Dear Friend,
 
Since the moment Joe Biden moved into the White House, we’ve seen the situation on our southern border deteriorate into total chaos.
 
And sadly, it isn’t an accident.
 
Over the last two years, the Biden administration has systematically and deliberately erased our border – dismantling common-sense, Trump-era border controls.
 
The results have been as devastating as they were predictable.
 
They’ve unleashed a tidal wave of illegal aliens and deadly drugs into our communities.
 
They’ve enriched the cartels and human traffickers.
 
They’ve pushed our local hospitals and schools to the breaking point, and forced you – the American people – to pick up the tab.
 
And they’ve disrespected the millions of legal immigrants who followed our laws and came here the right way.
 
As you may have heard, “Title 42” – the pandemic expulsion power that has allowed the Border Patrol to quickly remove at least some migrants – has expired. But even without Title 42, President Biden has powerful tools at his disposal to stop this invasion. Sadly, he refuses to use them (more on that later).
 
That’s the bad news.
 
Now for some good news.
 
Yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives took an important step to put an end to this slow-motion catastrophe by passing the Secure the Border Act, which has been described as the “strongest border security package in history.”
 
It would restart border wall construction.
 
It would add more Border Patrol agents
 
It would crack down on people gaming our asylum laws
 
And it would end the failed policy of “catch-and-release.”
 
It also contains a measure I authored to end the Biden administration’s flagrant abuse of “parole.”
 
As Telegram readers know, parole authority is supposed to be limited. It allows for the admission of foreigners without a visa under very narrow circumstances, for urgent humanitarian reasons on an individual, case-by-case basis. For example, a young child seeking immediate, life-saving medical treatment that is only available here in the U.S.
 
But that’s not how President Biden has used it.
 
Instead, he has converted this narrow avenue into an open-borders superhighway – indiscriminately admitting more than one million illegal migrants over the last two years.
 
That isn’t just wrong, it’s reckless.
 
It’s time to restore the rule of law and roll back the dangerous policies of this administration.
 
Americans are tired of the chaos, and they deserve an immigration system that puts the safety and well-being of Americans first. I’m happy to report that this bill does exactly that. You can see how lawmakers voted on the measure here, and you can watch my House floor remarks here.
 
The ball is now in the U.S. Senate’s court, and I hope they will step up and pass it.
 
Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us – and don’t forget Mother’s Day is right around the corner! So, if you haven’t already, make sure you get out there and pick up something nice for Mom.

Sincerely,





Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress

I’ve been blessed with my wonderful wife, Chris, who loves our three daughters unconditionally, and my mom, Virgal, who is the glue that holds me and my seven siblings together. I wish all the moms a very happy Mother’s Day. We couldn’t do it without you, and may your day be as great as my mom’s flowers.

Fentanyl Awareness: One pill can kill
This week, we recognized National Fentanyl Awareness Day to educate people on this deadly drug that is infiltrating our streets. As it stands, fentanyl is the leading cause of death in Americans ages 18-45, and it is important for parents and students to know how dangerous it is – just one pill can kill. I have made it a priority of mine to raise awareness and curb the dangers of this drug; however, as I travel around the district speaking with law enforcement, I continue to hear that we must do more to get it off our streets and protect Americans. Illicit drug manufacturers are compounding new drugs daily, and Tranq is a new fentanyl analog that contains the veterinary tranquilizer, xylazine. This new fentanyl analog is resistant to standard opioid overdose treatments – meaning that the tools we currently use to reverse an overdose won’t work on this lethal combination. We must do more research on illicit drugs containing xylazine, which is why this week I voted for H.R. 1734, the TRANQ Research Act. This bill will help close the gap on xylazine science and research, as well as establish new partnerships with front-line entities, like law-enforcement agencies, that are oftentimes the first point of contact for new opioid variants. This legislation passed the House unanimously, and it is one vital component, along with securing the southern border and permanently scheduling fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, that we must take to combat this deadly crisis.
 
White House tells whoppers on border disorder
Earlier in the Telegram, we mentioned the end of what’s known as “Title 42,” a public health measure that allowed the Border Patrol to quickly remove at least some of the migrants flooding our southern border. Even before Title 42 authority expired this week, the Biden administration got busy doing what it does best: Dispensing misinformation and lies to the American people. You may have seen that their chief propogandist, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, was ridiculed earlier this month for falsely claiming that Joe Biden has reduced illegal immigration by more than 90 percent. Well, she followed up on that whopper this week by saying that President Biden doesn’t have “enough tools" to stop the surge of migrants that his policies have set off. So, I sent a letter to her boss, politely informing him that she was fibbing again. Here’s the truth: Existing federal law already gives President Biden broad authority to suspend the entry of “any alien or class of aliens” he deems “detrimental to the interests of the United States.” And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that the chaos we are currently witnessing day in and day out on the US-Mexico border meets the definition of “detrimental.” You can read the full text of my letter here.
 
Fraud gone wild
Two years ago an investigative report exposed the massive amount of fraud occurring in pandemic assistance programs. From identity theft and using the names of dead people to file for unemployment benefits to scammers stealing the lunch money of low-income children to finance their luxury lifestyle and prison inmates cashing in from behind bars, there are almost too many examples to count. The reports of people taking advantage of federal money and programs that were created during the pandemic have been all too common, which is why I have fought to rein in the runaway spending that made it possible. Unfortunately, despite all the red flags, Democrats did nothing to fight the fraud fueled by their spending sprees, so just like inflation, it continued to skyrocket. In January, we learned the government shelled out over $60 billion in fraudulent claims, by February, the Department of Labor testified that it may be closer to $191 billion, while outside experts estimate it could be up to $400 billion. The good news is that this week the House passed legislation that will finally protect taxpayers and victims of fraud from what has become the largest theft of tax dollars in American history. The Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act will give states the tools they need to go after fraudsters and will help them modernize and address potential vulnerabilities in their system. It also lets them keep 25% of the fraudulent federal funds that they recover as an incentive to crack down on fraudsters. This legislation is long overdue, and I was pleased to see ten of my colleagues from across the aisle join us in a bipartisan effort to protect the American taxpayer, as it passed 230-200.
 
Farm Bill roundtable
On Monday, I held a Farm Bill Roundtable in Loyal with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, and multiple local farmers. The Farm Bill is legislation Congress passes every five years to update and improve agriculture and food programs, forestry, and trade policy. We had a wide-ranging discussion that touched on many topics, from challenges facing the dairy farmers as input costs rise, labor markets, safeguarding our food supply, and the need to preserve farmland for future generations. We also talked about tax policy, in particular protecting stepped-up basis, which protects farmers and small business owners from being forced to pay capital gains taxes on certain inherited assets. Unfortunately, the Biden administration is seeking to eliminate that, which would put many family farms at risk of being taxed out of business. Farmers are the backbone of America, and we must protect family farms for future generations.

Thank you to all the farmers who attended my Farm Bill Roundtable in Loyal.

Committee Update

Natural Resources
It’s time to stop taking U.S. minerals for granite
Yesterday, we had a hearing in the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee regarding two pieces of legislation from my friend, Rep. Stauber (MN-08), that address the recent mineral withdrawal in his district. In January of this year, the Biden administration issued a mining ban on over 225,000 acres of the Duluth complex in Northern Minnesota. This is an area that contains one of the most abundant mineral deposits in the world and tapping into these minerals like copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum will be key in ensuring we wean off our dependence on China and other foreign nations for our mineral supply chain. We discussed the Superior National Forest Restoration Act, which reverses the Biden administration’s foolish decision and unlocks this area so we can take advantage of this immense mineral wealth. I asked the witness who opposes developing this mine if she could name a different project that she supports. Not surprisingly, she couldn’t name a single new project she supports for critical minerals. This is a common theme among those who oppose mining projects in America. They will tell us that we can mine elsewhere – but then fail to say where that might be. That’s a cop out, pure and simple. I am committed to bringing back the production of minerals and energy – and the good, family wage jobs that it creates – to America, where we abide by the strongest environmental laws in the world. You can watch my full line of questioning here.
 
Federal Lands Subcommittee
Biden’s lead ammo and tackle ban
New regulations that the Biden administration is proposing would severely impact hunters and anglers across the United States by banning the use of lead ammo and fishing tackle on federal property. These types of equipment are some of the most cost-effective on the market, and banning them would create yet another obstacle for people who want to get out and enjoy our incredible public lands. Hunting and fishing are a central part of our way of life in Wisconsin, and the last thing people need is more government red tape. I’m happy to report that conservation groups are speaking out against this rule and are standing up for sportsmen. There is also legislation that has been introduced in Congress to roll back this misguided agency rule. One such bill sits on the Natural Resources Committee and recently had a hearing. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to keep hunting and fishing accessible to everyone, and that starts with making sure the government isn’t making it harder.
 
Judiciary
Supporting our heroes in Blue
As we mourn the loss of St. Croix County Sheriff’s Deputy Kaitie Leising, who was killed in the line of duty this past weekend by a repeat Minnesota offender out on probation, no amount of words can express the loss that Wisconsin has felt for our fallen heroes this year. Kaitie Leising, Emily Breidenbach, Hunter Scheel, and Peter Jerving dedicated their lives to protecting our communities, and my prayers are with the friends and family of the fallen. In spite of these tragedies, many lawmakers still continue to vilify police at every turn and even call to defund them while allowing criminals to stay on our streets. Let me be clear: Our law enforcement needs our support now more than ever. That’s why in honor of National Police Week next week, the House Judiciary Committee held a markup on a series of pro-police bills to honor, recognize, and protect our heroes in Blue. I voted to support local law enforcement officers and condemn efforts to defund or dismantle local law enforcement agencies. I also voted for legislation that would make assaulting a law enforcement officer a deportable offense for illegal aliens. Violence towards our police officers is something that we will not tolerate, and please know, the Seventh District stands behind you, your service, and your dedication to protecting our communities.

Click here or on the image above to watch my remarks honoring the lives of Wisconsin’s fallen officers.

Recent Legislation

Expanding veterans’ choice
Wisconsin’s veterans should be able to see a doctor as quickly as possible, and it’s no secret that Congress needs to improve veterans’ access to free-market healthcare to ensure that those who served our nation are able to receive timely and quality care. That’s why this week, I helped introduce H.R. 3176, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, authored by Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05). This bill would ensure our veterans have greater access and choice in their community care. It would remove VA barriers to free-market healthcare by creating a three-year pilot program that allows veterans to find and schedule necessary appointments at non-VA facilities and outside of their corresponding Veterans Integrated Service Networks. This will give our veterans greater choice and flexibility when they need to access a healthcare provider in their local community. You can read more about this legislation here.

District Update

Vietnam Veterans Memorial coming to Rhinelander
From May 18-21, the Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, will be in Rhinelander at Nicolet College. The Wall That Heals honors over three million Americans who served in the fight against communism during the Vietnam War and pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice by displaying their names. There will also be a mobile Education Center exhibit to tour. For more information on when and where the Wall That Heals tour will be, please click here.
 
Photo of the week
I know these past few months have been tough for our law enforcement community, but we will get through this together. To the entire Wisconsin Law Enforcement Community, thank you. As we join together to honor the life of St. Croix County Sheriff’s Deputy Kaitie Leising, let us all take a moment to pray for our heroes in Blue who suit up every day to protect us not knowing if they will return home to their families. If you would like your picture to be featured as a photo of the week, please email it to [email protected] with your name and location. 

“End of Watch” – submitted by Maurice at the Baldwin Veterans’ Memorial with the flag at half-staff to honor the life of Deputy Kaitie Leising.

Resources  

Summer is just around the corner, so don’t wait until the last minute to apply for or renew your passport for your upcoming vacation. The current processing time is 10 to 13 weeks, so we recommend getting this done as soon as possible. For more information, click here.

The USDA continues to make resources and assistance available to agricultural producers and working families to ensure access, safety and stability for food markets and supplies. 

If a friend forwarded you this newsletter, and you would like to receive it in the future, you can subscribe here for weekly updates and connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

As always, you are welcome to visit my website or to contact my offices in Washington, DC or Wisconsin, which remain open for service, if you have any questions or need assistance. 

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