Dear Friend,
 
In Joe Biden’s Inaugural Address, he promised the American people unity – pleading, “Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together. Uniting our people. And uniting our nation.”
 
Yet, since that very day, it seems as if his whole soul has been more committed to targeting Americans who do not agree with his agenda.
 
If you were concerned about the COVID mandates at your kid’s school, Joe Biden used the Patriot Act to classify you as a domestic terrorist. If you are a military member who didn’t want to get an experimental vaccine, Joe Biden fired you. If you disagreed with the Biden administration on social media, they tried to set up a “Disinformation Governance Board" to collude with Big Tech to censor you. And more recently, if you are a working- and middle-class American who might have accidentally filed your taxes incorrectly, Joe Biden supercharged the IRS with an additional $80 billion to hire an army of 87,000 new IRS agents to hunt you down.
 
This “divide and clunker” approach has failed the American people time and time again, but last week, Joe Biden made one more desperate swing to further divide our nation.
 
In front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, flanked by two U.S. Marines as props and ominous red light, he gave one of, if not, the most divisive speeches in American history. For context, here’s a picture from the speech.
 
Now, if you are a Republican who supported his opponent, Joe Biden is labeling you as a “threat to democracy” and a “semi-fascist.”
 
That doesn’t seem very “unifying” to me.
 
In fact, he used the term “Make America Great Again (MAGA)” 13 times. Yet, not once did he talk about the real issues that are hurting the American people every single day.
 
Not once in his primetime address did he mention skyrocketing inflation. Not once did he mention rising crime. Not once did he mention the worsening border crisis. Not once did he mention the fentanyl that is killing our loved ones. Not once did he mention soaring energy prices.
 
The American people are looking for real leadership – alienating over 70 million Americans is not solving any of the problems our country is facing. It’s a slap in the face to the very values our country was built on.
 
We are the United States of America, not the Divided States of America. I hope someone reminds the President that in this country, it is OK for us to disagree without being disagreeable.
 
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

Remembering September 11th
This Sunday will mark the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 – a day that would become known as 9/11 – forever etched into America’s history. Many of us stared at our television in disbelief watching the horror unfold before our eyes as the Twin Towers crumbled and crashed to the ground. Feelings of fear, anger, and mourning overwhelmed many, but through the rubble and destruction, soon after one of America’s darkest hours came one of our finest. Everywhere you looked, American flags waved as a sign of defiance to the enemy that sought to destroy our way of life. Strangers became friends as they comforted one another in the streets. Thousands of first responders from all over the country sprang into action, determined to leave no one behind. Todd Beamer and the heroes on Flight 93 laid their lives on the line to save countless others. America’s patriotism and courage shined on the world stage. A cowardly act of terrorism could not break America’s free spirit. Instead, we grew stronger through the mourning, courageous through the pain, and united, proud to be an American, through the evil. Together, over two decades later, we honor and remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives on 9/11, the heroic selflessness of the first responders, and the brave service members who fought to protect our freedoms. We will never forget.

We will never forget.

Bordering on insanity?
It’s no secret that the crisis at the US-Mexico border has spiraled out of control on President Biden’s watch. From record-breaking levels of illegal immigration to a surge in fentanyl overdose deaths, the situation is getting worse with each passing day. But the Biden administration isn’t just unleashing chaos on the border. They are also taking steps to quietly weaken U.S. visa rules – including a recent plan that would make it easier for people who worked for the Taliban or provided material support to terrorist groups to move into American neighborhoods. We’ve already seen multiple cases of Afghans with previous criminal convictions slipping into our country thanks to sloppy and haphazard vetting. We’ve seen others go on to commit shocking crimes after their arrival. More recently, we even learned that at least 50 Afghans with “significant security concerns” have simply disappeared into American communities. And just this week, the Department of Homeland Security’s own Inspector General concluded that the Biden administration likely “admitted or paroled individuals into the United States who pose a risk to national security and the safety of local communities.” Opening a new Taliban-Terrorist loophole in the wake of these troubling reports isn’t just irresponsible, it’s crazy – and it's why I introduced legislation to shut this dangerous plan down. You can read more about my bill in a recent news report here.

Click here or on the video above to watch my interview on the Ingraham Angle discussing the Department of Homeland Security’s latest Inspector General report.

Giving foreign lawbreakers the boot
When a foreigner commits a crime in the U.S. or refuses to adhere to the terms of their visa, we are supposed to send them home. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, however, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes – as we’ve seen over the last two years under President Biden – our own government simply chooses to ignore the law. In other cases, the home government of that foreigner flat-out refuses to take them back. Lately, it’s been a little of both. Uncooperative foreign governments are known as “recalcitrant countries,” and one of the world’s worst violators is Communist China. This is a major problem, because it allows hostile foreign governments to use our country as a dumping ground for their criminals with impunity. The good news is that existing immigration law authorizes our government to stop issuing some U.S. visas to citizens of a “recalcitrant country” until that country cooperates with our deportation and removal efforts. Here is the bad news: Even though China’s rulers have openly declared that they will not take back their own criminals – the Biden administration isn’t doing anything about it. That’s why I introduced legislation that would make the suspension of all visas to recalcitrant country nationals mandatory. After all, why would we continue to let thousands of people from a foreign country enter the United States knowing we may never be able to send them home? You can read more about my bill, and the issue in this recent article.
 
Title IX: Women’s rights sidelined by Biden admin
Fifty years ago, when Title IX of the Education Amendments was signed into law, it was a promise to women across the nation that they would no longer be denied the right to fair competition in athletics and the classroom. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the Biden administration released a proposed rule that would gut those very protections and once again put women at a disadvantage. The new rule redefines “sex” to include gender identity, sex stereotypes, and sexual orientation – allowing biological males who identify as female to access girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, sports, and athletic facilities. Although the rule hasn’t been published yet, the U.S. Department of Agriculture already announced that they will be tying compliance of these new regulations to their Food and Nutrition program – meaning that schools who fail to comply could potentially lose federal funding for school lunch programs. I warned Telegram readers that Biden may try and do something like this, which is why I signed on to the Stop W.O.K.E. Meals Act to try and prevent the administration from using economically disadvantaged kids' lunch money as blackmail. The Department of Education is required to take written comments from the public into consideration when promulgating a new rule and the public comment period for Biden’s Title IX regulations will end on September 12th, 2022 – if you would like to leave a comment for the administration click here.
 
Scammers cashing in on Biden’s student loan scheme?
It’s been two weeks since Biden announced his student loan socialism scheme, and scammers are already using it to take advantage of unsuspecting borrowers. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an important Consumer Alert to help people avoid potential scams related to the President’s student loan debt transfer program. So, I wanted to go over a few tips that will help you avoid being a victim of fraud. Never provide personal or financial information to unsolicited emails, calls, or texts, pay someone promising you special access or guaranteed eligibility to federal programs, or give away your FSA ID – scammers can use that information to steal your identity. Anyone who contacts you and claims that they can sign you up for the program, guarantee eligibility, or help you skip the line is a scammer. If you spot a scammer, report it to the FTC here. The Department of Education is currently working on setting up an online application, if you would like to receive updates to be notified when it is open to the public you can sign up at their website here.
 
A serious lack of Judge-ment
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I often express my concerns about the damage being caused by rogue prosecutors who refuse to prosecute criminals. It seems like every week there is a new headline about a victim being re-victimized as the result of soft-on-crime policies being carried out in cities with skyrocketing crime rates. I’ve written to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and even introduced legislation, the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act. Unfortunately, House Democrats blocked my commonsense bill that would have required prosecutors to report how often they follow through on holding criminals charged with serious violent crimes accountable. Now it looks as if those reckless policies are spreading throughout the legal system. Last weekend we learned of yet another Wisconsinite who fell victim and lost her life due to soft-on-crime policies. Milwaukee Judge David Borowski denied the request to hold Ernest Terrell Blakney, a convicted sex offender, in jail until his sentencing hearing – citing good behavior. Ten days after being released Blakney allegedly went on to murder his ex-girlfriend, set their house on fire, and led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a shootout. Sadly, these tragedies are becoming far too common. Our communities will not be safe until our legal system starts holding criminals accountable for their crimes. It’s time for prosecutors to prosecute and for judges to do their job by putting dangerous criminals where they belong – behind bars.

                            District Update

Fraser Shipyard’s newest contract
Fraser Shipyard is a critically important national asset, and an irreplaceable industrial and manufacturing hub that supports America's shipping and maritime sector, and last week, they were awarded over $17 million dollars to complete a Navy contract. This is a well-deserved contract and will help them continue to be an economic engine for the Duluth-Superior region. As a result of Fraser’s fantastic job in supporting our Navy and Coast Guard with contracts, such as this one, Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota and I are working hard to allow shipyards like Fraser in Superior to take on a larger role when it comes to helping with the maintenance needs of America's military. Our amendment to expand their capacity to help the Navy meet their needs in times of high demand was included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act, and now awaits action in the Senate.

Great job – Wausau Fire Department
I had a great visit at the Wausau Fire Department discussing recent advancements made to improve their response time last week. Thanks to the firefighters springing into action when tragedy strikes, the Wausau Fire Department’s commitment to heart attack care has resulted in a survival rate two times higher than the national average. As a reminder, as I make my way around the district, I hear of first responder shortages. If you would like more information on becoming a firefighter, please click here.

Thank you for risking your own life to save others. Keep up the great work!

American manufacturing in Wisconsin's 7th District
I also had a great time touring Felker Brothers in Marshfield. Felker Brothers is a family-owned leading manufacturer of stainless steel piping products and fabricated piping systems that has been producing products since 1903. We discussed the need for more domestic mining, which produces the raw materials required to make Made-in-America stainless steel. We must support our American manufacturers, and we must secure our supply of critical minerals, so we do not depend on Russia and China.

Thank you for helping boost our local economies and being a job creator in central Wisconsin.

Bridge Community Health Clinic ribbon cutting
Last week the Bridge Community Health Clinic held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their new behavioral health location on Wausau's west side. As September is suicide prevention month, it important to know you are not alone and help is there. This behavioral health expansion will help those struggling with mental illness in our community, but if you or someone you know is in a suicidal crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free 24/7 mental health support at your fingertips. Call or text 988 or chat with a trained crisis counselor here.

It was great hearing from healthcare professionals at the Bridge Community Health Clinic ribbon cutting.

Passport Awareness Month
September is Passport Awareness Month which means that now is the
time to apply for and renew your passports while demand is low. Having a valid passport is essential to your upcoming travel plans which is why I want to make sure everyone is routinely checking their passport expiration date. For more information please visit the State Department website here, and if you have any questions or need assistance contact my Wausau office at (715)-298-9344.

                             Upcoming Events

Service Academy Days
Later this month, Senator Ron Johnson and Minnesota Representative Pete Stauber will each be hosting their annual Service Academy Days. Senator Johnson’s will be from 9:00am to 12:30pm on September 17th at the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, and Representative Stauber’s will be from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm on September 29th at the Proctor High School Auditorium in Duluth. If you are a high school student with a desire to serve our nation as a military leader, you won’t want to miss the chance to hear from representatives from all five military branches. Students must first receive a nomination from at least one of their state's members of Congress, the Vice President, or the President of the United States to be admitted to our nation’s military service academies. Admission is free, and parents, teachers, and students at any grade level are welcome to attend.

                                  Resources  

As many begin to travel internationally again, the Department of State is available to assist with passport services. We recommend to apply at least six months before planned travel as routine service may take up to about 18 weeks. For more information, please visit travel.state.gov.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or suicidal crises, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now 988. Call, text, or chat live online with trained counselors 24/7 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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