Protecting Privacy Rights for American Social Media Users

This week, I proudly voted YES on the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Through my work on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), I have seen firsthand the amount of improper surveillance the CCP carries out against American citizens, and their newest tools are online apps such as TikTok.

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act does not ban TikTok, it protects Americans and prevents foreign adversaries, like the CCP, from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating people through online applications.

What the Bill Does:

• Incentivizes divestment of TikTok.
• Addresses the national security risks posed by other applications controlled by foreign adversary companies.
• Empowers users to switch platforms by requiring platforms to provide users a copy of their data in a format that can be imported to an alternate social media app.

What the Bill Does Not Do:

• Punish individual social media users.
• Censor speech: This legislation does not regulate speech. It is focused entirely on foreign adversary control—not the content of speech being shared. This bill only applies to specifically defined social media apps subject to the control of foreign adversaries, as defined by Congress.
• Impact apps that sever ties to foreign adversary-controlled entities.

Supporting Tribal Law Enforcement

This week, my legislation—the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act—was marked up and agreed to by the House Committee on Natural Resources.

This legislation is key in improving hiring and retention among tribal law enforcement that are facing numerous challenges, including missing and murdered indigenous women and girls as well as the radically worsening opioid crisis. I want to make sure they have the resources they need to confront these issues head on.

Tribes are facing budget constraints as well as a shortage of qualified officers, and the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act would eliminate these barriers by affirming that tribal law enforcement officers possess the same authority as non-tribal federal officers when they meet the necessary training and background requirements. This streamlined approach empowers tribal law enforcement to do their jobs more efficiently while saving them time and money.

Together, let us strengthen our commitment to public safety and stand united in the pursuit of justice for all.

Today, I co-sponsored the Air Quality Standards Implementation Act of 2024—a bill that makes practical changes to reform the broken process used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and implement the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

In February, the EPA announced a restrictive new standard which threatens up to one million jobs and $197.4 billion in economic activity, and the Air Quality Standards Implementation Act seeks to rectify it.

As Chairman of the Western Caucus, encouraging responsible resource development and advocating for practical permitting reforms is of the utmost importance to me, and this legislation aims to enhance American prosperity—not kill it.

The Biden Administration’s irresponsible rule on fine particulate matter harms rural producers in every industry. This bill takes important steps to empower states to implement standards, rather than giving unelected bureaucrats in Washington, DC, even more power to control our lives.

Earlier this week, I had a great meeting with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to discuss Israel's ongoing efforts to defeat Hamas, steps to prevent a nuclear Iran, and the need for additional U.S. security assistance.

In the aftermath of the heinous attacks on Israel orchestrated by the terrorist organization, Hamas, it is important that we re-affirm our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself.

Israel’s struggle for freedom has persisted for generations, and its aggressors will not be satisfied until the nation is eradicated, countless more civilians are murdered, and the Jewish population is extinguished. It is imperative that this conflict concludes with an Israeli victory, and the United States should aid them in securing this outcome.

Discussing Pressing Issues with the Mayor Pro Tempore of West Richland

Intern Spotlight

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