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This week, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction based on a lower court decision, releasing $4 billion to fund the wall at our Southern border. This is undoubtedly a win for America and great news for our national security.
During my visits to our Southern border, I realized the crisis at the border starts with the criminal behavior of the cartels. In McAllen, TX, agents briefed us on the drug trade coming in from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which maintains a level 4 travel advisory (do not travel) from the U.S. State Department, the same level as Iraq and Afghanistan. Five cartels are currently fighting for control of the Rio Grande Valley, and our border agents receive little help from Mexico to make the area safer.
What is important to note here, is that the cartels control the Mexican side of the Southern border with armed guards and technology that, I'm told, is often better than our own border patrol's. Very few people cross the border illegally without help from the cartels. During my trips to the border, it was made very clear that families do not just pack their bags one night and try to come to America illegally. The vast majority of people seeking to come here enlist the help of the cartels.
That is why this newly released border funding is also great news for the families seeking to come to the United States, who are being abused by Mexican cartels. Unfortunately, Mexican cartels lure families and individuals with the false hope of being able to come here illegally without consequence. What these people soon realize is that they've put themselves in a situation where career criminals are using them as pawns, dragging them through hot, dry, rural Mexico on a trip to our border. I also learned when I visited that 40 percent of girls ages 12-17 are sexually abused during their cartel-led journey to the U.S. These cartels are filled with horrible people and it is our duty to do whatever we can to disincentivise their criminal behavior and protect the people they seek to exploit. By building a strong presence and wall at our Southern border, there is a reduced incentive to illegally enter our country, thus lowering the number of families abused by cartels.
By securing our borders we will be able to say that we are both protecting our citizens, as well as those seeking to immigrate here from the terrors of the criminal cartels.
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As we ring in the new year, I want to remind you of the many constituent services that my Fond du Lac office provides to help you with federal problems. Although I cannot override the decisions made by a federal agency, I can contact them on your behalf to answer questions, find solutions or just cut through the bureaucratic red tape.
Below, you will find a list of agencies that I am happy to help you with. In 2019, my office resolved 473 cases with many more in progress, as seen in the graphic below.
If you are seeking help with an agency, I need a completed privacy authorization form to comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act. Please download this printable version of the privacy authorization form and then fax or mail to the address listed under the agency from which you are seeking assistance.
Please feel free to contact my office at 920-907-0624. We are here to help you!
Education Department
FCC - Federal Communications Commission
Housing and Urban Development
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Internal Revenue Service
Department of Labor
Medicare
Military
Office of Personnel Management
Passport Service
Postal Service
Social Security Administration
State Department - Visas
Department of Veterans Affairs
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With tax season just around the corner, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently shared some important information:
- The IRS will officially begin accepting and processing tax returns from the tax year 2019 on Monday, January 27, 2020. The IRS recommends that all taxpayers consider choosing direct deposit and filing electronically because these options are the fastest and most accurate way to receive your tax refund.
- The IRS provides free tax preparation online and in-person for taxpayers whose income is $69,000 or less. If you are eligible, you can access this Free File service by clicking here or visiting IRS.gov/FreeFile. For taxpayers that make $56,000 or less and would like more personal assistance filing their tax returns, I encourage you to find an AARP community volunteer site near you by clicking here.
- If you have at least one dependent child, you may be eligible to receive the Child Tax Credit, which provides up to $2,000 per child that qualifies.
- No matter where or how you file your tax returns, I urge you to be cautious in regards to online security when filing. Fortunately, the IRS and its Security Summit partners have created various resources for taxpayers to consult to enhance their online security.
Should you have any additional questions throughout the tax filing season, the IRS is available to answer your questions 24/7. Simply click here to access the IRS's Interactive Tax Assistant or check out irs.gov/help/ita. As always, my office is here to help you find the resources you need as we kick off the 2020 tax season. |
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Congratulations to Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, Outlook Group in Neenah and Sargento Cheese in Plymouth on their nominations for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce's Wisconsin
Manufacturer of the Year Award.
It was great meeting on trade with the Embassy of Japan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Shinichi Iida. I look forward to improving the great U.S.-Japanese relationship!
It appears that President Obama’s U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary agrees that President Donald Trump's success taking out Soleimani is not a partisan issue.
Thursday was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. I hope you will join me in thanking all of the brave men and women who keep us safe!
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As your Congressman, I’m here to serve you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to my offices in Fond du Lac and Washington. If you enjoyed this newsletter be sure to forward it to your family and friends so they can stay informed on what I’m doing in Washington and the Sixth District.
You can also stay up-to-the-minute by following me on Facebook (Congressman Glenn Grothman), Twitter (@RepGrothman) and Instagram (@RepGlennGrothman).
Sincerely,
Member of Congress |
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