COMBATTING THE BORDER CRISIS

On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee held its first hearing of the 118th Congress, focusing on the crisis at our southern border. There were more than 251,000 border crossings, and over 70,000 gotaways in December 2022. What’s worse is that this is not a victimless crime. Cartels stream untold amounts of narcotics, including fentanyl, across our southern border. Tragically, these failed policies lead to tens of thousands of Americans dying from fentanyl overdoses.

In no way is this humane, for the migrants or the American people. This crisis must be brought under control. 

During the hearing, I questioned the Democrat witness, Judge Samaniego from El Paso, about how the current border policies empower cartel violence.  

WATCH: Dan Bishop Grills Democrats witness on the dangers drug cartels present to Americans

In our organizing meeting before the hearing, Matt Gaetz (FL-01) offered an amendment to the committee’s rules requiring all hearings and business meetings begin with the pledge of allegiance. One might think that this would be non-controversial in the United States of America, but Democrats hemmed and hawed over the amendment for the better part of an hour. You can watch some of those exchanges here:

WATCH: Remember when a Judiciary Dem was caught on a hot mic making fun of the pledge of allegiance? 

I told The Daily Caller’s Henry Rodgers “It’s absurd that Democrats on the committee don’t even want to say the Pledge Of Allegiance. You'd expect this to be a non-controversial request in the United States of America, but Democrats hemmed and hawed about the amendment for the better part of an hour."

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Matt Gaetz Responds To Jerry Nadler Objecting His Request To Recite Pledge Of Allegiance Before Judiciary Hearings

THE WEAPONIZATION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

I came to Washington to break the status quo and ensure that the government works effectively for the people. This nation cannot continue to stand as a beacon for freedom if the federal bureaucracy is allowed to weaponize government powers against the American people and collude with private companies to violate Americans' rights.

Case in point, the Intelligence Community has turned from its original objective, protecting the homeland from external threats, to a much more nefarious mission, spying on unsuspecting and innocent American citizens - all under the guise of “national security.”

WATCH: Dan Bishop on Big Tech and Big Government

Thanks to Elon Musk and journalist Michael Shellenberger, we now have a glimpse into Orwellian surveillance operation that the security state and Big Tech joined together to perpetrate against the American people.

In a recent Twitter Files thread, Shellenberger highlighted that FBI Agent Elvis Chan requested access to Twitter’s entire API feed. This is a brazen effort to vacuum up Americans’ conversations and surveil all who participate in the modern town square. This cannot go on. Make no mistake – we will plumb the depths of this corruption.  

READ: U.S. Gov’t Propaganda Machine to be Probed by ‘Church’ Committee: Rep. Dan Bishop

AFTERMATH OF THE SPEAKER'S RACE AND DEEP STATE INVESTIGATIONS

This week was the premiere of American Moment’s third season of Moment of Truth.We discussed the previously untold behind-the-scenes story of the Speaker’s race.  

TWEET: "This isn't chaos — this is democracy...people don't even know what democracy looks like anymore."

OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Last Friday, Chairman Mark Green (TN-07) formally appointed me to serve as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.

READ: ICYMI: Bishop Appointed as Chairman of Oversight Subcommittee

It is an honor to serve alongside Chairman Green. We will be laser focused on holding the Department of Homeland Security accountable and rooting out corruption, abuse, and misgovernment. We are facing an unprecedented array of threats to our homeland, chief among them a wide-open southern border. Whether it’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities at the TSA, attacks on our infrastructure and supply chains, or the complete breakdown of law and order at our Southwest border, we’ll be conducting rigorous oversight to ensure that deep state is held accountable. 

We’re already off to the races with our investigation of the recent TSA no-fly list hack.  

READ: House Republicans demand answers from TSA over No-Fly List hack

THIS WEEK ON THE HILL: 

I also spoke with Todd Starnes about the latest business on Capitol Hill, including the debt ceiling fight and our hearings this week.  

CHINESE SPY BALLOON

A Chinese Spy Balloon currently floating over the midwestern United States. The Biden administration claims that it cannot shoot down the balloon due to risks on the ground. If this is the case, they owe the American people a detailed and transparent explanation. They have so far been flippant and dismissive about the spy balloon and the threat it poses to the American people

If wind conditions hold steady over the next few days, the balloon may pass over North Carolina, including our district and Fort Bragg.

TWEET: Lots of interest in suspected Chinese spy balloon.

This is completely unacceptable. On the Congressional level, we are looking into all avenues to receive information about the balloon and stop it from violating our airspace. As this is a developing situation, I will make bring more relevant updates both on social media and in this newsletter.

KEY VOTES: 

H.R. 500 Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (passed) – This bill implements a system of checks to better protect elderly or impaired Americans against financial exploitation. It opens a window of opportunity for transfer agents to stop suspected exploitation.  

H.R. 497 Freedom for Health Care Workers Act (passed) – This bill ends the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care providers under certain Federal health care programs and prevents a similar rule from being created in the future.

H.R. 382 Pandemic is Over Act (passed) – This bill puts an end to the tyrannical abuse of emergency power used to ramp up reckless spending and restrict freedom for the past two years.

H.R. 139: SHOW UP Act of 2023 (passed) – This bill requires executive agencies to reinstate remote work policies from before the pandemic. Americans have returned to work; it is time federal bureaucrats do too.  

H.J. Res. 7: Relating to a National Emergency Declared by the President on March 13, 2020. (passed) – This resolution ends the COVID-19 emergency. Federal and state governments have used this emergency to infringe on people’s religious freedom, free speech, ability to operate a business, and medical freedom.  

H. Con. Res. 9 Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism (passed) – This resolution recognizes the direct impact socialism played in the deaths of at least 100,000,000 people worldwide. It also denounces socialism in all forms and opposes the implementation of destructive socialist policies in the United States. Shockingly, 65 Democrats voted against the resolution. 

NOW HIRING SPRING AND SUMMER INTERNS!

My office is now hiring Spring and Summer interns. All internships are paid and offer students the opportunity to gain valuable experience serving on Capitol Hill.  

Interns will be asked to answer phones, conduct research for the Member and legislative staff, assist the communications team, attend hearings and briefings, and participate in educational opportunities.  

Any interested applicants should email their resume to [email protected]