Divider-in-Chief

118th Congress, 1st Session | December 19th, 2023

For the last three years, President Biden has intentionally sowed division in our nation. The most powerful example of the Biden Administration’s callous agenda is unfolding this week just outside of Washington.

In the coming days, the Biden Administration intends to remove the Reconciliation Monument from Arlington National Cemetery. The monument was erected in 1914 to commemorate reconciliation and national unity after the Civil War. Designed by a Jewish-American sculptor, the memorial is topped with a woman crowned by an olive wreath to symbolize peace.

As evidenced by its obsession with removing the Reconciliation Monument, the Biden Administration doesn’t want peace, unity, and reconciliation; they want discord, division, and destruction.

The Biden Administration’s disastrous decision to remove the Reconciliation Monument was made possible by the infamous Naming Commission. As you may know, the Naming Commission was established by the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to recommend the removal of “all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America.” Notably, President Trump vetoed the FY21 NDAA due to concerns about the Naming Commission and its attempts to rewrite history — yet the Uniparty overrode his veto.

In the years following this misguided move, the U.S. Army has implemented the Naming Commission’s recommendations, including the renaming of numerous military installations. As you know, they even attempted to rename our own Lake Lanier and Buford Dam, as these are the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works projects. But so far, we have successfully stopped these efforts. Yet the Commission also recommended the removal of the Arlington Reconciliation Monument — but the memorial doesn’t meet the key criteria for this ill-advised guidance.

First and foremost, the Reconciliation Monument does not commemorate the Confederacy; it commemorates national unity. Furthermore, the Naming Commission’s authority explicitly prohibits the desecration of grave sites. Considering the hundreds of gravestones encircling the monument and the four grave sites at the base of the memorial, it would be impossible for these graves to remain untouched. Undoubtedly, the removal of the monument alone constitutes a desecration of these graves.

Due to my sincere concerns with the Naming Commission’s flawed recommendation to remove the Reconciliation Monument in spite of these facts, I introduced an amendment to the FY24 Defense Appropriations bill to prohibit funds from being used to dismantle the memorial. The full House passed my amendment by voice, with no opposition. Shortly after, we passed the entire Defense Appropriations bill — with bipartisan support — in September.

Since Congress is still considering this single-subject spending bill, I led over 40 of my House Republican colleagues in urging the Department of Defense to halt its plans to remove the monument until the FY24 appropriations process is complete. I strongly believe that the Department of Defense must comply with this request or risk disrespecting and violating the principle of separation of powers between Congress and the Executive, outlined in the Constitution.

Yet on Friday, the Secretary of the Army responded to my letter confirming that the U.S. Army intends to remove the Reconciliation Monument by the January 1st, 2024 deadline — citing the severely flawed FY21 NDAA. Over the last few days, crews have started setting up to carry out this despicable effort at Arlington National Cemetery. But thankfully, they have been temporarily prevented from executing the Biden Administration’s vile efforts.

Yesterday, a Trump-appointed Judge, Rossie Alston Jr., issued a temporary restraining order, halting the removal of the Reconciliation Monument at Arlington National Cemetery pending further court action.

This was a major win — but our fight is far from over.

Please know that I will continue closely monitoring the situation and doing everything in my power to protect the Arlington Reconciliation Monument. Because our nation, our history, and our unity are worth fighting for.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Andrew S. Clyde

Weekly Poll: Reconciliation Monument

I want to hear from you! Do you support the Biden Administration’s plan to remove the Reconciliation Monument from Arlington National Cemetery?

Do you support the Biden Administration’s plan to remove the Reconciliation Monument from Arlington National Cemetery?

Yes

From Combat to Congress

On the new “From Combat to Congress,” I explain why I voted against the FY24 NDAA, discuss the new development in House Republicans' impeachment inquiry, and highlight my latest efforts to protect our Second Amendment rights.

Click the video below for the final Washington update of 2023.

Rep. Clyde Votes Against Final Passage of FY24 NDAA

Last week, I voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which authorizes funding and policies for the Department of Defense. Unfortunately, this year’s NDAA is woke, weaponized, and wrong for America.

Our nation’s military should be solely focused on maintaining the most lethal fighting force in the world. Yet during backroom negotiations with the Senate, the conservative wins that House Republicans fought for to ensure the Pentagon prioritizes training our warfighters were recklessly removed, while destructive policies that weaken our military were injected into this critical legislation. From taxpayer-funded abortion travel and transgender surgeries to gender and racial ideologies, this year’s NDAA contains numerous woke policies that are rotting our great military from the inside out.

Furthermore, one of the most egregious provisions, a clean reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), was foolishly attached to the NDAA. By extending FISA with zero reforms, Congress carelessly greenlit additional warrantless surveillance of the American people — representing a complete disregard for our Fourth Amendment rights. This unconstitutional measure also brazenly violates our House rules, as FISA is not germane to our annual defense policy bill.

As a 28-year Navy combat veteran, I certainly understand and support strengthening our nation’s readiness through bolstering our military’s defense capabilities and investing in our servicemembers. Yet I will never betray the men and women who answer the call of duty by allowing the Biden Administration’s woke agenda to further tarnish our military, hinder recruitment and retention efforts, and distract our warfighters. I’m severely disappointed that Members in both parties and both chambers impetuously supported the harmful policies and FISA reauthorization in this year’s NDAA in order to get home early for Christmas. Our military — and our nation — deserve better.

The FY24 NDAA ultimately passed both the House and Senate, sending the defense package to President Biden’s desk. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns about my vote, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.

Rep. Clyde Introduces Legislation to Block ATF's Universal Background Check Rule

Back in August, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) proposed a rule titled “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms,” which redefines language pertaining to buying and selling firearms. The ATF’s proposed rule would require private citizens to obtain a federal firearms license, conduct a background check, and complete gun registration paperwork to sell even a single firearm. This measure marks the Biden Administration’s latest attempt to infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights, institute universal background checks, and advance the Left’s radical gun control agenda.

In response, I led 107 House Republicans in introducing the Stopping Unconstitutional Background Checks Act to prohibit the implementation of and funding for the ATF’s rule. Private citizens should not be forced to jump through unelected anti-gun bureaucrats’ unconstitutional hurdles in order to engage in lawful firearms transactions. The ATF’s concerning pattern of criminalizing the American people for exercising their unalienable right to keep and bear arms must be met with swift congressional action. Thankfully, my legislation provides a simple solution to block the implementation of and funding for this unlawful, convoluted, and burdensome rule. We must be ever vigilant to continue protecting Americans’ Second Amendment liberties from the Biden Administration’s nefarious overreach

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In Case You Missed It

Rep. Clyde Honors the Life and Legacy of Brenau University President Dr. Anne Skleder

Rep. Clyde Celebrates Lumpkin County's 2023 State of Economic Development Winners

Rep. Clyde Joins Newsmax to Discuss Prioritizing America Over Ukraine

Week Ahead

I hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas together, filled with happiness and His love. May we always remember that the reason for the season is Jesus!

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11).

As 2023 comes to an end this Christmas season, I also wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! For timely updates on the week ahead, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Gettr, and X. Have a blessed week!