Dear Friend,
It’s no secret that the Biden-Harris White House is running out of time.
That’s probably why they are scrambling to push as much of your money out the door as possible before their term is up.
This week, a major news outlet confirmed the 11th-hour spending spree, reporting that, “Biden administration officials are working against the clock doling out billions…before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.”
Last week we told you about Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his plans to hand nearly another billion tax dollars to Ukraine.
Not to be outdone, President Biden quickly one-upped him – bragging a short time later about giving away $40 billion to Africa. But even that wasn’t enough: He pledged to increase that number to an eye-watering $55 billion before his tenure in the Oval Office ends.
As bad as this all sounds – it’s even worse when you consider that this same White House admitted just a few short weeks ago that “FEMA will not have enough funding to get through [this year].”
Should we really be handing out money to foreigners when we can’t take care of Americans who are struggling to recover from hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires right here at home?
The answer is obviously “no.”
That’s why this week I joined my colleague Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17) in introducing the Securing Taxpayer Assistance during Natural Disasters Act – or STAND Act for short.
This common-sense bill would halt the kinds of foreign giveaways I just mentioned during Presidentially declared domestic disasters here at home.
After all, Americans shouldn’t be forced to wait for critical assistance while their tax dollars are being shipped to countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
You can read more about Rep. Steube’s legislation here.
We’ve got a lot more to tell you about in this edition of the Telegram and appreciate you starting off your weekend with us.
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress
Click here or on the image above to watch me call for transparency on plans to resettle refugees in the Wausau-area.
Refugee resettlement replay?
The Biden White House isn’t just working to push out as much money as they can before leaving office. It seems they are also racing against the clock to bring in as many foreigners as possible. This week, that effort made the news in Marathon County, where the Biden administration is working with Governor Evers and a non-governmental organization to import 140 refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine before President-elect Trump takes office on January 20. Unfortunately, as with previous “resettlements” in our state, residents who stand to be affected have been kept in the dark. Now, like then, little if any effort appears to have been made to reach out directly to the public, or to analyze the potential strains this “resettlement” may place on local schools, public health infrastructure, housing availability, or social services – and what those strains will mean for hometown taxpayers and our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. That’s why this week, I wrote to Governor Evers’ refugee coordinator, asking her to come clean with the public about what she’s planning and to give local people an opportunity to weigh in. You can check out the letter I sent her here, and read more about what’s happening here.
Prioritizing military readiness over wokeness
Each year, Congress approves funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Unfortunately, under the Biden-Harris administration, much of the NDAA has been dominated by so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives – placing these priorities ahead of military lethality and the well-being of our service members. This week, House Republicans took a critical step to refocus the Pentagon on its core mission by passing a bill that ensures our forces are equipped to protect American interests at home and abroad. Our men and women in uniform deserve more than rhetoric; they deserve our support. That’s why I supported provisions in this year’s NDAA that include a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% raise for all other service members, ensuring their wages keep pace with rising inflation. These measures are crucial to addressing the recruitment crisis that has strained our armed forces in recent years. The bill also includes provisions to deploy the National Guard to the southern border and halts new military funding for Ukraine. These steps lay the groundwork for significant reforms under a Trump administration that is committed to restoring greatness to our military. While this is a good start to getting our military back on track, there are other provisions I look forward to working with President Trump on – such as ensuring that troops who refused the COVID-19 vaccine are fully reinstated and all DEI offices within the DOD are eliminated. You can read more about this year’s NDAA here.
Keeping the government out of our laundry
Since taking office in 2021, the Biden-Harris administration has made it a priority of theirs to make it harder for everyday Americans to live their everyday lives. Last February, the Department of Energy (DOE) introduced a final rule that would impose stricter energy standards for “residential clothes washers,” like washers and dryers. By starting a misguided war on household appliances and taking away consumer choice, the current administration has increased the cost of basic household tasks for everyone across the board. Implementing these “green energy” standards on washing machines will allow the DOE to ban affordable models of washers and dryers, forcing force Americans to buy more expensive models that they may not want or can’t afford. This week, the House voted to put a halt to this dirty rule by passing the Liberty in Laundry Act. This important legislation defends hardworking Americans from rogue, out-of-touch bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. who are out to raise their cost of living.
Farming the taxpayer?
Earlier this year, Xcel Energy announced their plans to convert 5,000 acres of land in St. Croix County into solar arrays. Much of the affected area includes pre-existing farmland or land that local farmers were planning to use. Unfortunately, it’s now being transformed into what amounts to an industrial site by Xcel Energy despite opposition from local residents. Initially, Xcel Energy said that they would host a public, in-person, presentation in New Richmond that residents could attend to have their voices heard. But now, just four days before this presentation was scheduled, Xcel Energy announced they are moving their presentation to a “virtual meeting.” This is an insult to the community, which deserves a say in this 5,000-acre “green energy” boondoggle, and suggests that Xcel isn’t serious about being responsive to local concerns. That’s why I will be holding an in-person town hall in January on this matter. Stay tuned for more information on the date, time, and location.
Recent Legislation
Nothing “normal” about China’s trade preferences
Telegram readers know that for the last two Congresses, I’ve introduced legislation with my colleague Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) to revoke Beijing's “Most Favored Nation” trade status and restore the checks and balances that existed before Congress granted China so-called “Permanent Normal Trade Relations” more than two decades ago. One of the safeguards that was stripped away when that happened was an annual vote in Congress on U.S-China trade. Backers promised that opening our markets to Chinese products would usher in a new era of prosperity here and pave the way for political freedom and fair labor practices in China. We all know that isn't what happened. Instead, unfair Chinese trade practices have enriched China’s rulers while making them more ruthless, more powerful, and more dangerous. Meanwhile, one of America’s chief “exports” to China has become U.S. manufacturing jobs. That’s why this week, I was thrilled to see Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-02), the Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, call for an end to China’s sweetheart trade status. There is nothing “normal” about China's predatory behavior, and it is high time that America stopped enabling that behavior on a “permanent” basis.
Rolling back red tape
Small businesses scored a significant victory in the fight against the big government when a federal district court in Texas issued a ruling to block the Department of Treasury from enforcing its so-called “Beneficial Ownership Information” reporting mandates. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by the National Federation of Independent Business, which argued that the new requirements harm small businesses, overstep Congress's authority, and violate the Constitution. The court also ruled that a nationwide injunction was necessary to provide meaningful relief, effectively halting these misguided and unfair mandates nationwide. I’ve long opposed this job killing initiative, which is why I signed on to a bill authored by Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08) known as the Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act, which would get rid of these cumbersome requirements permanently. You can read more about that bill here.
District Update
Don’t let porch pirates get you down
It’s that time of year when people are wrapping up their Christmas shopping via online shopping, so I want to warn you the real-life Grinches who are out to steal your holiday cheer. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to keep your packages safe from porch pirates. First things first, be sure to coordinate with your neighbors if you’re going to be gone when the package is delivered. You can also require a signature for your package, ship it straight to a store or drop-off locations, or install a video doorbell if possible. Finally, it’s always a good idea to leave a note for your delivery driver on the safest place to leave your packages. Click here for more tips.
Air Force Summer Seminar
If you or someone you know is interested in serving in the United States Air Force (USAF), the USAF Academy will be hosting three four-day seminars this summer to give high school juniors going into their senior year the opportunity to see what the day to day as a cadet is like. The Summer Seminar is a great way for students to experience campus life firsthand and ask any questions they may have. Click here for more information on the dates offered and how to apply.
Photo of the week
I want to thank everyone for the wonderful photo of the week submissions we have received. From beautiful lakes to wildlife and more, we are fortunate to live in such a great state, and we would like to continue to showcase any pictures you take. If you have a photo you'd like to share, please submit it to [email protected] with your name and location.
“Swans in Love” – Submitted by Katie on Two Sisters Lake in Lake Tomahawk
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.
Additionally, 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. Click here to see if you are eligible to apply. FEMA also announced that Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) are available. For more information, click here.
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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