Greetings!
I wanted to take a moment to share with you a recap on what happened last week in Texas' 22nd District and the United States House of Representatives.
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Rep. Troy E. Nehls Receives Commitment from USMS Director to Release the Footage of J6 Detainee Ronald "Colton" McAbee |
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During a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance hearing titled, “Oversight of the United States Marshals Service,” I demanded Ronald Davis, the Director of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), call on the Washington D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) to release the body-worn camera video footage of one of his January 6 detainees, who was sprayed with chemicals for reportedly removing his COVID-19 mask to take medication.
On September 5, 2022, at approximately 11:45 a.m., an incident occurred between USMS detainee, Ronald “Colton” McAbee, and Lieutenant Crystal Lancaster at the D.C. DOC, where several January 6 detainees are being held. Based on reports I’ve received, Mr. McAbee was in the process of receiving his medication, which requires him to remove his COVID-19 facemask and prove he has consumed the medication. According to numerous reports, Lieutenant Lancaster aggressively approached Mr. McAbee and began yelling at him. Lieutenant Lancaster then reportedly deployed her handheld chemical munitions directly into Mr. McAbee’s face at close range. Reports indicate that Lieutenant Lancaster intentionally used these chemical agents, several times against Mr. McAbee, without any provocation on his part. Should Lieutenant Lancaster have applied the Use of Force improperly, it would be a severe violation of Mr. McAbee’s civil rights.
I had the opportunity to visit the January 6 detainees at the D.C. DOC in January 2023, where I was initially told the body-worn camera video footage existed and would be made available to me. Following the visit, I submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to USMS and the D.C. DOC requesting this body-worn camera video footage be released. USMS responded that the D.C. DOC maintained the footage, not the USMS. However, the D.C. DOC eventually denied the initial FOIA request and appeal.
At the hearing, I questioned Director Davis about his knowledge of the incident involving Mr. McAbee and Lieutenant Lancaster. While Director Davis testified that he was not aware of the situation and had not reviewed the body-worn camera video footage, he committed his team to working with my staff and I to meet the request for the footage.
Every detainee, including those involved with the events that occurred on January 6, deserves to be treated humanely and receive due process. It is my mission to uncover this footage for Mr. McAbee and his family, who have received no support from the D.C. DOC following this incident. Bad news doesn’t get better with time, and we must get to the bottom of what truly happened that day.
Watch some of my remarks from the hearing HERE.
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Rep. Troy E. Nehls Receives Distinguished Community Health Center Advocate Award |
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I was honored to receive the Distinguished Community Health Center Advocate Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers. Community Health Centers play a pivotal role across our communities, which serve over 100,000 patients across TX-22 and provide vital care to millions of people across the United States. I am proud to represent thousands of health care professionals and patients in my district and advocate for their priorities in Congress.
In December 2023, I voted in favor of the recently passed Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which fully pays for expiring Community Health Center programs and promotes transparency throughout the health care system for patients.
I am also committed to addressing the issue of workplace violence in medical facilities, which has become a serious problem nationwide. That is why the SAVE Act is vitally important for our healthcare professionals and patients. This legislation would establish new criminal offenses for assaulting hospital personnel and create a grant program to reduce the incidence of violence at medical facilities.
We must also continue to extend and make permanent key telehealth flexibilities offered during the pandemic to give certainty to providers, facilitate increased access to care for patients, and drive down the skyrocketing cost of healthcare.
I appreciate the National Association of Community Health Centers for stopping by my office and thank you for the important work that you do across TX-22 and beyond!
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Rep. Troy E. Nehls Votes 'YES' to Impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas |
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This week, the United States House of Representatives passed articles of impeachment against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Framers of our Constitution restricted impeachment to treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors. This standard applied to behavior found damaging to the state, including significant abuses of a government office or power, neglect of duty, and betrayals of the trust of the American people, among other things.
The Framers considered impeachment to be an essential tool to hold government officers accountable for political crimes. The articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas provide that he has willfully and systematically refused to comply with immigration laws enacted by Congress and has breached the public trust by knowingly making false statements to Congress and obstructing Congressional oversight of his department.
Our nation’s immigration laws require aliens to be detained for a removal proceeding. Instead, Secretary Mayorkas’ catch-and-release scheme allowed illegal aliens to be dispersed all over our country, wreaking havoc and destroying communities while they awaited their immigration court date. Immigration law also requires that an illegal alien who is inadmissible or deportable on certain criminal and terrorism-related grounds should be taken into custody when the alien is released from law enforcement. Instead of doing this, Secretary Mayorkas issued guidance that the conviction alone could not be used for the basis of removal. This is not only disgraceful, it is grounds for impeachment.
His blatant refusal to enforce our nation’s immigration laws has allowed over 8.3 million illegal aliens to cross our borders, and 1.7 million known gotaways to evade Border Patrol Agents. God only knows who these people are, where they are, and what they are doing on U.S. soil.
For these reasons, I voted ‘YES’ to advance the articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas. Secretary Mayorkas is the first cabinet secretary to be impeached in nearly 150 years. The articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas are headed to the Senate.
My House Republican colleagues and I have delivered accountability for the American people. I urge the Senate to do the same.
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Rep. Troy E. Nehls Attends House Judiciary Committee Markup |
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The House Judiciary Committee held a markup this week to advance legislation regarding government accountability.
Among the bills advanced, the committee passed H.R. 7322, the Standing Up to the Executive Branch for Immigration Enforcement Act, which would give state attorneys general standing to bring an action against the federal government if a state is harmed through the federal government’s violation of immigration laws.
In United States v. Texas, the Supreme Court found that states lacked standing to challenge the Biden Administration’s failure to enforce certain immigration laws that would prevent states from an invasion. In writing for the majority, Supreme Court of the United States Justice Brett Kavanaugh stated that the ruling might differ if Congress provided for “legally cognizable injuries” to which federal courts could provide relief. This bill does just that. I am proud to support legislation that provides an avenue to finally put an end to the lawlessness imposed on Texas by the Biden Administration.
My House Judiciary Republican colleagues and I remain committed to America First policies.
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Rep. Troy E. Nehls Votes YES to Pass H.R. 7176, the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024 |
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Since Joe Biden took office in January 2021, his administration has not issued a single new liquid natural gas (LNG) export permit. Just last month, the Biden Administration announced an LNG export ban. This decision is just another example of Joe Biden’s reckless America Last energy agenda, which prioritizes appeasing the Far Left and climate extremists over strengthening our economy and energy security. LNG is reliable, efficient, and affordable. It heats our homes, powers our stoves, and is utilized in the manufacturing process for everyday household products.
This week, I proudly voted ‘YES,’ and the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7176, the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. This critical piece of legislation lifts the Biden Administration’s pause on all pending approvals of LNG export terminals and includes strong provisions to prohibit trade with an individual or foreign country under sanction or listed as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Increasing LNG exports could add $73 billion and over 450,000 jobs to the American economy by 2040. Additionally, lifting the ban on LNG export terminals will lower energy prices at home. Further, it will ease the burden on our allies in Europe, who could buy clean American energy rather than relying on imports from our foreign adversaries. President Trump and even President Obama recognized the value of LNG, not only to our economy but also to our closest allies around the world.
Rather than limiting LNG and other energy exports, my House Republican colleagues and I want to unleash American energy, strengthen our own energy and national security, and decrease reliance on foreign adversaries for daily energy necessities.
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Available IRS Tools to Help Taxpayers Through Tax Filing Season |
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recommends trying the following self-help resources available to taxpayers 24/7 for a smooth and easy tax filing experience.
If you have any IRS issue, please fill out this form on my website, and a member of my team will reach out to you.
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2024 Congressional Art Competition is Now Open |
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My office is now accepting Congressional Art Competition submissions online only by Friday, April 26, 2024.
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.
The Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and is open to all high school students in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas. The winning artwork of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and receive two plane tickets to Washington, D.C. The rules, regulations, application, and checklist can be found on my website.
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LAST WEEK'S POLL QUESTION RESULTS |
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Do you think Joe Biden is mentally competent enough to be president?
YES 17.6%
NO 82.4%
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I always appreciate learning about the issues that are important to you. If you have a concern, please contact me HERE.
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Use this QR code to follow my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts and join my Newsletter for updates. It's an honor to represent you and the great state of Texas in the United States House of Representatives.
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Do you support the House's impeachment of DHS Secretary Mayorkas? |
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Troy E. Nehls
Member of Congress
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