Dear John,
This past week, with my support, House Republicans passed crucial legislation to protect the lives of all Americans, including the Laken Riley Act to protect our communities from criminal illegal immigrants, and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, ensuring medical care for infants who survive abortion attempts. President Trump also joined me in calling for full recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. My legislation, the Lumbee Fairness Act, would achieve this goal and grant the Lumbee Tribe the services afforded to other federally-recognized tribes. If you received this newsletter from a friend, and you would like to continue receiving these updates, you can subscribe here or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to the Secretary of the Interior to submit a plan to advance full federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
According to the Memorandum, the Secretary of Interior will submit a plan to the President to assist the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full federal recognition, including through legislation, which is ultimately what will be required. I recently introduced H.R. 474, the Lumbee Fairness Act, to make Lumbee Tribe members eligible for the services provided to members of federally recognized tribes.
President Trump has long been a supporter of the Lumbee Tribe and has committed to signing legislation for full recognition. Denied the services of other federally-recognized tribes for decades, Congress can finish the job by passing my bill, the Lumbee Fairness Act, and send it to the President’s desk to become law.
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The House passed S. 5, the Laken Riley Act after being amended in the Senate. S. 5 would protect American communities by requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal aliens who commit crimes that result in serious bodily injury, theft, burglary, larceny, shoplift, or assault a law enforcement officer until they can be removed from our country. The legislation also authorizes state governments to sue against open-border Executive Branch officials who refuse to enforce the nation's immigration laws.
What a difference an election makes. In the previous Congress, the U.S. Senate wouldn't even allow debate on the House-passed Laken Riley Act. With Senate and House approval achieved, it goes to the President for his signature to become law. This new law will make it easier for our law enforcement to take illegal criminal offenders, including murderers such as the one who killed Laken Riley, off the streets and ensure their deportation. |
House Republicans also passed H.R. 21, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. H.R. 21 requires health care practitioners to give the same level of care to a child born alive after an abortion attempt just as they would to any other newborn. The bill also stipulates the child must be taken to a hospital right away. If anyone knows that the required care isn't being provided, they must report it to authorities immediately.
Every life deserves protection. The bill recognizes that all living human beings deserve care and entitles these babies to the same care that would be received by other “wanted” premature babies of the same age.
Friday was the 51st annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. March for Life brings tens of thousands of people from across America to Capitol Hill to celebrate life. More than 200 North Carolinians made the trip to DC this year!
I'm deeply grateful for these North Carolinians and their tireless commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us. Because of their efforts in our nation's capital and the work they do in the state, the fight to protect God's precious gift of life is advancing with strength, purpose, and determination. It's an honor to stand with them.
Every year pro-lifers reaffirm their commitment to protecting the unborn. Their influence is a powerful force sustaining the continual work necessary for all which is honorable to prevail, informed by the faith that serves as the bedrock of our values.
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This past week, following updates to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure leadership, I was named chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Having been a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) since I was first elected to Congress and serving on Highways and Transit for six years, I understand the subcommittee's importance in developing policies that lead to the sound infrastructure necessary to drive economic growth and to ensure safe and efficient travel.
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Last Wednesday, I led a Subcommittee hearing on highway program priorities for the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization entitled: "America Builds: Highways to Move People and Freight" hearing.
As we begin working on reauthorizing our nation's surface transportation programs, we will continue to build on the bipartisan successes of the 118th Congress and write a bill to revitalize our nation's infrastructure.
The highways, roads, and bridges linking our communities and states, supported through these programs, are the foundation of our economy and supply chain. To ensure the efficient movement of goods and people and boost America’s global competitiveness, continued flexibility for our state departments of transportation is imperative. States know their unique transportation needs and how to best address them. This flexibility is a hallmark principle of federal transportation policy that we must uphold.
You can watch my full opening remarks here.
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“Life is a gift from God, and every person has dignity and worth because each is made in the image of God.” -Billy Graham
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