Press Releases
The Republican Recap: Week of September 16, 2024
Washington,
September 20, 2024
Here’s a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week:
Standing Up for American Women Against Criminal Illegal Immigrants ✅ Time and time again, shocking headlines flash across our screens and in the papers about illegal immigrants committing atrocious crimes against American citizens. In particular, many of these headlines reference rape and sexual assault against women and girls at the hands of these criminal illegal immigrants. In Houston, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was tied up, assaulted, strangled to death, and left under a bridge by two illegal immigrants from Venezuela. In Martha’s Vineyard, an illegal immigrant from Brazil was charged with five counts of child rape – after he was already found guilty of strangulation, assault and battery on a household member and threat to commit a crime last year. And in South Louisiana, an illegal was arrested for raping a 14-year-old girl at knifepoint and brutally stabbing a man multiple times. These are just a few of the stories of the victims of the Biden-Harris border crisis. The Biden-Harris Administration has consistently failed to enforce the U.S. border laws and remove illegal aliens from our country, even if they committed crimes. In FY 2023, 41 percent fewer criminal aliens were deported than in fiscal year 2020, and around 60 percent fewer were removed than in FY 2019. Under President Biden and “Border Czar” V.P. Harris, over 8.2 million illegal immigrants have come across our southern border, including more than 378 people on the terrorist watchlist. Meanwhile, over 617,607 illegal immigrants on the ICE non-detained docket have been convicted of a crime or have pending criminal charges, meaning criminal aliens are roaming freely. Communities across America are suffering the tragic consequences of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ open border policies daily. H.R. 7909, the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make illegal immigrants who are convicted of, who admit having committed, or who admit committing sex offenses or domestic violence inadmissible and deportable from the United States. “The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act has passed the House on a bipartisan basis. Still, 158 colleagues on the Left side of the aisle chose the war on women,” said Rep. Nancy Mace. What Members Said: “Just in the past year alone, upstate New York has seen several heinous crimes committed against women by illegal immigrants. To name just a few: In June, a Turkish migrant raped a 14-year-old girl in Albany after attacking her inside her vehicle. A migrant from Ecuador suffocated a woman in Syracuse on her 21st birthday and then hid her body in a community park. In Delaware County, New York, an illegal immigrant raped and strangled a woman. And to make matters worse, this illegal immigrant was out on Governor Hochul’s cashless bail for previously raping someone,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro. “One instance, one instance, of a woman being raped or assaulted should be enough, and should have been enough for President Biden, Vice President Harris, to take executive action to close the border. The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act will ensure that these evil individuals, these criminals, are arrested and deported.”
Majority Leader Steve Scalise condemned the 158 House Democrats who voted against requiring the deportation of illegal immigrants who assault women in the United States.
 Rep. Laurel Lee highlighted that H.R. 7909 ensures illegal aliens who are convicted of sexual or domestic violence offenses cannot enter our country and keeps our women and children safe from violent predators.  Holding Sanctuary Cities Accountable to American Taxpayers ✅ Throughout the country, radical liberal ‘sanctuary’ states and cities like New York, California, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta disregard America’s immigration laws, instead putting in place policies to prevent immigration enforcement and protect criminal aliens from ICE, including refusing to comply with ICE detainers and denying ICE access to immigrants who have been arrested. The sanctuary policies pushed by radical Left mayors and governors have exacerbated the already out-of-control Biden-Harris border crisis, encouraging illegal immigrants to cross illegally in the United States with the promise that in a sanctuary city or state, they will not face consequences for breaking our laws. Meanwhile, these Far-Left politicians use taxpayer dollars to foot the bill for their sanctuary policies and provide benefits to illegal immigrants – all while leaving American citizens out in the cold. Many of these woke mayors and governors continue to ask the federal government for financial assistance to handle the massive influx of illegal immigrants that their policies helped cause. American taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for costly policies put in place by liberal bureaucrats because those bureaucrats are now facing the consequences of their own actions. They could repeal their sanctuary policies at any time – they choose not to. It’s time for these sanctuary cities, counties, and states to be held accountable for their disastrous policies. Rep. Nick LaLota’s legislation, H.R. 5717, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, ensures that sanctuary cities, counties, and states that provide benefits to illegal immigrants are ineligible for federal funds to assist such immigrants. “By refusing to help enforce federal immigration law, sanctuary cities have created their own crisis and federal taxpayers must not be forced to foot the bill for their misguided policies. My No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, which earned votes from every House Republican and 12 House Democrats, ensures that federal dollars will not be used to offset costs incurred by prioritizing illegal immigration, and migrants’ free hotels and health care, over the safety and well-being of law-abiding tax-paying citizens,” said Rep. Nick LaLota. “New Yorkers, like the rest of the country, are fed up with the strain this crisis has put on our resources. My bipartisan legislation will hold these cities accountable and make it clear that there are consequences for defying the rule of law. I urge the Senate to immediately take up this legislation.” What Members Said: “The crime that finds a home in a sanctuary city spreads to other jurisdictions. If sanctuary cities choose to operate this way and endanger their own communities, neighboring communities, and ultimately, the entire nation, they must be forced to balance their irresponsible choices with the loss of other federal support. It's pretty simple: if you fail to comply with the law, you should not expect support. Our constituents understand and also demand that their tax dollars not support sanctuary cities that actively undermine their public safety and our immigration law,” said Rep. Erin Houchin. Rep. Rudy Yakym noted that H.R. 5717 ensures the federal government doesn't reward cities that prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens.
Restoring Freedom and the Marketplace of Ideas to American Campuses ✅ American universities and colleges should be a safe space for students to explore ideas, educate themselves on topics they are interested in, and form their own opinions on world issues. Unfortunately, thanks to woke policies, radical faculty members, and partisan administrations, young people are being denied the opportunity to thoughtfully engage with peers and educators and experience the marketplace of ideas in the classroom. First Amendment rights have come under attack on campuses across the nation. Speakers get shouted down and attacked for sharing views that differ from woke activists, students who speak up against the activist mob are ostracized, and, as we unfortunately saw during the disturbing pro-Palestine campus protests, students were blocked from class or intimidated for being Jewish. Meanwhile, accrediting agencies are going so far as to require schools to implement woke policies like DEI frameworks and critical race theory, imposing a partisan agenda on schools that should have no agenda but education and preparing students to think for themselves. House Republicans passed legislation to end wokeness in higher education and restore the American principles of freedom of speech and a competing marketplace of ideas to campuses across the country. This legislation includes Rep. Burgess Owens’ Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2023 and Rep. Brandon Williams’ Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act. H.R. 3724, the End Woke Higher Education Act, introduced by Rep. Burgess Owens, includes legislation that amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to require colleges and universities to put in place First Amendment principles in order to receive funding, and prohibits accreditors from requiring schools to adhere to partisan frameworks and ideological litmus tests to receive accreditation. “The Biden-Harris administration has injected its far-left ideology—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Critical Race Theory—into every part of American life, including our higher education system. This week, House Republicans passed the End Woke Higher Education Act to stand up for academic freedom, defend students' constitutional rights, and ensure that colleges and universities aren't forced to bend the knee to activist accreditors pushing political agendas as a condition for federal funding,” said Rep. Burgess Owens. What Members Said: “As a former member of a board of trustees on a college, I'm deeply concerned about the erosion of free speech on college campuses and political activism by administrators, college presidents, as well as professors. Institutions of higher education are chartered to foster academic excellence and prepare students for meaningful careers. Instead, they have become incubators of political activism and extreme progressive ideology,” said Rep. Greg Murphy. “Academic freedom is central to vigorous debate and the exploration of ideas. Academic Freedom means listening to more than one side. We must celebrate differences in thought, not censorship, with those we disagree with. Let sanity restore on our college campuses across the country, seizing this opportunity to protect academic freedom.” Rep. Tim Walberg emphasized that H.R. 3724 refocuses our education institutions on providing quality education, not indoctrination.
 Defending American Retirement Funds from Risky ESG Factors ✅ On November 22, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration's Department of Labor released a final rule to expand and facilitate the practice of retirement plans using workers’ invested funds to pursue environmental and social causes. The rule gives retirement plan managers the green light to factor ESG into investment decisions for the retirement funds of more than 152 million Americans. It even allows plan managers to automatically enroll retirement savers into ESG investments. At a time when Americans are seeing their retirement nest egg fail to keep up with soaring inflation, the last thing that the Administration should do is encourage financial managers to make decisions that put left-wing environmental and social issues ahead of retirees’ financial security, especially since ESG funds are well known underperformers. Let’s be clear: Retirement plans should be solely focused on delivering maximum returns for the men and women who rely on them, not advancing a political agenda. House Republicans passed legislation to protect Americans’ retirement funds from being jeopardized by politically motivated ESG considerations, including Rep. Allen’s Roll back ESG To Increase Retirement Earnings (RETIRE) Act, Rep. Houchin’s Retirement Proxy Protection Act, Rep. Good’s No Discrimination in My Benefits Act, and Rep. Banks’ Providing Complete Information to Retirement Investors Act. H.R. 5339, the Protecting Americans’ Investments from Woke Policies Act, introduced by Rep. Rick Allen, forces financial institutions to focus on maximizing returns in retirement plans instead of woke ESG factors by ensuring financial institutions base investment decisions solely on economic factors and complete information is provided to retirement investors. “By empowering financial advisors to invest retirement savings in risky, climate-related ESG funds, the Biden-Harris Administration is hijacking Americans' hard-earned money in favor of their widely unpopular rush-to-green agenda. While families continue to struggle to afford the basics under this Administration's costly policies, the last thing they need is for their retirement savings to be depleted due to politically motivated mismanagement. That is why I introduced this week's legislation to ensure workers, retirees, and families have confidence that their retirement security is protected, not jeopardized for political purposes. I am hopeful that House-passage of H.R. 5339 will serve as a wake-up call for this Administration to keep their radical agenda out of Americans' retirement accounts,” said Rep. Rick Allen. What Members Said: “Under Biden-Harris, your best interest is not the main priority. Investments must now meet certain radical environmental standards and support the less equity agenda. This could mean investing in a solar energy company and overlooking an oil or a gas stock that might be a better financial investment. It might mean that the company overseeing your portfolio needs to adhere to DEI practices and hire people because they look a certain way, not because they are the most qualified. This is called ESG investing, and of course, this is wrong,” said Rep. Bob Good. “Hardworking Americans want the most competent and knowledgeable person to manage their benefits. They want to know their assets are safe and they will have a good return on investment. The ESG investing agenda is in direct opposition to this.” Rep. Jim Banks noted that H.R. 5339 includes legislation to ensure retirees are made aware of the downside of ESG investments.
 Keeping Political Agendas Out of America’s Financial System ✅ Under the Biden-Harris Administration, radical regulators have been weaponizing agencies to force their far-Left agenda and ESG initiatives on public companies, investors, American retirees, and workers through partisan policies and regulatory mandates – at the expense of the American people and our financial system. By pushing their political views on public companies, these out-of-control regulators and their partisan mandates lead to higher costs for companies in the public markets, hinder American public companies’ ability to compete effectively on a global scale, burden corporate resources, and put workers and investors at risk. These rogue regulators have allowed the takeover of the public company shareholder proxy process, reached far beyond their statutory authority with radical rules and guidance, handed over financial regulatory authority to global governance bodies, and redefined the ‘materiality standard.’ House Republicans passed legislation to block the Biden-Harris ESG agenda and restore our capital markets and financial system to strength. This legislation includes Rep. Huizenga’s Guiding Uniform and Responsible Disclosure Requirements and Information Limits (GUARDRAIL) Act, Rep. Norman’s Businesses Over Activists Act, Rep. Steil’s Protecting Retirement Savings from Politics Act, and Rep. Loudermilk’s American Financial Institution Regulator Sovereignty and Transparency (FIRST) Act. H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act, introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga, prevents radical leftist regulators from inserting ESG and other partisan policy into America’s financial system by blocking regulatory overreach, fixing the SEC’s proxy voting process and holding proxy advisory firms accountable, and restoring the materiality standard. “This week’s legislation is a culmination of almost two years of work by House Republicans. These sensible policies will encourage innovation, improve access to investment opportunities, and foster economic growth. The radical mandates being put forward by the Biden-Harris Administration have made it harder, not easier for my constituents to retire with financial security. The Promoting Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act corrects the misguided social policies that have been weaponized by rogue regulators and liberal activist investors at the expense of financial returns. By restoring choice and empowering retail investors, this package of bills is a win for all families across Southwest Michigan,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga. What Members Said: “Under Chairman Gensler, the Biden SEC gutted safeguards that are meant to provide proxy advisors with accountability and transparency. The SEC has also given a green light to activists to inject politics into the boardroom by changing the rules and empowering unaccountable SEC staff. This has predictably led to a huge spike in politically motivated shareholder proposals. ISS and Glass Lewis control 97 percent of the proxy advisor market, advising virtually all professional investors ISS offers companies consulting services to address the same activist proposals they make recommendations on which is an obvious conflict of interest. My bill prevents this conflict, enforces the disclosure of other potential conflicts of interest,” said Rep. Bryan Steil. “The Protecting Americans Retirement Savings from Politics Act is an essential part of this comprehensive and common sense legislation. We need to step up to empower investors, restore transparency and accountability, and enhance competition.” Rep. Barry Loudermilk highlighted that his bill, the American FIRST Act, which is included in H.R. 4790, de-politicizes banking regulation by restoring transparency and accountability.
Protecting Americans’ Right to Choose Their Car ✅ On March 20, 2024, the Biden-Harris Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a tailpipe vehicle emissions rule that places extreme standards on pollutants and greenhouse gasses for vehicles in an attempt to make two-thirds of all consumer vehicles zero emission by 2032 and force Americans to switch to EVs. This rule will essentially ban the sale of gas-powered and traditional hybrid vehicles gradually – forcing automakers to sell more electric vehicles and taking away consumer choice. Electric vehicles are considerably more expensive than gas vehicles and much less reliable in cold weather and with our current grid stability, making them an unrealistic option for most American families. Americans should be able to choose which car best suits their needs and the needs of their family, not be forced to choose an EV because it’s the only option left in the marketplace. Nearly half of EV drivers wish to go back to driving a gas car – and yet the Biden-Harris Administration are still trying to force these cars on hard working Americans. Additionally, the Chinese Communist Party controls around 90 percent of the processing and refining supply chain capacity for the minerals required to power electric vehicles, meaning American manufacturers currently rely on one of our biggest adversaries and the world’s number one polluter, China – also posing a risk to our national security. Rep. John James’ legislation, H.J. Res. 136, repeals the Biden-Harris EPA’s burdensome emissions rule relating to “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles” under the Congressional Review Act, protecting consumer choice, keeping more affordable and realistic car options in the marketplace, and preventing further reliance on China. “Michigan is not afraid of the future, but we demand to be a part of it. The Biden-Harris Administration’s EPA tailpipe emission rule is another out-of-touch regulation that will crater the Michigan auto industry and decimate our middle-class, and most vulnerable. Folks in my district simply can’t afford to spend an additional $12,000 on an expensive, unreliable EV. I’ve always said, if you want an EV, get an EV. But allowing the Biden-Harris Administration to continue stifling consumer choice will only harm the American people,” said Rep. John James. “This is a de-facto electric vehicle mandate that will put all 77,580 manufacturing jobs in my district at great risk of extinction. I am grateful that the House passed my resolution to prevent the Biden-Harris Administration’s rule from ravaging the livelihoods of thousands in Michigan and across the country. The Senate must take up this measure immediately.” What Members Said: “As Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business and owner and operator of car dealerships in Texas for over 53 years, I've seen firsthand the impact that over regulating can do on small businesses. Now, we are a country of competition, of risk and reward, and the federal government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. We must let competition drive innovation and allow people to choose the vehicles that best suits them and their needs. And the dealer must sell that vehicle, and the consumer must be able to buy it. As you have and will hear today, this proposed rule will limit consumer choice and increase costs for Main Street America,” said Rep. Roger Williams. “It's clear the Biden Administration, the EPA, are out of touch with the American people. While many families are struggling to pay bills and save for their future, this Administration is ignoring out-of-control inflation by pushing a green energy bailout that no one wants. And let me tell you, there is no market for EV vehicles – I can tell you firsthand.” Rep. Jim Baird stressed that H.J. Res. 136 ends the EPA's burdensome mandate and stops the Biden-Harris Administration's assault on gas cars and consumer choice.
Supporting Israel’s Economy and Standing Against BDS Movement ✅ Israel is a longtime ally and friend to the United States, and we continue to stand with the nation and its people. But disturbingly, some radical pro-Palestine activists and members of the disgusting and antisemitic BDS movement continue to look for ways to target Israel and work to cripple its economy, such as by promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. U.S. law requires imported goods to be labeled with their country of origin. In 1997, the Palestinian Authority asked if goods from Gaza could be labeled “West Bank/Gaza” or “West Bank/Gaza Strip,” which the U.S. ultimately agreed to. In 2020, however, under the Trump Administration, the State Department revised the labeling to distinguish between goods coming from areas of the West Bank controlled by our ally, Israel, and goods coming from Gaza or other areas of the West Bank. Under this guidance, goods from Israel and areas of the West Bank controlled by Israel are marked “Israel,” “Product of Israel,” or “Made in Israel.” Meanwhile, other goods must be marked “Product of West Bank,” “Product of Gaza,” or similar labels – not “West Bank/Gaza.” This gives Americans the power to support the economy of our ally and know where their goods are coming from. Recently, however, it has been reported that the Biden-Harris Administration is considering reversing the 2020 guidance, once again caving to the radical Left instead of standing with our allies against evil. H.R. 5179, the Anti-BDS Labeling Act, sponsored by Rep. Claudia Tenney, would codify the Trump Administration’s "Country of Origin Marking of Products from the West Bank and Gaza" guidance requiring imported products from Israel and Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank to be labeled “Israel,” and imported products from Gaza or Palestinian-controlled areas to be labeled as “Gaza” or “West Bank,” and would prevent federal funds from being used to reverse or alter this guidance. “Following the October 7th attacks, the deadliest attacks on Jews since the Holocaust, there has been a marked rise in both anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence, along with increased support for the discriminatory BDS movement. This movement targets products from Israeli-controlled areas in Judea and Samaria, aiming to undermine Israel's economy and penalize both the state and companies based in Israel. The Anti-BDS Labeling Act legislation codifies a rule that has been in place for nearly four years, ensuring that goods produced in Israel are accurately labeled, reaffirming the United States' commitment to Israel, its closest ally, by supporting its economy and demonstrating continued support for Israeli businesses. I am pleased that this critical legislation has passed the House, further strengthening the bond between our two nations and standing firm against efforts to delegitimize Israel,” said Rep. Claudia Tenney. What Members Said: “Antisemitism has no place in America. Disturbingly, radical activists and members of the antisemitic BDS movement continue to wage economic warfare against the Jewish state. In a world where antisemitism and acts of violence against the Jewish people are more and more commonplace, we need to reassure our close ally that the United States will not delegitimize her authority nor punish her economy. Rather, we must send a clear message that the United States stands with Israel. We stand with Israel today, we will stand with Israel tomorrow, we will stand with Israel always,” said Rep. Aaron Bean. “That's why I'm proud to support Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and Chairman Jason Smith's bill prohibiting the Biden-Harris Administration from assisting the antisemitic BDS movement in their efforts to target specific goods made in portions of the West Bank controlled entirely by Israel.” Rep. Josh Brecheen made clear that H.R. 5179 stands with Israel against the ridiculous and evil "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions" movement.
 Increasing Protection for Presidential Candidates ✅ Once again, a radical, unhinged liberal tried to end the life of President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, almost taking the upcoming presidential election out of the hands of the American people and threatening the future of our democracy. On Sunday, September 15, Ryan Wesley Routh camped outside President Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club with his rifle for 12 hours, lying in wait for his chance to take out President Trump. Thankfully, a Secret Service agent spotted him before the gunman could shoot at the former president and current presidential candidate. It's unacceptable that now we're at two assassination attempts on President Trump. The Secret Service has to provide the same level of protection for presidential candidates as for presidents so that something like this doesn’t happen a third time. The future of our country is at stake. The House passed legislation to ensure the American people’s choice of president is never again threatened by a deranged, radical individual, and to protect our democracy. H.R. 9106, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024, introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler, directs the U.S. Secret Service to use the same standards to determine the number of agents in a protection detail for Presidents, Vice Presidents, and major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. “I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues in the House for voting unanimously today in support of the Enhanced Presidential Security Act. While I thank President Biden for recently taking action to increase former President Trump’s Secret Service detail, without the passage and implementation of this legislation, this enhanced protection will not be codified into law and is subject to change with time. I urge the Senate and President Biden to get the Enhanced Presidential Security Act through the finish line for the good of the American people,” said Rep. Mike Lawler. What Members Said: Rep. Pat Fallon emphasized that regardless of their party or incumbency, we can't continue to risk the safety of officials and candidates.  Rep. Russ Fulcher highlighted that H.R. 9106 ensures robust Secret Service is provided for major U.S. Presidential candidates.
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