Scalise Announces First Legislation For Republican House
Rep. Steve Scalise, the new House Majority Leader (Republican from Louisiana). revealed a list of legislation that he will bring up for Republicans to consider on the House floor when they assume control of the lower chamber in mere days and loosen the Democrats’ grip on power in Washington.
Scalise sent a letter to his GOP colleagues naming eight bills and three resolutions he would schedule for Republicans to work on in the first two weeks after the 118th Congress ends at noon on January 3.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us next year as we begin to get our country back on the right track,” Scalise wrote.
Scalise stated that American voters expressed their desire to see change in the midterm elections. Scalise noted frustration at the soaring inflation and rise in violent crime as well as the illegal immigration crisis.
“The last two years have been tough on hard-working families as they have grappled with drastic increases in the cost of living, safety concerns with violent crime skyrocketing in our communities, soaring gas and home heating prices, and a worsening crisis at our Southern border,” Scalise said.
He pledged that the incoming Congress will fix these problems and pass bills to improve the lives of citizens. “all Americans” With policies like increasing prosecutions and getting tougher against crime
Scalise describes Republicans as “a pressurized party.” “bold agenda” After winning enough midterm seats to retake the House to challenge the Democrats, they remain in control of both the Senate and White House. They also have the power and ability to block legislation.
A review of the bills and resolutions Scalise has scheduled for the first two weeks of the new Congress—like defunding the IRS or restricting releases from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve—suggests Republicans want to send a message to the Biden administration that the winds of change are about to blow harder.
Tough on China, but tough on crime
The first bill, dubbed the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act (pdf), aims to revoke some of the additional IRS funding that Democrats passed as part of their Inflation Reduction Act that the agency plans to use for tax enforcement.
Republicans are aiming at Scalise’s statement with the bill “tens of billions of dollars allocated to the IRS for 87,000 new IRS agents.” The Biden administration has stated that much of this money would be going to customer service staff and not enforcers.
Getting tougher on China is another immediate action item for the House Republicans, with a resolution (pdf) that seeks to establish a bipartisan Select Committee on the strategic competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R.Calif.), who wants to be House speaker, has made the panel a priority and recently named Rep. Mike Gallagher(R.Wiss.) his chair.
Gallagher said in mid-December He hopes for bipartisan cooperation at the committee, he said. “our first priority right now is just getting the best team together,” It is important to note that “a lot” Many Democrats expressed interest in joining the panel.
“We want to make sure that we’re enhancing and elevating the discussion on China,” Gallagher stated that Beijing’s inaction regarding Taiwan is a top priority for the near future.
Gallagher also stated that there are other priorities for the panel. He described them as “economic statecraft” That would be what it would entail. “smartly and selectively” China decoupling
“We don’t want American taxpayer dollars or retirement financial security subsidizing China’s military modernization or subsidizing genocide,” He stated.
He said that the third would be ideological competition and human right. “shine a light on some of the malicious practices of the regime and the [Chinese Communist Party’s] abysmal human rights record.”
Domestic Energy, Border Security and Abortion
Scalise also proposed the Strategic Production Response Act (pdf), which would prohibit non-emergency drawdowns of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve without a parallel plan to boost energy production on federal lands.
Republicans are highly critical of President Joe Biden’s decision to release oil from the strategic reserves. They argue that this was a plot to win votes in the midterm elections by trying to lower prices.
Biden, for his part, has insisted the release was meant to stabilize global oil markets amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy price shock, as well as trying to lower prices for Americans amid decades-high inflation, of which a major component is the cost of energy.
Scalise has scheduled another related bill, called Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (pdf), which would restrict the energy secretary from selling oil from the strategic reserve to China.
The Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act is another bill.pdfThis would enable the public to see which cases are being dropped by prosecutors and how many criminals have been released to the streets.
The same tough-on crime resolution (pdfThe () campaign aims to show support for police, while decrying attempts to defund or dismantle the law enforcement agencies.
Scalise proposed a bill titled the Border Safety and Security Act to improve border security.pdfThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS), would have the power to refuse entry to anyone crossing the border illegally to gain access to the United States. “operational control” The border.
Republicans accuse Alejandro Mayorkas (DHS Secretary) of failing ensure security. “operational control” Illegal border crossings have increased at the border.
Another related bill, called the Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act (pdf) would require the National Instant Criminal Background Check system (NICS) to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and relevant local law enforcement if someone trying to buy a firearm is an illegal immigrant.
There are two measures that deal with abortion: a bill and a resolution.
One bill, the No Taxpayer Financing for Abortion and Full Disclosure Act on Abortion Insurance (pdf), seeks to make the Hyde Amendment permanent and prohibit federal funding for abortions as well as funding for any insurance plans that include on-demand abortion.
The other bill, called Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (pdfThis would guarantee that babies born alive following a failed abortion receive the same legal protections and health care as newborns.
Scalise also suggested a solution (pdf) that would condemn attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches.
The other important aspects of the “ready-to-go” Scalise stated that House Republicans would also create oversight plans to bring down bills. “much-needed accountability” to the Biden administration.
McCarthy was also his supporter.
The Epoch Times senior reporter is Tom Ozimek. His experience includes journalism, marketing and communications, as well as adult education.
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