Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

April 10, 2025 | Press ReleasesLegislation Protects the Independence of Our Nation’s Nonprofit Organizations
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Safeguarding Charity Act to clarify that tax-exempt organizations should not be treated as recipients of federal financial assistance. The legislation protects tax-exempt organizations from a perilous line of litigation in federal courts that could subject every church, nonprofit, and private school in America to burdensome federal regulations.“Radical judges do not have the authority to twist federal law and force religious institutions to choose between their convictions and compliance,” said Rep. Steube. “The Safeguarding Charity Actreaffirms that tax-exempt status does not mean an organization is receiving federal financial assistance. This bill is about protecting churches, religious schools, and charities from federal overreach. I’m grateful to Senator Lankford for his leadership on this important effort in the Senate.”U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.“Tax-exempt organizations should not live in fear of federal control every day because courts want to redefine the meaning of tax-exempt status. Tax-exempt status is not the same as receiving federal funding, and it should not be used as political leverage against the nonprofits that feed, clothe, house, and counsel those in need in Oklahoma and across the nation,” said Senator Lankford. “We should be focused on enabling the work of these organizations—not burdening them with unnecessary and costly federal requirements.”Supporting organizations include: Alliance Defending Freedom, Philanthropy Roundtable, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Agudath Israel of America, Seventh-day Adventist Church, American Association of Christian Schools,Association for Biblical Higher Education, Association of Christian Schools International, Family Research Council, Citygate Network, Christian Employers Alliance, and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.Alliance Defending Freedom“Charities and other nonprofits provide invaluable services to their communities. In part to recognize their critical work, nonprofits are tax-exempt so that they can devote scarce resources to serving those in need. Until recently, no one really thought that their tax-exempt status was the sort of “federal financial assistance” that triggered the application of several burdensome federal statutes and regulations. But some courts have embraced this unfounded view, and Congress needs to set things straight. Let’s be clear: a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status should not be considered government funding and thus should not trigger multiple burdensome federal laws under which charities and other nonprofits could lose their tax-exempt status. ADF commends Sen. Lankford and Rep. Steube for introducing the Safeguarding Charity Act to protect nonprofits from these financially crushing burdens so that nonprofits can continue to serve their communities free from unfair and unexpected government overreach.” – Greg Baylor, ADF Senior Counsel Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission“The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) strongly supports the Safeguarding Charity Act, which provides essential clarification that tax-exempt status is not equivalent to receiving federal financial assistance. Recent court decisions have wrongly conflated these two ideas, endangering vital religious liberty protections and subjecting churches and faith-based nonprofits to harmful, undue federal regulations. The ERLC urges Congress to uphold this longstanding precedent and protect religious organizations’ freedom to operate in accordance with their faith, free from government interference.” – Brent Leatherwood, ERLC President.Association of Christian Schools International“ACSI commends Senator Lankford and Congressman Steube for their leadership in introducing the Safeguarding Charity Act. This legislation is critical to set the record straight: an organization’s non-profit status is not the receipt of federal financial assistance. It never has been. It is not now. Politically motivated lawsuits based on this false premise must stop, or else all non-profits will be at risk. We urge every member of Congress to support the Safeguarding Charity Act.” – P. George Tryfiates, VP for Public Policy and Legal Affairs at the Association of Chrisitan Schools International.Agudath Israel of America“Agudath Israel of America is pleased to support the ‘Safeguarding Charity Act (SCA),’ introduced by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Representative Greg Steube (R-FL). This legislation is vitally important to nonprofits across the country, including synagogues, religious schools and charities within the Jewish community.  It will enshrine into law that which has generally been understood that ‘tax-exempt status’ does not constitute ‘federal financial assistance.’” – Rabbi Abba Cohen, VP for Government Affairs of Agudath Israel of America
Read full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), legislation co-sponsored by Congressman Gosar that would amend current law to require states to obtain in-person proof of United States citizenship when registering an individual to vote in a federal election:

“American elections should be for American citizens only.  Sadly, 13 million illegal aliens were welcomed into our country by Joe Biden in the past four years.  Several states allow these lawbreakers to obtain a driver’s license, opening the door to opportunities to illegally register to vote in federal elections.

I find it both laughable and preposterous that the same people who, for the past four years, forced you to carry a vaccine passport to dine in a restaurant, hold a job, or get on a flight are the same people now opposing commonsense legislation requiring individuals to show proof of American citizenship to vote in elections.

It’s not racist, it’s common sense: prove your citizenship, or you can’t vote.  In fact, an overwhelming majority of Americans agree with me. A recent poll conducted by Pew shows that 90% of Americans say it is very or somewhat important to stop non-citizens from voting.  The fact is, with millions of illegal aliens now in our country, voters are right to be concerned about the integrity of elections.

By ensuring only United States citizens vote in federal elections, H.R. 22 is a crucial step towards safeguarding our elections.  This commonsense bill offers more than six ways to verify identity, and it would codify President Trump’s recent executive action to secure our voter registration process,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Representative Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S (AZ-09) issued the following statements after voting in favor of H.R. H.R. 1526, the No Rogue Rulings Act, legislation limiting the ability of woke, activist federal district court judges to block President Trump’s agenda:

“Unable to win at the ballot box, Democrats have turned to liberal, woke activist judges to block or stall President Trump’s America First agenda. Why?  Because Donald Trump, by opening the blinds to let some light in, is exposing all the waste and corruption in the federal government one agency at a time.  Now the radical left is fighting tooth and nail to protect the bloated and corrupt federal bureaucracies that act as the ATMs fueling their sinister progressive agenda. 

Democrats are losing their minds, pitching fits and litigating every Trump administration policy to slow the America First agenda. These unelected rogue judges, many of whom are Democratic political donors or supporters, are siding with radical Democrats in Congress to subvert our democracy and nullify the will of the people who elected President Trump to reform the government, rein in the runaway federal bureaucracy and streamline government operations to better serve the American people.

The framers of the Constitution intended to establish a system of checks and balances that would prevent any one branch from usurping authority from the others. However, when unelected activist federal judges exceed their mandate by interpreting laws through political lenses, they are infringing upon the prerogatives of President Trump and are retarding his authority to govern.

Activist federal judges should not be the arbiter of policy issues that were designed by the Founders to be addressed through the legislative or executive branches.  Rather than continuing the recent practice of issuing nationwide universal rulings, The No Rogue Rulings Act stops rogue federal judges from stalling President Trump’s agenda by requiring that the rulings be narrowly tailored,” stated Rep. Paul Gosar. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement on her vote against the House Republican budget resolution (H.Con.Res.14).

“My Republican colleagues should be ashamed for advancing such a self-serving budget that continues to prioritize the interests of billionaires and big corporations over hard-working American families. This budget is not a serious plan for our nation’s future nor a responsible framework for government spending. It is a reckless giveaway to the ultra-wealthy that guts vital programs that millions of Americans rely on to survive.

“Rather than providing relief to struggling families, Republicans are handing out an average tax cut of over $300,000 to the wealthiest one percent – all while pushing the costs of these tax breaks onto everyone else and plunging millions of Americans into financial hardship. This budget isn’t just fiscally irresponsible – it is an economic disaster.

“So-called ‘fiscal conservatives’ would add $7 trillion to the national debt to pay for these tax breaks for the rich, while mortgaging our children’s future and raising costs for everyday Americans. This is an outright betrayal of working families and future generations.

“And how do Republicans justify this scheme? By defunding Medicaid. By defunding food programs that feed 15 million children. By gutting the VA. And by cutting funding for public schools and special education programs.

“The Republican budget is an all-out attack on the very people who keep this country running – working families, seniors, veterans, and children. While Americans face record-high inflation and rising costs, Republicans have done nothing – absolutely nothing – to ease the pain or address the escalating economic crisis. In fact, they are actively making things worse by blindly backing Trump’s disastrous tariffs and dragging our economy toward a recession.

“This budget is the largest tax hike on working Americans in 50 years and will cost the average household $3,800 a year.

“That is why I voted no. House Democrats are working for the American people, and I will continue fighting to protect the interests of hard-working families across this country.”

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Issues: 119th Congress

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after House Republicans passed H. Con. Res. 14, the FY2025 Budget Resolution.

“House Republicans just passed a bill that sets the stage for cuts to Medicaid and food stamps so that they can fund huge tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

“The budget resolution put forth by Republicans in Congress directs my committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, to find $880 billion in ‘savings’. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that it would be impossible to cut that much without touching Medicaid. Not to mention, their budget calls for at least $230 billion in cuts that threaten nutrition assistance during a period of fast-rising food prices, and it also repeals clean energy investments included in the Inflation Reduction Act. 

“In my district alone, over 161,000 of my constituents who rely on Medicaid could lose their health care. And more than 123,000 of my constituents who rely on food stamps to feed their families could lose this critical lifeline.

“This bill is nothing more than a rushed, sloppy response to Donald Trump’s demands to pass his ‘one, big, beautiful bill’—a win he desperately needs because he has nothing else to show for his leadership.

“As Trump and Elon Musk continue to slash and burn their way through our government, I refuse to support his agenda and call on my Republican colleagues to stop bending the knee to Trump and Elon and get serious about helping the American people.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Rep. Frankel Slams Republican Budget That Guts Essential Benefits to Pay for Billionaire Tax Breaks

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Mikie Sherrill released the following statement after voting NO on H.R. 22, the so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act: 

“Today, Republicans in Washington passed a sweeping voter suppression law that will take access to the ballot box away from millions of minority communities, women, service members, and rural voters. I voted NO.

“House Republicans claim to be trying to combat voter fraud, but don’t be fooled. In reality, this could keep nearly two million New Jersey women — whose last names don’t match their birth certificates — from being able to register to vote. Service members and their families — stationed across the country and the globe — will have their votes taken away when they cannot travel to register in person.

“The right to vote is part of the very fabric of this country. Generations of Americans have devoted their lives to not only protect, but expand that right. I refuse to stand by as Republicans roll back our progress — because we have fought too hard and come too far to go back.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Republicans Approve Budget Plan to Drive Up Costs on Middle-Class Families, Cut Taxes for Ultra-Wealthy