bail out blue cities who previously declared themselves to be sanctuaries. This deal would literally be worse than doing nothing, as it would not secure the border but it would give political cover to those who are perpetrating the border invasion. 

I have renewed my pledge not to continue to fund this federal government that is refusing to secure our borders and keep our citizens safe.

Record Nationwide Encounters of Illegal Aliens in December Cap Off the Most Disastrous Year of Illegal Immigration in U.S. History

The following statement was released by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in response to today's release of CBP Nationwide Encounters of illegal aliens for the month of December:


(January 26, 2024, Washington, D.C.) December 2023 has the dubious distinction of being the worst month of illegal immigration in the nation's history. In December, total nationwide encounters reached a record 371,036, eclipsing the previous monthly record set in September by some 30,000. These record encounters were fueled in large part by the cartel-driven flows through Arizona points of entry such as Lukeville. In total, there were 302,034 encounters along the besieged Southern border. These alarming figures do not include hundreds of thousands of 'gotaways' who are known to have entered the country illegally, but were not apprehended by CBP. 


"Even more alarming, the vast majority of the illegal aliens who are encountered are being released into the United States. Earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who is facing impeachment by the House of Representatives, publicly acknowledged that more than 70 percent are released into the United States. Later, he privately admitted to Border Patrol agents that more than 85 percent of those encountered at the southern border are being released.


"Unless Congress acts decisively to remove Secretary Mayorkas from office and force the Biden administration to secure our borders, these unsustainable levels of illegal immigration will continue through 2024. The House of Representatives has already approved H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, but it is stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The Republican-led House must insist that the bill be included either as part of the FY 2024 budget, or in the supplemental foreign aid package that President Biden has requested."