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The Republican Recap: Week of February 6, 2023

Washington, February 9, 2023
Here’s a recap of everything Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week: Ending the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for International Air Travelers ✅ The vast majority of Americans are returning to their lives before COVID-19. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still blocking international travelers from entering the United States if they are not vaccinated for COVID-19. On April 7, 2022, the CDC issued an order in the Federal Register that prohibited international travelers from entering the country unless they showed proof of COVID-19 vaccination.  Rep. Thomas Massie’s legislation, H.R. 185, prevents the CDC from enforcing this order and terminates the COVID-19 vaccine mandate placed on international air travelers to the United States. “I applaud the House for passing HR 185 to lift the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on legal international travelers arriving by air,” said Representative Massie. “The CDC's unscientific mandate is separating too many people from their families and has been doing so for far too long. It needs to end.”   “No free country, other than the United States, requires international visitors to prove they've taken the COVID-19 vaccine,” Representative Massie continued. “This vaccine mandate is keeping families separated, hurting our economy, and preventing some of the best athletes in the world from competing here. We need to join the rest of the free world in returning to normal. Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and all of South and Central America have no such mandate. I urge the Senate to take up and pass my legislation quickly.” What Members Said: “One hundred and forty-seven countries, including Canada, [the] U.K., Italy, France, Australia, South Korea, and many others, are totally open to tourists regardless of their vaccination status. Another 57 nations allow tourists to take a COVID test or quarantine if they are unvaccinated. The worst of this pandemic is clearly over. There is no reason that the CDC should continue to discriminate against tourists or residents who, for health or religious reasons, do not wish to receive the COVID vaccine,” said Representative Lloyd Smucker.
Click here or on the image above to view Rep. Smucker’s remarks.
Rep. Debbie Lesko called out Democrats for refusing to eliminate the COVID vaccine mandate for international travelers.  
Non-Citizens Should Not Vote in U.S. Elections ✅ On November 21, 2022, the D.C. Council passed the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, which allows non-citizens to vote in D.C. local elections. This legislation does not contain exceptions for foreign nationals or diplomats, meaning that representatives from other countries, including agents of the Chinese Communist Party, can vote in D.C. elections. Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s resolution, H.J. Res. 24, would express disapproval toward D.C.’s policy allowing non-citizens to vote. “Voting is a pillar of American democracy and a constitutional right that must be protected and preserved for citizens of this country. The D.C. Council’s reckless decision to allow non-U.S. citizens, including illegal immigrants, the right to vote in local elections is an attack on the foundation of this republic. This move by the D.C. Council is irresponsible and will only exacerbate the ongoing border crisis, subvert the voices of American citizens, and open the door for foreign adversaries to peddle influence in our nation’s capital. It should go without saying: only Americans should have the power to influence local policy and guide their hard-earned taxpayer dollars to important initiatives. The House took the first step to prevent the D.C. Council’s law from taking effect. Now the Senate must act so that we preserve voting for U.S. citizens,” said Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer. What Members Said: “With the enacting of the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, the District of Columbia has violated the core idea of what it means to be a citizen of this great country. America is not a geographic expression where the concept of citizenship and sovereignty is meaningless or relative. We are a sovereign nation and a sovereign people. It is Congress’ right and responsibility to step in and right a wrong that threatens one of the pillars of our democracy: the right of citizens to vote,” said Representative Nick Langworthy.  
Click here or on the image above to view Rep. Langworthy’s remarks. 
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart slammed the D.C. Council for trying to give non-U.S. citizens the right to vote.  
Stopping the D.C. Council’s Horrific Soft-on-Crime Policies ✅ Recently, the D.C. Council voted to revise the district’s criminal code and soften penalties for violent crimes. The Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 Act: 
  • Eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes except first-degree murder. 
  • Eliminates life sentences and reduces maximum penalties for violent crimes, such as burglary, carjackings, and robberies.
  • Expands the right to a jury trial to include most misdemeanors.
The District of Columbia cannot afford to give criminals a free pass. Compared to February 2022:
  • Sexual abuse is up 157 percent.
  • Motor vehicle theft is up 88 percent.
  • Total property crime is up 31 percent.
  • Homicides have increased by 22 percent.
Under the D.C. Home Rule Act, Congress can stop D.C. Council actions from taking effect. To do so, both the House and Senate must pass a joint resolution of disapproval within 60 days for criminal code reforms, and the President must also sign the resolution. Rep. Andrew Clyde’s resolution, H.J. Res. 26, is the first step in preventing this misguided bill from the D.C. Council from going into effect. “This week, the House effectively utilized its constitutional authority to save our nation’s capital from itself by passing my resolution of disapproval to block the D.C. Council’s radical rewrite of Washington’s criminal code. If enacted, the Council’s dangerous legislation will embolden violent criminals – threatening the well-being of both Washingtonians and visitors at a time of heightened crime in our nation’s capital. My resolution sends a clear message to the Senate, the White House, and the American people that the People’s House rejects soft-on-crime policies that jeopardize Americans’ safety and security. I thank my colleagues for supporting and passing this commonsense resolution in order to ensure all Americans can safely enjoy our nation’s capital city,” said Representative Andrew Clyde. What Members Said: “Despite surging crime rates, the D.C. Council seeks to reduce the maximum sentences for violent crimes such as carjacking and robberies and enact procedural changes that will overburden the courts. This will undermine law enforcement, and it is contrary to the actual needs of the residents and visitors to our nation's capital. Republicans are committed to data-driven criminal justice policies that will strengthen our courts and law enforcement, combat rising crime rates, and protect our communities,” said Representative Laurel Lee.   
Click here or on the image above to view Rep. Lee’s remarks. 
Rep. Burgess Owens criticized the D.C. Council for softening penalties on violent criminals.  
Condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s Espionage ✅  On Saturday, January 28, a Chinese spy balloon was detected entering U.S. territory near the Aleutian Islands off of Alaska. Instead of taking decisive action before the Chinese Communist Party-controlled balloon invaded our skies, President Biden waited days and allowed it to cross nearly the entire continental United States.  This is unacceptable. China cannot be allowed to send surveillance platforms over the U.S. homeland, in the vicinity of our most sensitive military bases.  Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul’s resolution, H. Res. 104, condemns the Chinese Communist Party for its use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over United States territory. “Last week, the nation watched in shock as a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed much of the United States, including sensitive American military sites like Maelstrom Air Force Base in Montana. That base is one of the three places where our Minuteman III ICBM nuclear missiles are stored. Americans were rightfully, deeply disturbed by this brazen violation of sovereignty by the Chinese Communist Party. H. Res. 104, sends a clear, bipartisan message to the CCP and to our adversaries around the world that this kind of aggression will not be tolerated. It tells the world, in one united voice, that our national security is not a partisan issue. We stand together today with one voice as Americans,” said Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul. What Members Said: “The Biden Administration owes the American people an explanation as to why earlier action was not taken against this threat. Why is any foreign government allowed to act in this fashion without an immediate response from the U.S.? We must project strength, not weakness, if this nation wants to be taken seriously on the world stage,” said Representative Tom Kean.   
Click here or on the image above to view Rep. Kean’s remarks. 
Rep. Randy Feenstra condemned the Chinese Communist Party for operating a spy balloon inside U.S. airspace.