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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), founder and co-chair of the Childhood Cancer Caucus, released the following statement after Congress passed the Childhood Cancer STAR (Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research) Reauthorization Act, legislation he introduced along with Representatives G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). 

“Thirteen years ago, I founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus to increase bipartisan efforts to address pediatric cancer and ultimately eliminate this heartbreaking disease. Each day since its passage, the STAR Act has brought us closer to that goal,” said Rep. McCaul. “The most comprehensive childhood cancer bill ever signed into law, the STAR Act works to improve the lives of cancer patients and cancer survivors through increased research. I’m thankful my colleagues voted to reauthorize it today and will continue raising my voice on behalf of these beautiful children until cancer is no longer a threat to their futures.”

“I am pleased to see the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act heading to President Biden’s desk for another five-year reauthorization,” said Rep. Butterfield. “The STAR Act is a critical piece of bipartisan legislation that has provided hope to families in North Carolina and across the country suffering from pediatric cancer. We must continue to fund childhood cancer research and pave the way towards lifesaving pediatric-focused cancer treatments. Reauthorizing the STAR Act will do exactly that, ensuring our young people can lead healthy and full lives.”

“The STAR Act has proven its immense value since it was first passed in 2018,” said Rep. Kelly. “Children are 25% of our population, but they are 100% of our future. It’s our duty to fund the research that will protect them in their most vulnerable moments and to ultimately find a cure. I’m grateful that Congress is prioritizing this research and will reauthorize the STAR Act.”

“The good news is more and more childhood cancer patients are beating the odds, with the population of survivors estimated to be over half a million people today. But that survival comes with immense care and quality of life challenges for children and their families. Even with cure rates increasing to 85 percent, many childhood cancer survivors must endure ongoing pain, disability, and medical needs,” said Rep. Speier. “The 2018 STAR Act was the most comprehensive bipartisan childhood cancer bill ever signed into law. I’m proud and grateful that Congress will continue building on its life-saving initiatives with the STAR Act reauthorization, and to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that our inspiring childhood cancer survivors not only live, but thrive.”

Background:

Rep. McCaul first introduced the STAR Act in 2015, and it was signed into law in 2018. Since then, it has worked to expand opportunities for childhood cancer research, improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences, and enhance the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. The Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act of 2022 will allow programs included in the successful STAR Act to continue for the next five years.

Click here for more detailed information on the STAR Act.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (Texas-10) joined Representative Tony Gonzales (Texas-23) and 47 of their House Republican colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, expressing concern over the discontinuation of Title 42 on December 21st, 2022. 

The members said in part, “Under Title 42, migrants were expelled at rates 40 percent or higher for nearly every month in FY22, which considerably alleviated congestion along our borders. As this policy approaches its deadline next week, it is no surprise that illegal crossings are skyrocketing.”

The members continued, “Your agency has systematically dismantled successful border security measures such as the Remain in Mexico policy, and severely restricted the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport illegal immigrants. In the absence of these enforcement tools, Title 42 has served as the last effective deterrent against illegal border crossings. Without it, federal, state, and local law enforcement will be stretched beyond their limits, and threats to our national security will inevitably multiply.”

Co-signers of the letter include Representatives Dan Newhouse (Wash.-4), Scott Franklin (Fla.-15), Mike Kelly (Pa.-16), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.-01), Michelle Steel (Calif.-48), Burgess Owens (Utah-04), Dan Crenshaw (Texas-02), Vern Buchanan (Fla.-16), David Valadao (Calif.-21), Byron Donalds (Fla.-19), Mayra Flores (Texas-34), Brian Babin (Texas-36), Brad Wenstrup (Ohio-02), Andrew Garbarino (N.Y.-02), Tracey Mann (Kan.-01), Blake Moore (Utah-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa-02), Carlos A. Giménez (Fla.-26), Randy Weber (Texas-14), Young Kim (Calif.-39), August Pfluger (Texas-11), Gus Bilirakis (Fla.-12), Glenn Grothman (Wis.-06), Matt Rosendale (Mont.), John Rutherford (Fla.-04), Stephanie Bice (Okla.-05), Randy Feenstra (Iowa-04), Victoria Spartz (Ind.-05), Diana Harshbarger (Tenn.-01), Yvette Herrell (N.M.-02), Mary Miller (Ill.-15), Michael Burgess (Texas-26), Ronny Jackson (Texas-13), Michael Guest (Miss.-03), Claudia Tenney (N.Y.-22), Ashley Hinson (Iowa-01), Dan Bishop (N.C.-09), Jerry Carl (Ala.-01), Mike Garcia (Calif.-25), Van Taylor (Texas-03), Mike Waltz (Fla.-06), Dusty Johnson (S.D.-AL), Larry Bucshon (Idaho-08), Darrell Issa (Calif.-50), John Moolenaar (Mich.-04), and Brett Guthrie (Ky.-02). 

The full letter is available here.

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Statement on Trump Dismantling ED

“President Trump’s executive order has little regard for the irreparable harm it would cause to students, educators, our future workforce, and parents, who are already struggling.”

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott and Connolly Call for an Immediate Halt to the Illegal Dismantling of ED

Following an executive order eliminating the ED, two top House Democrats call on Secretary of Education to protect already struggling families and students across America.

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Committee Labor Leaders Demand Answers Following NLRB Member Wilcox’s Reinstatement

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON – Full Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), HELP Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Vice Ranking Member Greg Casar (TX-35) demanded answers from National Labor Relations Board Chairman Kaplan, after he carried out an illegal order by President Trump to fire Member Gwynne Wilcox, only to allow her to return to her Senate-confirmed position after the intervention of a federal judge.

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935(NLRA) established the NLRB as an independent federal agency designed to function without direct political interference. No President can legally fire a sitting Board Member without cause and due process.  After Chairman Kaplan carried out the removal of Member Wilcox, the NLRB was left without a quorum to act on pending cases that protect American workers from harassment and coercion by their employers. 

“Removing Member Wilcox from the NLRB without proper notice, hearing, or cause was a clear contravention of the law, the principle of the separation of powers, and nearly 90 years of Supreme Court precedent,” wrote the Members.  “Fortunately, a federal court has reinstated Member Wilcox, and she is back at work doing the job the U.S. Senate confirmed her to do.  However, Congress and the American people deserve to know the full extent of the NLRB’s role in the President’s illegal order.”

“As detailed above, your acquiescence with the Trump Administration’s illegal and unconstitutional order runs contrary to your role as head of an independent agency outside of the President’s direct control,” continued the Members.  “As Chairman of the NLRB, you have a duty to oversee the administration, operation, and personnel of the Board in service of American workers, not the President.”

In keeping with the Committee’s oversight responsibilities, the members demanded the Chairman turn over all information, documents, and communications related to the decision to remove, and removal of, Member Wilcox. 

To read the full letter, click here.

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Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Committee Democrats Take Action to Hold the President Accountable for His Effort to Dismantle the Department of Education

Lawmakers are demanding transparency—failure to act will force this crucial issue to the House floor for a vote.

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Democratic Leaders Demand Reversal of Unlawful EEOC Commissioner Firings

The Trump Administration is signaling that civil rights will no longer be protected by the federal government.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) made the following statement on the House Floor during today’s debate on H. Res. 755 – Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors:

“Madam Speaker,

Today is a sad day for this body, for the voters who sent me here last November, and for our Nation.

Benjamin Franklin cautioned when asked what he had given us, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Today we take a step further toward losing the Republic that our Founding Fathers envisioned by engaging in activity that they specifically warned against – the misuse of the Constitutional power of impeachment for one party’s political gain.

Our Constitution is the very foundation of our Republic. Its assurance of self-determination has been the shining beacon by which our Nation has chartered its course over the last two centuries. From a new democratic experiment struggling to survive to the greatest Nation on Earth, America has been powered over the years – not by Government – but by the ingenuity, the bravery, and the faith of its people, confident in their place as one Nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

And so it is “We the People” who determine our President, not “We the Judiciary Committee,” or “We the Congress.” The Constitution is clear – it is only when we see clear proof of the impeachable offenses outlined in Article II, Section 4 – treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors – that we are to challenge the decision of the voters, break the figurative glass, and pull the emergency rip-cord that is impeachment. We do not have that proof today.

Thomas Jefferson said, “I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.”

But rather than educate, this majority has chosen today to obfuscate with hearsay, innuendo, and speculation.

And when history looks back on this shameful period for this House, it will judge it for what it truly is – the ugly hijacking by the Majority of our Constitution and the powers it so solemnly entrusts to us to engage in a blatantly political process designed to finally achieve what they could not achieve at the ballot box: the removal of a duly elected president.

Compelled by my sworn duty to uphold this Constitution and for the people, I vote no on impeachment today.

I yield back.”

Video of Congressman Cline’s remarks can be found here. The video was taken from www.house.gov/watch-houselive and is available for reuse.

Congressman Ben Cline was sworn in as the new Congressman for the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in January of 2019. He was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates prior to his election last November. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) released the following statement on the House Judiciary Committee voting today to advance Articles of Impeachment to the full House of Representatives.

“It is a sad day in America, as Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have failed the American people by voting out two unproven Articles of Impeachment against the President after only 3 days of hearings and no fact witnesses. No matter how hard they try, they cannot show that the President committed high crimes or misdemeanors as required by Article 2 Section 4 of the Constitution. Instead, the evidence shows four facts that will never change: both President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky have said there was no pressure on the July 25 call, there was no conditionality of aid in the call summary, the Ukrainians were not aware that aid was withheld when the presidents spoke, and Ukraine still received aid and a meeting with President Trump without taking any action. The claim that the President abused his power has not been proven. In fact, the only abuse of power I have seen is by Speaker Pelosi and her caucus as they try to remove the duly elected President from office and overturn the will of 60 million Americans.”

“The Articles also argue that the President has obstructed Congress. The Majority suggests that because President Trump has sought judicial review regarding his claims of executive privilege involving the possible testimony of his closest advisors, he has circumvented the law and Congress. We live in a country where the Rule of Law still exists, and to claim that availing himself of the courts is the equivalent of obstruction of Congress is ridiculous.”

“This partisan impeachment circus has been flawed from the very beginning. At every turn, both Congressional Republicans and President Trump have been denied fairness and due process. While transcripts of the testimony in the Intelligence Committee were eventually made public, most Judiciary Committee members were not able to watch the hidden proceedings, question witnesses, or ensure the accuracy of the transcripts we were provided. We learned that Chairman Schiff at times ordered witnesses not to answer Republican questions, lied about his contact with the whistleblower, and surreptitiously obtained phone records of Members of Congress and the press. Hearsay, speculation, and inferences are not enough to remove a sitting President, and for all of these reasons, I could not support these partisan Articles of Impeachment.”

Congressman Ben Cline was sworn in as the new Congressman for the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in January of 2019. He was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates prior to his election last November. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)