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Yet again
A authorities shutdown looms over Congress. A Republican Speaker seeks to calm dissent inside his caucus. And payments within the Republican-controlled Home demand assist from Democrats to move.
It looks like Groundhog Day certainly for Florida’s congressional delegation.
Members of Congress handed a bipartisan tax aid invoice, however one which had hard-liners within the GOP up in arms. Throughout the Florida delegation, each Democrat within the Home joined with a majority to move the laws (HR 7024). However Florida Republicans break up 14-6 on the invoice.
The invoice was crafted within the Home Methods and Means Committee, the place Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican, serves as Vice Chair. He cheered the product popping out of the Committee.
“As somebody who spent 30 years constructing companies and a former (Chair) of the Methods and Means Tax Subcommittee, I do know from expertise that making our tax code extra aggressive means higher prosperity for American households and companies,” he posted on-line.
However Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Seaside Republican, stated he noticed extra giveaways to different states than assist for Floridians. He joined a half dozen Florida Republicans in voting “no” and saying the invoice eroded tax cuts handed beneath former President Donald Trump.
“I’m calling on all Florida representatives to oppose the efforts to degrade the Trump tax insurance policies with this horrible SALT invoice that New York Republicans are attempting to carry to the ground,” Gaetz stated on his podcast. “Individuals in low-tax states shouldn’t must subsidize individuals in high-tax states simply because native governments need to take extra of their cash.”
However Democrats stated the invoice was a great step ahead for households and bragged as the bulk as soon as once more sought assist in the minority caucus. New Speaker Mike Johnson refused to cease a vote on the invoice this week from progressing as deliberate.
“Households with kids can breathe somewhat simpler because the expanded baby tax credit score (‘CTC’) will put a refund into their pockets to allow them to higher afford meals, clothes and baby care for his or her children,” stated Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat.
“The CTC would assist roughly 33,000 kids in Florida’s 14th Congressional District — largely from households with revenue beneath $40,000 a yr. The Youngster Tax Credit score works. Childhood poverty throughout America dropped dramatically after The Democratic-controlled Congress handed an expanded CTC within the American Rescue Plan. Whereas Home Republicans refused to reinstate the ARP stage of aid for households, I’m gratified that the invoice is estimated to raise as many as half 1,000,000 kids above the poverty line. Democrats fought for incentives to construct extra housing that’s attainable for households, and I intend to champion extra reasonably priced housing throughout the Tampa Bay space and oppose Republican efforts to supply handouts to rich companies and tax cheats.”
Army mothers
Based on Sen. Marco Rubio, becoming a member of the army shouldn’t imply sacrificing the chance to lift a household.
The Miami Republican this week launched bipartisan laws with Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, launched the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act, which might direct the Protection Division to review methods to enhance psychological well being look after moms at army amenities.
“Guaranteeing the well-being of our army households means addressing the distinctive challenges moms face whereas they or their spouses, serve within the army,” Rubio stated. “The Bettering Entry to Maternal Well being for Army and Dependent Mothers Act is a vital step towards understanding and overcoming the obstacles to maternal well being care throughout the Army Well being System.”
Companion laws might be carried within the Home by GOP Convention Chair Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, and Rep. Terri Sewell, an Alabama Democrat.
Tester stated the military-issued TRICARE should assist relieve stress for younger moms in a profession that calls for rather a lot from households.
“It’s critically necessary that moms who’re veterans, army spouses, or at present serving this nation have entry to high quality, reasonably priced well being care,” Tester stated. “Our invoice will assist be sure that feminine service members and army spouses can entry the identical care as civilians by TRICARE, and guarantee we dwell as much as the guarantees we make to them once they signal as much as serve our nation.”
Border report
Sen Rick Scott, a Naples Republican, cheered the development of a border invoice with attraction within the Senate.
The Persevering with Excessive-High quality Evaluations of Regarding and Recognized Individuals of Curiosity by Nationwide Coaching Updates (CHECKPOINT) Act superior by the Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee. Scott co-sponsored the invoice with Sen Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona unbiased. The invoice would require common updates to the Senate from the Border Patrol on drug seizures.
“It’s heart-wrenching and terrifying that fentanyl continues to circulate throughout our southern border and into U.S. communities the place it takes extra lives each single day. We can not enable this drug to proceed endangering American households,” Scott stated.
“This common sense laws will make a number of updates to the U.S. Customs and Border Safety coaching and procedures of the Checkpoint Program Administration Workplace to make sure we’re doing the whole lot potential to grab these medication from harmful criminals earlier than they hurt our communities. I’m glad to have bipartisan assist for the Persevering with Excessive-quality Evaluations of Regarding and Recognized Individuals of Curiosity by the Nationwide Coaching Updates (CHECKPOINT) Act, and I’m grateful it handed out of committee this week. I received’t cease combating for this invoice’s full passage in order that we could take one other step towards ending the lethal fentanyl smuggling occurring at our border.”
The invoice units out standards and classes of drug seizures on the southern border and would require Border Patrol to set public objectives on interceptions.
“Our bipartisan invoice delivers actual options to crack down on harmful human and drug smuggling at Arizona’s border and is now one step nearer to turning into legislation — and one step nearer to bringing Arizona households peace of thoughts,” Sinema stated.
Stopping trendy slavery
Re. Kat Cammack additionally targeted on immigration coverage because the Gainesville Republican launched the Human Trafficking Consciousness Coaching Act. If handed, the laws would broaden the provision of the Federal Regulation Enforcement Coaching Facilities, together with for state, native, tribal, territorial, and academic establishments’ legislation enforcement companies.
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and it has no place in our society,” Cammack stated. “Our first responders deserve the easiest coaching on recognizing and stopping this horrible commerce, and this invoice will make sure the specialists at FLETC can share their data with different legislation enforcement companies throughout the nation. I’ll proceed working intently with my colleagues to do the whole lot we are able to to placing an finish to trafficking within the U.S.”
Delegation colleague and shut ally Rep. Byron Donalds signed on as an introducing co-sponsor.
President Joe Biden’s “administration’s disastrous border coverage has supercharged the scourge of human trafficking to unprecedented ranges,” the Naples Republican stated.
“Now greater than ever, it’s crucial for Federal Regulation Enforcement Coaching Facilities to supply trainees with the right instruments to determine, reply to, and eradicate human trafficking. It’s past time that we modernize our nation’s strategy to combating the rising concern of human trafficking,” Donalds added, “and I’m proud to affix Rep. Cammack in assist of the Human Trafficking Consciousness Coaching Act.”
Buddy certainly?
In a speech on the Home ground, Rep. Invoice Posey known as for states to cease issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented staff.
The Rockledge Republican proclaimed his assist for the Defend Our Communities from DUIs Act (HR 6976), laws to require the deportation of unlawful immigrants who’ve been convicted or dedicated the offense of driving whereas drunk or impaired.
“Over the previous few days, I’ve heard extra lies concerning the immigration disaster at our Southern border than every other concern since Obamacare,” Posey stated.
He additionally expressed irritation with some Democrats claiming to have buddies throughout the aisle however dismissing all as “MAGA extremist Republicans.” “You’ve got a proper to face with the drug cartels, however I and the remainder of the MAGA Republicans stand with Texas and america,” he stated, arguing the invoice would save American lives.
Blocked calls
In the meantime, Rep. Darren Soto targeted his power on invasive telephone calls. The Kissimmee Democrat launched the Roboblock Act (HR 7124), which might direct the Federal Communications Fee to enact rules requiring voice service suppliers to supply a robocall-blocking service at no cost.
“There isn’t any cause why Individuals must be getting flooded with spam calls and textual content messages,” Soto stated. “We should do higher to guard them from these bothersome communications. As scammers discover extra methods to flow into these messages, we should get forward of it and ensure suppliers provide robocall blocking providers as a part of the bottom worth.”
The proposal was added to the bigger Do Not Disturb Act, an general privateness bundle.
Soto famous courtroom selections have successfully ignored spamming calls made throughout social media networks, one thing he considers an oversight as these web networks more and more get used for direct communication.
Present me the Petfax
Defending animals has all the time been a precedence for Buchanan. This week, the Longboat Key Republican co-introduced a bipartisan invoice with Rep. Deborah Ross, a North Carolina Democrat, to crack down on pet mills nationwide.
The Petfax Act would supply pet homeowners with the care historical past of animals bought from breeding amenities. Then, shoppers would know in the event that they have been supporting a enterprise with a historical past of abuse.
“Everytime you purchase a automotive, it often comes with an in depth ‘Carfax’ report detailing the automobile historical past, comparable to proprietor upkeep, accidents, and general situation,” stated Buchanan, who based auto dealerships earlier than his election to Congress.
“Adopting a pet must be no completely different. That’s the reason I’m happy to introduce the Petfax Act with Congresswoman Ross to require those that promote pets to supply a ‘Petfax’ report outlining the animal’s well being historical past. Cracking down on these unsanitary and inhumane pet mills is a necessary step in making certain a protected and wholesome future within the animal shopping for course of.”
Buchanan’s Workplace estimates that 10,000 puppy mills function within the U.S. immediately. Too many exist with no accountability to shoppers, the Congressman stated.
Ross agreed and anticipated assist throughout the aisle for the invoice.
“Far too many animals undergo from inhumane situations, however adopters are stored at nighttime concerning the animal’s historical past and the place it was bred,” she stated. “This bipartisan invoice is a vital step towards making certain potential pet homeowners are geared up with important details about their new member of the family and promotes transparency amongst breeders and sellers, fostering accountable practices throughout the trade. I’m grateful for the partnership of Congressman Buchanan on this crucial concern. As a proud canine proprietor, I stay dedicated to making a future the place each pet finds a loving dwelling by moral and knowledgeable selections.”
Able to Rumble
A video-sharing service headquartered in Longboat Key has change into the topic of a Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) probe. Now, Donalds needs to know if there’s a political motive to the federal investigation of Rumble.
Final month, Wired broke the information that Rumble, usually seen as a conservative different to YouTube, was beneath energetic scrutiny. Donalds wrote a letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler expressing considerations the election served as election interference.
“It’s no secret that Rumble has risen to prominence by serving because the preeminent free speech different to Large Tech media platforms. Having gone public in September 2022, Rumble is rapidly turning into one of many centerpieces of political and social discourse,” Donalds wrote.
“In 2023, Rumble was granted the unique on-line streaming rights to the Republican presidential main debates and is dwelling to many who have been wrongfully censored or de-platformed by Large Tech, usually in coordination with the federal authorities. With the presidential cycle now in full swing, the timing of this investigation suggests an effort to both implicitly or explicitly affect Rumble’s function within the 2024 election beneath the specter of fixed litigation.”
His letter asks if the administration contacted the SEC about Rumble and if the investigation was based mostly on a report by investor Christian Lamarco’s Culper Analysis.
Well timed appointments
A number of Florida lawmakers are working collectively to verify sufferers obtain well timed medical care from Veterans Affairs.
Reps. Scott Franklin, a Lakeland Republican, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Miramar Democrat, filed the Scheduling for Group Well being and Simple Information to Perceive for Legislators to Consider Providers (SCHEDULES) Act.
“As a veteran, I perceive how difficult the VA could be to navigate, particularly whereas experiencing a well being disaster,” Franklin stated. “Far too usually, vets undergo in painful or threatening conditions ready for a scheduled specialty care go to. That’s unacceptable. Veterans have earned the best high quality care, and Congress should maintain the VA accountable to supply it rapidly and reliably. This necessary invoice would make sure the VA swiftly offers, not simply schedules, wanted care.”
“Florida veterans in determined want of care merely can not afford VA appointment delays,” Cherfilus-McCormick added. “This bipartisan invoice helps make sure that VA is conscious of the wants of sufferers and is swiftly offering the care that they earned serving our nation.”
A Senate model of the invoice was additionally launched by Scott, who co-sponsored the invoice with Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat.
“Hundreds of thousands of veterans depend on the VA, and it’s crucial that our VA suppliers are accountable and responsive in delivering important, and sometimes lifesaving, well being care,” Scott stated.
“My invoice, the SCHEDULES Act, will improve transparency throughout the VA to require uniform requirements throughout the board so veterans have extra perception into when their appointments might be scheduled. As a Navy veteran myself and the son of a World Conflict II veteran, I do know that our veterans have sacrificed a lot for our freedoms, and they need to by no means be compelled to play a guessing sport of when they are going to be taken care of.”
No serving to Hamas
Experiences that United Nations human rights staff could have provided material help to Hamas have Rep. Brian Mast able to disband the group concerned.
The Stuart Republican filed laws to remove the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and to reassign the duties to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
“UNRWA is a entrance, plain and easy,” Mast stated.
“It masquerades as a aid group whereas constructing the infrastructure to assist Hamas. It’s indoctrinating Palestinian kids to hate all Jews and filling the long run ranks of jihadists. It’s actually funneling American tax {dollars} to terrorism. And now we all know with certainty {that a} vital a part of the UNRWA workforce are members of Palestinian terrorist organizations, together with contributors within the Oct. 7 assault. No extra. The USA should lead the trouble to completely disband UNRWA and finish its nurturing of terrorism.”
Israeli intelligence this week launched paperwork indicating the group was “helping Hamas with securing humanitarian support that’s transferred to the Gaza strip,” as reported by Sky News. That included permitting Hamas to retailer weapons at UNRWA amenities, together with faculties and hospitals and even establishing a community of tunnels with staff’ data.
Mast chairs the Home International Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability and plans to co-chair a joint listening to instantly.
Roadmap to success
Home Democrats unrolled a better training agenda to see if the celebration can regain a majority on this yr’s elections, together with insurance policies championed by Rep. Frederica Wilson. The rating Democrat on the Home Increased Training and Workforce Funding Subcommittee, Wilson touted the plan’s inclusion of her LOAN Act within the Roadmap to College Student Success.
“The Roadmap to Faculty Success is a daring plan that may decrease the price of faculty, guarantee college students have entry to high quality applications, and provides college students the assets to finish their diploma,” Wilson stated. “I’m proud that this proposal by Home Democrats contains my invoice, the LOAN Act, which doubles the Pell Grant, improves mortgage forgiveness, reduces faculty bills, and slashes rates of interest for debtors.”
The Hollywood Democrat stated the plan acknowledges restrictions put in place by the Supreme Courtroom concerning pupil mortgage forgiveness.
“I acknowledge the administration can not remove pupil loans yearly, so what occurs to (the) class of 2024, 2025, and so forth? What are their choices for managing not simply the price of loans however the price of going to school?” Wilson stated.
“That’s why I filed the LOAN Act, to reform the insurance policies that created the scholar mortgage disaster. The Roadmap to Faculty Success, coupled with the LOAN Act, will deal with the foundation causes of the scholar debt disaster, allow people to satisfy their full potential and guarantee we assist future faculty college students. Democrats’ dedication is obvious: our want-to-be-somebody college students shouldn’t be shackled by a lifetime of debt merely for looking for a university training — a stark distinction to the Republicans’ disastrous proposal. Their plan is nothing wanting a harmful pathway that betrays the promise of upper training for all.”
Fishing for bother
The Caribbean Sea lies removed from China, however Rep. Carlos Giménez stated that hasn’t stopped the nation from illegally fishing there. The Miami-Dade Republican filed the Caribbean and Latin America Maritime Security Initiative Act with Rep. Scott Peters, a California Democrat, to curb the illegal raiding of marine ecosystems.
“Communist China continues to pillage our oceans and undermine the sovereignty of our neighbors and allies by pursuing Unlawful, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing of their territorial waters,” Giménez stated.
“I’m proud to affix Rep. Scott Peters in introducing the bipartisan Caribbean and Latin America Maritime Safety Initiative Act to bolster our dedication to our neighboring international locations and shield our delicate fisheries in South Florida and throughout the nation.”
The invoice would authorize the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to take quick motion in opposition to unlawful, unreported and unregulated fishing within the Caribbean Sea and the waters of Latin American nations.
“We should guarantee our competitors with China prioritizes America’s relationships with states within the Caribbean and Latin America to take care of our standing as a pacesetter in each areas and guarantee China and different dangerous actors can not threaten the ecosystems, meals provide, political ties, and worldwide commerce system which advantages corporations right here in San Diego, the U.S., and nations all through the Caribbean and Latin America,” Peters stated.
On today
Feb. 2, 1848 — “Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed” through the Nationwide Archives — A Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement was signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo, thus terminating the Mexican-American Conflict. Whereas the warfare was ostensibly about securing the boundary of the lately annexed state of Texas, it was clear from the outset the U.S. purpose was territorial enlargement. Some many years earlier, america had secured the Louisiana Buy. President James Polk now noticed it as America’s “manifest future” to accumulate entry to a western ocean by buying Nuevo México and the Californias.
Feb. 2, 1948 — “Harry Truman delivers message on civil rights” through the Truman Library Institute — President Truman delivered a “Particular Message to Congress on Civil Rights.” Within the 3,095-word deal with, President Truman known as for anti-lynching laws, truthful housing oversight, higher safety of the precise to vote, an finish to discrimination within the federal workforce and the abolition of Jim Crow practices within the Armed Forces. It was the primary message of its type by a sitting U.S. President, and it was impressed practically fully by a landmark report revealed three months earlier by the President’s Committee on Civil Rights.
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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.
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