Fellow Hoosier, Judge Amy Coney Barrett is Nominated to the Supreme Court
I am thrilled with President Trump’s nomination of fellow Hoosier, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, to serve on the Supreme Court. I've come to know her as an incredibly sharp legal mind, a woman of great integrity, and a dedicated mother of seven. When Americans elected President Trump to office in 2016 and expanded the Republican Senate majority in 2018, she was exactly the type of jurist they had in mind.
Judge Barrett's previous confirmation to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals turned into a shameful attack on her faith, not an evaluation of her legal credentials. Anyone who fairly evaluates her superb qualifications and temperament will agree that Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the right person for the job.
I ardently support her nomination to the Supreme Court and, as the Senate follows historical precedent by initiating a confirmation hearing, I will work diligently with all of my Senate colleagues with an eye towards voting on her confirmation as the next Associate Justice without delay.
Click here or the image below to watch my full remarks.
Saving Taxpayers Billions Shouldn’t Result in a Pink Slip
Last week, I lead a bipartisan letter to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conferees urging them to save the Department of Defense's Chief Management Officer (CMO) position which is tasked with reforming the Department to improve performance and increase accountability.
The CMO position is currently held by Indiana’s Lisa Hershman. Despite proving to be highly effective in the role and identifying significant taxpayer savings, her position is being targeted for elimination.
Now more than ever, federal agencies should be looking for ways to be more efficient with taxpayer money. This position is under attack because Lisa is challenging the status quo. Only in the Washington swamp can saving billions of dollars earn you a pink slip.
The Washington Post reported that Hershman saved $6.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2019 in part by selling obsolete equipment and reforming information technology processes. An additional $7.7 billion is targeted for Fiscal Year 2020.
Earlier this year, I also introduced an amendment to preserve the CMO position, but it was not included in the Senate-passed NDAA.
Combatting Bias in Military Promotions
Last week, I introduced the bipartisan Combatting Bias in Military Promotions Act. As a Marine, I understand that removing bias and prejudice from the force is critical to help strengthen the cohesiveness of units and enable our military to accomplish complex missions around the globe. By removing information such as race and gender from promotion materials, we can ensure that promotion boards would assess and evaluate officers based purely on their merits and accomplishments. While I am encouraged that some of these actions are being considered by the Department of Defense, protecting the integrity of our promotion process must be codified to ensure that all biases, whether conscious or unconscious, are not able to influence the military’s promotion decisions.
Learn more about my bill via Bloomberg’s article: “Bias in U.S. Military Promotions Cited as Senators Offer Measure”.
Gold Star Mothers and Families Day
Yesterday was Gold Star Mothers and Families Day. As a Marine, I know there is no more sacred duty than honoring our fallen soldiers and their families. Recognizing September 27th as Gold Star Families Remembrance Day is one small action we can take to pay tribute to our greatest heroes and honor Hoosiers like Sandy Terwiske, a Gold Star Mother who lost her son Lance Corporal Alec Terwiske during combat operations in Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, I joined a bipartisan resolution to designate Sept. 20-26, 2020, as “Gold Star Families Remembrance Week” to honor the families of fallen members of the Armed Forces.
Indiana’s Leadership in FirstNet
During last Thursday’s Senate Commerce Hearing, I had the opportunity to discuss Indiana’s groundbreaking leadership work with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to expand coverage and support public safety communications for Hoosier first responders in urban and rural parts of Indiana. I look forward to continuing to support the expansion of this technology so that communities across Indiana and the United States can have a reliable nationwide, broadband network that equips first responders to save lives and protect our communities.
Constituent Spotlight: Hoosier Bikers
On Saturday, I had the privilege to speak to bikers from around the country at ABATE’s “Meeting of the Minds” as part of the organization’s annual meeting. ABATE is a group of freedom-loving motorcycle enthusiasts who dedicate their time to improving safety and promoting charitable causes. We discussed ways to continue improving the economy as we emerge from this global pandemic, and how we can invest in infrastructure to improve our nation’s highways and byways.
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