Hello, Friends —
Recently, the House of Representatives concluded one of the most important votes of the 118th Congress, in which Kevin McCarthy was elected as Speaker. While it took a few days to elect a Speaker, we now have a House of Representatives that will be the fighting force to hold the Biden administration accountable.
I am thrilled about where the House of Representatives is today. We fought hard to obtain agreements from leadership so we can have real representation of different viewpoints within the Republican Conference on both the Rules Appropriations Committees. Rather than having these committees controlled by people loyal to the Speaker, we now have members dedicated to the American people.
Last week, Congress voted and passed the Rules package for the 118th Congress. The new Rules package includes the following:
- Any single member can now offer a "motion to vacate the chair."
- Select subcommittee to investigate the "weaponization of the federal government."
- Reinstating the "Holman Rule." The measure allows amendments to appropriations bills to slash the salaries of or fire specific federal employees or cut specific programs.
- Votes on Energy, Abortion, and IRS Funding Bills.
- "Cut-as-you-go" Rule which prohibits consideration of legislation that has the net effect of increasing mandatory spending within a five-year or 10-year budget window.
- Vote on the debt limit.
- Cap spending at fiscal year 2022 levels.
- Members are now able to read legislation 72 hours before adoption.
- Bills must have a single subject to avoid a reoccurrence of another omnibus spending bill.
- Placement of two strong conservatives on the Rules Committee.
- Guaranteed floor votes on a border security bill.
- Guaranteed floor votes on a term-limit bill.
- Club for Growth has gotten a promise that the Congressional Leadership Fund will no longer spend in open-seat, safe Republican primaries.
- Consideration of 12 separate Appropriations bills on the House Floor with separate votes for earmarks included in each bill.
- Return of "open rules" for federal spending bills.
Additionally, House Republicans were very successful this week in passing several key measures. This includes stopping the Biden administration's plan to hire 87,000 new IRS agents, condemning violence against pro-life institutions, passing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and directing the Department of Energy to stop selling our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China.
The House also voted to establish the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and the Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.
I am especially proud to have voted "YES" on H.R. 26, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This bill requires that healthcare practitioners present at a live birth of an abortion survivor exercise the same degree of skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of that child. A government that serves the people is a government that protects life. I will never stop fighting to ensure that in America, life is cherished and the right to life is protected.
Finally, I am proud to have cosponsored H.R. 41, the VA Same Day Scheduling Act. This bill improves veterans' experiences with the VA prioritizing customer service. This commonsense legislation guarantees that any veteran who makes a phone call requesting care can schedule an appointment during that phone call. Any veteran seeking care by calling the VA deserves better than hearing back several days later. Our veterans have earned a level of treatment and respect that call for much less unnecessary delays in scheduling health care appointments. As the congressman representing the highest concentration of veterans in any congressional district, I am proud to have cosponsored this vital legislation.
BATTLE FOR SPEAKER: BIG WINS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Click Here to Watch!
On Tuesday, I joined “Morning in America” on NewsNation to discuss the historic rules package for the 118th Congress, and how Speaker McCarthy’s willingness to decentralize power has given the Republican conference greater strength and unity.
The new Rules Package is a big win for the House of Representatives and the people of our country. Nancy Pelosi will be viewed as the last of the imperial Speakers that centralized power and took away the decision-making power from the House members. To Speaker McCarthy's great credit, he was willing to decentralize power back to give individual members after 15 rounds of balloting.
GAETZ & BOEBERT: OUR FIGHT HAS MADE THE GOP MAJORITY STRONGER!
Click Here to Watch!
I, along with Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03), joined “The Ingraham Angle” on Fox News, where we discussed the passage of the new rules for the 118th Congress and how critical concessions made by Speaker McCarthy have put the House of Representatives in a stronger position than we've been in decades.
The new rules guarantee that our policy, procedure, and personnel goals are met. We will have votes on term limits, balanced budgets, and internal enforcement of immigration laws. By getting these concessions and coming to a stronger place, we now have a House of Representatives that will fight for the American people. I am proud that we took a few extra days to ensure we got this right.
GAETZ: NEW HOUSE RULES WERE 'ABSOLUTELY WORTH' THE FIGHT
Click Here to Watch!
Last Sunday, I joined Mike Emanuel on “Fox News Live” to discuss how last week's battle over the House Speakership created a rules package that democratizes power among members of Congress, making it easier to deliver results that the American people want from their representatives. We have our work cut out for us this Congress, but I'm glad we successfully reframed the House rules to get this chamber back on track.
REP. ELI CRANE GOES ON FIREBRAND!
Click Here to Watch!
Earlier this week on Firebrand, I was joined by Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02) to react to the Pentagon's repeal of the military vaccine mandate, rundown the outcome of the House Speaker vote, and talk about what the 118th Congress will be able to accomplish moving forward.
We hear from our constituents, people all over the country, that Congress has to change so that we meet the needs of the American people and stop this nation from going down a path of demise. We deserve better than that. That is why I, alongside Congressman Crane, fought hard last week to ensure we have a Congress that works and fights for the American people. I want to make sure that when we go to battle, the American people and our constituents come out better as a resort of our making a bold decision to go against the establishment. I have such hope and confidence that fighters like Congressman Crane will change this institution for the better.
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
CNN— January 12, 2023
Lawmakers renew bipartisan push to ban congressional stock trading
"Thursday's renewed effort is Spanberger and Roy's third attempt to get the bill to the floor - but this time was introduced with 35 cosponsors ranging from conservative Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to liberals such as Rep. Adam Schiff of California. It is the most cosponsors the legislation has received when introduced."
Newsmax — January 10, 2023
Rep. Gaetz: Time for More Cameras on House Floor
"Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, says he will push to permit more cameras on the House floor so the public can see what their elected officials are doing. Gaetz made his comments Tuesday during an interview with NewsNation. The interview came after the congressman last week was confronted on the House floor by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.”
Paradise News — January 10, 2023
Matt Gaetz Announces Republicans Will Release 14,000 Hours of J6 Tapes That Pelosi Hid From America
"Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is pledging to release the 14,000 hours of January 6 footage that have been hidden from the American public. Gaetz appeared on ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’ on Tuesday and revealed that he is working on giving the nation the full truth about what really happened on January 6.”
Breitbart — January 10, 2023
Gaetz: We Know Where We Can Cut Defense Spending Without Impacting Safety Because Pentagon Audits Have Revealed Failures
"On Monday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s ‘Ingraham Angle,’ Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) discussed the prospect of cuts to defense spending and argued that American national defense can be more efficient and effective and that because we have had audits of the Pentagon, we know ‘where they failed to actually deliver on some of the authorities.’ Gaetz also argued that ‘it’s a pretty easy case to make that some of this money that we send to Ukraine without requisite accountability should be the first place for a reduction.’”
Business Insider — January 9, 2023
Mike Rogers posts mea culpa to Florida congressman Matt Gaetz for lunging at him on the House floor
"Rep. Mike Rogers has apologised to Florida congressman Rep. Matt Gaetz for lunging at him on the House floor.”
WHAT WE'RE READING
The Washington Times — January 12, 2023
FAA says a damaged database file caused morning problems with pilot notice system
Politico — January 12, 2023
US inflation eased again to 6.5% over the past 12 months
The Guardian — January 11, 2023
Attack from space would trigger collective defense, says US and Japan, amid China fears
|
