Dear Friend,
Congress was back in session this week, and our main goal has been preparing for next year, particularly setting the leadership and rules necessary to implement President Trump’s agenda. The American people delivered a mandate on November 5th, and I am ready to hit the ground running to turn that mandate into action.
In a House Republican Conference meeting this week, President-elect Donald Trump joined us to congratulate the House on the work we have done and to lay out a vision for the new Congress.
As I mentioned in last week’s Telegram, much of my focus will be on cutting wasteful spending, lowering prices, securing the border, and achieving energy independence. These are areas where I believe we can deliver real results.
On the local front, I’m committed to finishing the fight to delist the gray wolf and cutting red tape for broadband providers so we can improve high-speed internet access across rural Wisconsin.
There’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m confident that many of the individuals President-elect Trump has tapped to key positions will effectively carry out his agenda.
One of the initiatives I'm most excited about is the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to cut wasteful government, trim the federal bureaucracy, and make government work better for taxpayers. This is an issue I’ve fought for in Congress, and I look forward to working with DOGE to ensure taxpayers’ money is not wasted on things like drag shows in Ecuador.
As you probably know, President-elect Trump has already announced several appointments.
Tom Homan, a former police officer in New York and Border Patrol agent, will serve as President Trump’s Border Czar. This decision was a relief to the hardworking Border Patrol agents who have endured the last four years. During the Obama administration, Tom was recognized for his relentless efforts to identify and remove illegal aliens, and I’m confident he will bring the same determination to secure our border under President Trump.
Additionally, President Trump has tapped Pete Hegseth, a former veteran and Army Major, as Defense Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Congressman Matt Gaetz to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). For a full list of nominees, click here.
What’s clear from these selections is that the era of the D.C. status quo is over.
In the past four years, we’ve witnessed the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, a $200 million pier in Gaza that was poorly constructed and led to the tragic death of a soldier, the cruel enforcement of Biden’s vaccine mandate, millions spent on unnecessary and unfair “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives, and a weaponized DOJ targeting political opponents, religious groups, and concerned parents. Americans are fed up with these failed policies – and are demanding change.
It’s time to clean house and bring in innovative, outside leaders to put America first and restore American greatness.
Thanks for starting your weekend off with the Tiffany Telegram. We have a lot more to tell you, and we will be back next week with more.
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress
Click here or on the image above to watch me lay out a few of my priorities for next year on DrydenWire.
Now accepting internship applications
If you are looking to intern in my Washington, D.C. office this spring, you’re in luck. We are looking to hire hardworking and dedicated students for a paid internship to assist in answering phone calls, giving tours of the U.S. Capitol, conducting legislative research, and more. This internship is a great opportunity for individuals to learn the ins and outs of Congress, attend hearings and briefings, and make connections for their future careers. Click here for more information on how to apply.
Putting fentanyl traffickers and cartels on notice
This week, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) released its annual crime report for 2023, revealing a troubling rise in fentanyl-related cases. Unfortunately, the number of fentanyl incidents is up by more than 80 cases compared to 2022. The consequences of the outgoing Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies of the last four years have turned every state into a border state, including Wisconsin. We must reverse course and take immediate action. That's why I am committed to working with President Trump to designate major drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and pass legislation to ensure that drug smugglers and human traffickers are held accountable. Last year, I was an original cosponsor of H.R. 3215, the Fentanyl Trafficker Elimination Act, introduced by Rep. Tim Burchett (TN-02). This legislation would impose the death penalty on anyone convicted of intentionally trafficking fentanyl. With the incoming Trump administration committed to putting this issue front and center, I’m looking forward to enacting legislation like this to make American neighborhoods safe again. You can read more about President Trump’s plan to end the drug epidemic here.
Line 5 progress
This usually isn’t the case, but we had some good news come out of Madison yesterday when the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) finally issued the first construction permits to reroute Line 5. After the DNR sat on their hands for years, this is a big step towards providing Americans with safe, clean, and affordable energy. The approval of this reroute will not only ensure affordable propane to over 250,000 Wisconsin residents, but it will also allow for the development and transport of domestic energy infrastructure so that American families have reliable energy to heat their homes, cook their food, and run their businesses. If Line 5 were to shut down, there would be catastrophic consequences including gas price hikes, refinery closings, job losses, and a shortage of propane throughout the Midwest. There are also massive economic implications for this project. It would result in a $135 million economic impact on Wisconsin, including an estimated 700 family-supporting construction jobs. Pipelines are the safest method to transport energy, and this proposed route is the most environmentally preferred, so the momentum for this project must continue. I am optimistic that under the leadership of President-elect Trump, the Army Corps of Engineers will move expeditiously on the remaining permits.
Preserve your records, Mr. Smith
Three days after Donald Trump announced he was running for President again, the Biden-Harris administration began pulling strings to accelerate cases against him to keep him off the ballot. Their first move was to appoint Jack Smith as Special Counsel so he could go after Trump for “mishandling” classified materials. According to the National Archives, every administration over the past four decades has faced questions about their handling of classified materials – including the Obama-Biden administration – but only President Trump has ever been charged. From the FBI’s unprecedented raid on Mar-a-Lago to evidence tampering, it was clear from the start that Jack Smith’s decision to pursue the case was politically motivated. As a result, his case was postponed indefinitely back in May – a ruling he was trying to appeal. But now that former President Trump is President-elect Trump, Mr. Smith has been forced to begin winding down his bogus cases. Last week, a federal judge granted the request to pause the case against Donald Trump related to the 2020 election, and yesterday, he was granted a special request giving him until December 2nd to determine how to proceed on his dubious classified documents case. The Justice Department has a long-standing policy of not prosecuting a sitting president, so Jack Smith should come to that same conclusion. However, given the Biden-Harris administration’s proclivity for altering official records, there is cause for concern that Special Counsel Smith may use the time to try and “purge” some of his records to skirt oversight. That’s why the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to the Special Counsel instructing him to retain and produce all documents, including emails and text messages, related to the probe before the end of the month.
Click here or on the image above to watch my interview with CNN telling Jack Smith to preserve all his records.
District Update
Small business loans and firefighter grants available
Attention small business owners, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in Wisconsin due to economic losses during the wet spring that occurred in April. The declaration includes the counties of Bayfield, Wood, Ashland, Clark, Douglas, Jackson, Juneau, Marathon, Sawyer, Washburn, and more. To find out more about this disaster declaration or to apply, click here. Additionally, FEMA announced that Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) are available. Fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations, and state fire training academies can apply. For more information, click here. If your business or departments need help applying for these loans and grants, please have them contact my Wausau office for assistance.
Winter is just around the corner
While parts of the Seventh District have already experienced snowfall, I want to make sure everyone is prepared for the upcoming winter months. The National Weather Service (NWS) made changes to how they will inform you of cold weather. Instead of using terms like “Extreme Cold” and “Wind Chill,” they will now use just one “Extreme Cold Watch/Warning/Advisory” warning. With next week being Winter Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin, be sure to keep an eye out for tips and tricks on how you stay safe through the winter weather. Click here for ways you can prepare your home and vehicles for extreme cold.
Photo of the week
The holiday season is here, and if you have any seasonal pictures you would like to share as a photo of the week, please submit them to [email protected] with your name and location.
“Trumpkins” – Submitted by Rayna from Eagle River
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 4 to 6 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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