WASHINGTON, DC – Members of the Republican Study Committee’s Steering Committee voted to release an Official Position on a slate of border security policies this week.
“President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have created the crisis at our southern border through a long list of failed and illegal policies,” said RSC Chairman Kevin Hern (OK-01). “RSC’s Steering Committee unequivocally condemns the Biden Administration’s dereliction of duty and stands ready to advance proven conservative policies that combat cartels, secure the border, and enforce the immigration laws already on the books.”
Below is the RSC Steering Committee’s Official Position:
Each day the House of Representatives does not take action to secure the border is another day in which the Biden administration perpetuates the national security and humanitarian calamity it has created at our southern border. Since Biden took office, there have been over 4 million apprehensions at the southwest border. Beyond the legal crisis is the humanitarian one. In 2021, drug related deaths in America rose above 100,000 for the first time in American history. Last month 20 women were rescued from a border-related human trafficking ring that led to over 200 arrests in Florida. As Vice President Biden said in 2014, “These smugglers—and everyone should know it, and not turn a blind eye to it—these smugglers routinely engage in physical and sexual abuse, and extortion of these innocent, young women and men by and large.” While, the Biden Administration has the legal authorities necessary to end this chaos and secure the border, they have chosen not to.
For these reasons, the RSC Steering Committee supports the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas. It also urges all House Republicans and Congress to swiftly pass legislation to force the Biden Administration to secure the border. This is a moral obligation. Under the Biden Administration, the brave men and women who serve in CBP have been demonized for trying their best to secure the border, protect border communities, and assist the countless individuals victimized by cartels. Congress must stand with these agents and officers and provide them with the capacity and capabilities to secure our border. Additionally, as part of this effort, the RSC Steering Committee endorses the following consensus conservative policies as part of a future House border package:
· Restore Operational Control of the Border: Congress should statutorily provide for the immediate expulsion of aliens who cross the border illegally. If an alien cannot be detained through the entirety of the asylum determination process, DHS should be required to expel them. Additionally, Congress should codify the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), end “alternatives-to-detention,” legislatively prevent President Biden’s abuse of prosecutorial discretion and parole authority, and codify strict third-country asylum restrictions on illegal border crossers who did not seek protection in a country through which they traveled.
· Asylum Reform: The asylum process is filled with exploitable loopholes, acting as magnets that draws even more aliens with meritless claims to flood across our border. To prevent this exploitation, Congress must raise the credible fear standard, codify pre-Biden decisions ensuring asylum benefits do not extend to claims based on general local crime, and bar criminals from the asylum process.
· End Incentives for Illegal Immigration: Congress should eliminate incentivizes for illegal immigration, namely ending catch and release, cutting off illegal U.S. labor markets—including through strengthening E-Verify, and ending policies that encourage human smuggling of unaccompanied alien children (UACs)— such as the Flores settlement.
· Border Infrastructure: Congress should fund and require the completion of the border wall and build effective roadways along the border. This will give Border Patrol more time to quickly respond to illegal border crossers no matter how remote they are.
· Combat cartels: Cartels have taken operational control of our border largely controlling the smuggling of aliens and drugs into the U.S. Congress must address the cartel threat and end the humanitarian crisis at the border. Congress should sanction cartels and enhance criminal penalties for smuggling drugs and humans illegally into the U.S.
It is past time Congress act to secure the border, restore our national security, and save the countless individuals victimized by the violence of our open border.
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WASHINGTON, DC – As the United States approaches a do-or-die debt crisis, Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (OK-01) has led RSC Members in pursuit of commonsense spending reforms that should be prioritized in any legislation that increases the federal debt limit.
“Our nation faces a debt crisis unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Over the last two years of united Democrat control, federal spending has ballooned out of control. In spite of record-high revenues, Democrat spending is leaving us with record-high deficits. Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.
The first step is admitting that both sides have contributed to our spending problem in the two decades since our last budget surplus. Republicans and Democrats alike have ignored the debt as it grew and grew; we can ignore it no longer. Generations still to come will suffer as a result of this debt- not to mention the harm it’s already causing American families and small businesses.
The Republican Study Committee has been a respected leader on fiscal responsibility for 50 years. This year, RSC has led the way in mapping out solutions for the debt crisis. Compiled in this Playbook are the materials RSC has produced for Members of the RSC over the last few months outlining our suggested policy solutions.
There’s an old proverb that says “The best time to plan a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is now.” Addressing our debt is the same. The longer we wait to take action, the more drastic those actions will have to be.” – Chairman Hern in the Debt Limit Playbook.
HERE’s the RSC Debt Limit Playbook.
On January 19, Chairman Hern sent a Dear Colleague letter to RSC Members stating the severity of the looming debt crisis and asking for input from Members. The letter pointed out the pattern of passing spending reforms in conjunction with debt increases in 1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1996, 2010, and 2011.
“The only reckless assumption Congress can make about our nation’s debt crisis is that the status quo is sustainable. The RSC will work together to provide responsible solutions and show the American people that Congress can be capable of serious leadership and fiscal responsibility,” Chairman Hern said in the letter.
HERE’s Fox News coverage of the letter.
On February 1, Chairman Hern sent a second Dear Colleague to RSC Members as a follow-up to the first, listing seven policies endorsed by the RSC Steering Committee to be included in debt limit negotiations.
- Reverse recent increases in overall discretionary spending and institute statutory limitations on annual discretionary spending levels.
- Enact a package of inflation-busting reforms to increase domestic energy capacity and reduce associated regulatory and permitting barriers.
- Fight inflation and the onset of a Democrat-induced recession by ending the national COVID-19 emergency, increasing workforce participation, advancing targeted, paid-for, pro-growth tax policies, and countering overregulation with common-sense guardrails like the REINS Act.
- Ensure an increase in the debt ceiling is accomplished by commensurate spending reductions, including through recissions of the Democrats’ recent excessive spending.
- Eliminate wasteful spending on duplicative programs, examine ways to fight waste, fraud and abuse, and transition non-entitlement mandatory programs to the discretionary side of the budget.
- Establish a long-term fiscal control focused on reducing spending to restrain the growth of our federal debt as a percentage of the nation’s economy.
- Codify procedures to ensure the federal government honors critical obligations, such as federal debt payments, national security and veterans, Social Security, and Medicare.
HERE’s Washington Examiner coverage of the seven priorities.
On March 1, CBO Director Phillip Swagel briefed RSC Members on the current debt situation and answered questions about what potential actions could be taken to avoid a default on the debt. Swagel made it clear that balancing the budget with new taxes or economic growth alone was impossible; nothing would lower the deficit without also cutting spending.
“CBO Director Swagel painted a dark picture for us, but this wasn't news to anyone who's paid attention to our spending problem. The debt crisis is real, and there is no way out of it without cutting spending. The CBO is a nonpartisan entity, and they recognize the severity of our current situation. We need everyone, not just fiscal conservatives, to pay attention to the debt crisis and come to terms with reality. There are some really hard conversations that need to be had, both internally in the GOP and with our colleagues across the aisle,” Chairman Hern told Fox News
HERE’s Fox News coverage of the briefing.
On March 8, the RSC Policy team sent Members a memo outlining specific legislative items sourced from the January 19 call for submissions. These initiatives are concrete legislative actions that help meet the seven policy priorities from the RSC Steering Committee. Chairman Hern presented this memo to Members at RSC Lunch.
“We don’t have to go create new bills or new ideas when we already have a lot of Members that have done a lot of heavy lifting to make this happen,” Chairman Hern told The Hill.
HERE’s The Hill’s coverage of the memo.
Also on March 8, Chairman Hern asked Members of the RSC to fill out a brief survey at RSC Lunch, ranking the top three policy priorities they feel should be attached to a debt limit increase. Of 10 options, plus write-in submissions, the overwhelming winner was Energy Independence: Enact a package of inflation-busting reforms to increase domestic energy capacity and reduce associated regulatory and permitting barriers.
HERE is the survey and results.
While President Biden continues to ignore the problem, deflect blame, and refuse to negotiate with Speaker McCarthy, conservative leaders in the RSC are showing that there is a strong consensus to reform our spending alongside any legislative action to raise the debt limit.
Members of the Republican Study Committee and Chairman Hern will continue to lead the way on this issue as we get closer and closer to a debt doomsday. Democrat ignorance is no longer an excuse, it’s time to get back to the negotiation table.
All of these materials are compiled in the RSC Debt Limit Playbook (available HERE).
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Energy Action Team (HEAT) Chairman Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Kevin Hern (R-OK), and HEAT Vice-Chairman Mike Carey (R-OH) released the following joint statement in response to the Biden Administration’s actions on the Alaskan oil and gas Willow Project and other drilling:
“President Biden is speaking out of both sides of his mouth by issuing a partial approval for the Willow Project while simultaneously taking steps to limit future exploration in the Arctic Ocean and across Alaska. If the President really wanted to fulfill his ‘climate goals,’ he would approve the entire Willow Project and allow our American energy producers—who have brought emissions down by almost 15% in only ten years—to continue providing clean, affordable, reliable energy to our country and the world.”
The House Energy Action Team (HEAT) is now a Republican Study Committee (RSC) initiative.
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and RSC Chairman Kevin Hern (OK-01) today introduced the Anti-Foreign Adversary Collaboration Resolution, which would prohibit Members of Congress from serving on boards affiliated with our foreign adversaries, such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
“China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran pose the greatest threats facing the United States’ national security. If we continue to turn a blind eye to the nefarious actions our foreign adversaries, it will be devastating for our country,” said Congressman Luttrell. “Countering our opponents is one of the most pressing issues we will undertake this Congress. The legislation I introduced today emphasizes the importance of a long-term focus on countering, curbing, and outcompeting foreign adversaries across the globe."
“America’s adversaries are using every tool at their disposal to undermine American authority on the world stage. Their influence reaches from academia to pop culture to corporate board rooms and social media,” said RSC Chairman Kevin Hern. “We cannot allow nations who wish us harm to exert undue influence on our government, which is why I’m proud to join Morgan on this important bill. Members of Congress must be completely free and independent of any influence from America’s enemies."
The Anti-Foreign Adversary Collaboration Resolution would prohibit Members, officers, and employees of the House from serving on the board of directors of any entity which receives funding from, or is affiliated with, or owned, or controlled by China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, or Cuba.
READ MORE about this legislation here: https://dailycaller.com/2023/03/08/morgan-luttrell-kevin-hern-ufwd-ccp-collaboration-judy-chu/
WASHINGTON, DC — Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Kevin Hern (R-OK) announced that the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) will be brought under the purview of RSC. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) will serve as the HEAT Chairman, and Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) will serve as Vice Chairman.
The House Energy Action Team will champion and communicate effective policies that unleash affordable, reliable American energy to strengthen U.S. national security and bring down costs for consumers.
RSC Chairman Kevin Hern said, “Energy security & energy independence are key to our fiscal future. We need strong leaders in Congress to fight for good energy policies that utilize the many resources we have here in our own backyard. HEAT has done tremendous work under the leadership of Steve Scalise, I’m proud to help continue that work as we bring HEAT under the Republican Study Committee. Our new chairman August Pfluger comes from one of the top energy-producing regions in the country. His passion for saving American energy will help lead energy policy in our majority and restore American energy independence once again.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, “Now more than ever, Americans are concerned with rising energy prices and our nation’s dependence on foreign dictators for oil. Because of President Biden’s anti-American energy policies, we are in a historic energy crisis, and American families are the ones suffering. As someone who had the honor of leading the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), I want to congratulate RSC Chairman Kevin Hern and Rep. August Pfluger on chairing HEAT through RSC. HEAT plays a vital role in promoting American energy security, and its voice is needed as House Republicans gear up to pass legislation to lower energy costs.”
Majority Whip Tom Emmer said, “House Republicans are leading the way on a common-sense, all-of-the-above energy approach that makes us more energy independent while lowering costs for hardworking Americans. With RSC Chairman Hern and HEAT Chairman Pfluger at the helm, this will be another great opportunity for House Republicans to go on offense about the ways we’re delivering for the American people.”
HEAT Chairman August Pfluger said, “As the Representative for the Permian Basin—the most prolific oil and gas producing region in the United States—I am committed to telling the story of the men and women of our region who, through hard work and innovation, have unlocked abundant American energy and lifted a billion people out of poverty. The Biden Administration has demonized these very people and this industry in policy and rhetoric. I am excited to lead a well-organized group of Members who are passionate about communicating the benefits of American energy to our national security, our economy, and our American way of life. Thank you to Chairman Hern and Majority Leader Scalise for appointing me to lead this critical initiative.”
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WASHINGTON, DC – Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (OK-01) released a list of policy proposals sourced from Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) to help accomplish the seven priorities previously announced from RSC for debt limit negotiations.
“Every day, we get closer to a debt disaster that has the potential to destroy our nation and life as know it,” said Chairman Hern. “We cannot ignore the problem and hope it goes away; we must take decisive action. Spending reforms are necessary, otherwise we’ll be back in this same situation before we know it. I’m proud of the Members of the RSC for submitting substantive policy solutions to help us tackle this problem and get back on track.”
The seven priorities announced in February are:
- Reverse recent increases in overall discretionary spending and institute statutory limitations on annual discretionary spending levels.
- Enact a package of inflation-busting reforms to increase domestic energy capacity and reduce associated regulatory and permitting barriers.
- Fight inflation and the onset of a Democrat-induced recession by ending the national COVID-19 emergency, increasing workforce participation, advancing targeted, paid-for, pro-growth tax policies, and countering overregulation with common-sense guardrails like the REINS Act.
- Ensure an increase in the debt ceiling is accompanied by commensurate spending reductions, including through recissions of the Democrats’ recent excessive spending.
- Eliminate wasteful spending on duplicative programs, examine ways to fight waste, fraud and abuse, and transition non-entitlement mandatory programs to the discretionary side of the budget.
- Establish a long-term fiscal control focused on reducing spending to restrain the growth of our federal debt as a percentage of the nation’s economy.
- Codify procedures to ensure the federal government honors certain critical obligations, such as federal debt payments, national security and veterans, Social Security and Medicare.
The memo with the full list of policy proposals from RSC Members can be found here.
ICYMI: A clean debt ceiling is a gift to China
By Chairman Kevin Hern and Congressman Mark Alford
The public watched as a Communist Chinese spy balloon traversed nearly the entire continental United States this month, floating freely from Montana to Myrtle Beach before President Joe Biden finally gave the green light for the U.S. military to shoot it down. Biden’s balloon debacle was an important reminder that China will seek to exploit any real or perceived weakness from the U.S. in its quest to usurp our role as the world’s preeminent power.
However, the greatest long-term threat to our superiority over China does not even come from China itself but from our exploding national debt.
Since Biden’s first day in office, Democrats have created $10 trillion in new spending, a record amount in just two years. Just as he did with the Chinese balloon as it drifted across the U.S. mainland, Biden is closing his eyes and hoping the problem will disappear. He is calling for a clean debt ceiling increase instead of recognizing that this is the moment to institute concrete spending reforms and pro-growth policies. Such reforms would not only ensure the prosperity of citizens for generations to come but also protect our competitive edge over Communist China.
Without reforms, our nation’s debt problem will spiral into a crisis that will destabilize the economy, sabotage our national security, and undermine our influence on the world stage. This is not hyperbole. The U.S. is currently over $31 trillion in debt — which is greater than the size of the U.S.’s economy and nearly double the level experienced during the Great Recession of 2008. The recent spending that has swelled our debt has fueled the drastic inflation and economic stagnation experienced over the last two years. As the size of our economy is eclipsed by our national debt and investment is stymied by government borrowing, our economy will suffer at an ever-increasing rate.
China’s economy is already catching up to the U.S., and as it does, so will its global influence and ability to match our military strength. Compounding the economic threat China poses is that it is the second largest foreign holder of the U.S. debt. In fact, in 2024, the U.S. will send over $60 million in taxpayer money every day to China that it will then use to build its military and economy.
Moreover, as our debt continues to grow, the federal government will be forced to spend an ever-increasing share of its budget to service its debt. According to Congressional Budget Office projections, interest on the debt is on track to eclipse defense spending in 2029 and will be the largest line item behind Medicare and Social Security. As this occurs, pressure will build to reduce critical defense expenditures that maintain our military superiority over China.
Reduced private investment and a depleted manufacturing base will jeopardize the U.S. supply chain and drive companies to move operations, and jobs, overseas. In turn, our nation’s supply chain security will be diminished. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed us, relying on China for critical supplies is a national security liability.
Biden’s answer to our nation’s budget woes has consistently been to raise taxes, a “solution” that will only exacerbate the U.S. economic problems of which China dreams. Through executive fiat, the Biden administration has already instituted the most aggressive regulatory crusade in the history of our nation. These regulations raise the costs of production, driving investment, manufacturing, and jobs overseas to places like China.
Biden’s calls for a clean debt limit increase ignore the need to institute regulatory reforms and pro-growth tax policies that will ensure the U.S. maintains its economic edge versus China. Put simply, Biden’s debt ceiling demands are a gift to China.
Make no mistake, China enjoys watching the U.S. buckle under its debt crisis. The balloon test was no coincidence. China will continue to challenge the U.S. until the president projects strength at home and abroad. Biden needs to grow a backbone and stand up to China, and he can start by getting serious about fiscal reform.
Kevin Hern is a U.S. representative for Oklahoma and the chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Mark Alford is a U.S. representative for Missouri.
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WASHINGTON, DC – Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (OK-01) and RSC Budget and Spending Task Force Chairman Ben Cline (VA-06) led a letter to President Biden this afternoon with members of the Budget and Spending Task Force: Bob Good (VA-05), Roger Williams (TX-25), August Pfluger (TX-11), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Josh Brecheen (OK-02), Rich McCormick (GA-06), Pat Fallon (TX-04), and Eric Burlison (MO-07).
According to the Congressional Budget Act, the President is required to submit his budget request to Congress by the first Monday in February – this year, February 6th. For the third year in a row, President Biden is expected to miss this deadline. RSC’s letter asks the Biden Adminsitration if they plan to miss the deadline yet again and, if not, why? They also ask about the Administration’s timeline to balance the budget.
The letter can be found here.