Dear Friend,
We told you last week about a looming vote on a nearly $100 billion, multi-part foreign aid measure that was scheduled for a weekend vote in the U.S. House. On Saturday, that vote happened.
While I have supported some components of the plan – such as additional military aid for Israel in their ongoing response to the terrorist attacks of October 7, and expanded defense cooperation for Taiwan in the face of escalating Communist Chinese aggression – I am deeply opposed to other parts of the legislation.
As I mentioned in the last Telegram, this sweeping foreign aid package will spend another $60 billion on Ukraine alone – on top of the $100 billion Americans have already shelled out. Of that, $300 million goes to Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service while our own country is being invaded by millions of illegals.
We should not be advancing funding for Ukraine to secure their borders, while ours remain open.
I was also shocked by the inclusion of some $9 billion in the Israel part of the measure for Gaza – which is ruled by the notorious Islamist terrorist group Hamas. It is unfair to ask American taxpayers to fund both sides of this conflict, and as such, I could not support this measure.
Equally troubling, as I mentioned last week, the bill failed to halt controversial Biden administration plans to build a U.S. taxpayer-funded port facility in Gaza. It also failed to prevent the White House from bringing large numbers of Palestinians into our country outside of normal visa rules. You can view the two amendments I filed to address these bad ideas here and here. Sadly, the powerful House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for floor debate in the House, prevented a vote on both of them.
I also cosponsored a third amendment with my colleague Rep. Scott Perry (PA-10) to the “Indo-Pacific” component of the bill. This one would have sped up defensive weapons shipments to Taiwan – weapons Taiwan has already paid for but have yet to be delivered. This measure, too, was blocked.
For these reasons and others, I did not support this legislation.
You can take a look at the full Roll Call votes on each element of the spending package in the House here, here, and here.
After all the individual bills were combined into a single omnibus foreign aid bill, the Senate also passed the bill. You can see how senators voted here.
Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Tiffany Telegram.
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress
Getting justice for sexual assault victims
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month; it is a time dedicated to raising awareness, teaching communities how to prevent it, and ensuring victims know about the resources available to them. Sexual assault is a heinous crime that leaves a lasting impact on victims – it is a violation of a person’s rights, dignity, and safety. Despite the severity of this crime, the punishment often doesn’t match the crime. That’s why earlier this month, I signed on to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s (FL-13) bill H.R. 7956, the Justice for Rape Survivors Act, which will increase the federal mandatory minimum to give at least 30 years or life in prison for those convicted. While increasing penalties for sexual assault is not a standalone solution, it is a step in the right direction. To address the rape kit backlog issue, I signed on to H.R. 1105, the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program Act, to reauthorize funding to help state and local governments tackle their DNA backlog by improving and expanding collection and analysis of DNA evidence in sexual assault kits. I’m pleased to report this bill passed both the Judiciary Committee and House unanimously and is currently waiting in the Senate for further consideration.
TSA PreCheck pop-up in Rhinelander
From May 20th to May 24th, TSA will be holding a pop-up PreCheck event at the Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport (RHI). If you travel a lot this may be something you want to pencil into your calendar. PreCheck is $85 for five years and allows you to travel with expedited security screenings, shorter lines, and no required shoe removal. Children 12 and under are also allowed to travel with their parents in the PreCheck lanes at no extra cost. This event will go from 8am – 12pm and 1pm – 4pm daily. You can complete the online application here and sign up for an appointment at RHI here.
Biden blackouts coming soon?
Yesterday, the Biden administration’s EPA announced a new emissions rule for power plants, known as Clean Power Plan 2.0. This rule will eliminate coal-fired plants and make it extremely difficult to build new natural gas plants. At a time when our grid is already becoming increasingly unreliable, this will only make the problem worse. The power grid watchdog, NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corp.), put out clear warnings in its 2023 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, that with energy demand soaring, most of the U.S. faces elevated or high risk of capacity shortfalls and rolling blackouts. Even this past summer, the Midwest grid operator, MISO, put out warnings over electricity generation, and in Wisconsin, we’ve seen the closing of coal plants delayed due to capacity requirements. The signs could not be clearer, yet this administration thinks now is a good idea to eliminate one of the most reliable and economically feasible forms of power generation. All this will do is increase the risk of blackouts becoming a regular reality here – while also raising energy prices. Here’s the bottom line: If we don’t reverse course on this disastrous rule, energy shortages will be here before we know it, and the American people will suffer as a result.
Planning on making a trip to DC?
Our office can help book your tours. Whether you are hoping to tour the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the FBI headquarters, or other sites around DC, we can help. If you are planning to visit our nation’s capital, please reach out to my office at least two months before your trip. You can click here to submit a tour form. Last week, we welcomed Bruce and Tammy from Tomahawk.
It’s always great to see Wisconsinites when I’m in DC.
Recent Legislation
Expanding rural access to critical medications
Medicare not only prohibits caregivers and family members from picking up a patient’s prescription, but it also prevents physicians from directly mailing medications to the patient. This restricts access for patients who are unable to drive themselves, especially in rural communities where clinics and pharmacies can be further away than they are in big cities. Medicare patients should be able to receive essential medications by mail or have their caregivers and loved ones pick them up. That’s why I cosponsored Rep. Harshbarger’s (TN-01) bill, the Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act, that would expand access to critical medications for Medicare patients. You can read more about this important legislation here.
District Update
Speaking to young Muskies
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with the Arbor Vitae Woodruff School District. The seventh graders at AV-W always show up prepared and actively participate. During yesterday’s discussion, we discussed what committees I serve on, what constitutional amendment I think is most important, and the kids asked if I have ever met President Biden. We also discussed why they should be involved in politics, and how it gives you a voice in decisions that directly affect your future.
Thank you to Mrs. Jorgensen for allowing me to stop by her class.
Photo of the Week
If you enjoy spring turkey hunting, be sure to check the Wisconsin DNR website for details and dates. Wisconsin offers terrific turkey hunting opportunities to sportsmen. 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.
“Turkey Time” – submitted by Greg in Lincoln County
Resources
Vacation is meant to be relaxing, so don’t let renewing or applying for your passport stress you out. 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.
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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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