41.1 F
Clarksville
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsMarsha Blackburn Report: Reining in Bureaucracy

Marsha Blackburn Report: Reining in Bureaucracy

U.S. SenateWashington, D.C. – Tennesseans have grown frustrated with a federal bureaucracy that is distant and unresponsive.

Senator Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) HIRE ACT, which I’m cosponsoring, will move federal agencies closer to the communities they serve.

Tennessee is a leader in education reform, and placing the U.S. Department of Education in the Volunteer State will provide it with a productive home. Learn more here

Fighting For More Jobs

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was announced over a year ago, will modernize trade relations and encourage producers to manufacture more of their products in the United States. This is good news for Tennessee: we already export $13.7 billion a year in goods and services to Canada and Mexico.

On the Senate floor, I urged Speaker Pelosi to put partisan politics aside and call a vote on the USMCA. The 12 million Americans whose jobs depend on trade sure would appreciate it! 

Protecting Our Kurdish Partners

The situation in Syria has rapidly deteriorated over the past several weeks, and protecting our Kurdish partners remains a priority. This is why I joined my colleagues in asking Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to expedite a U.S. visa for Syrian Democratic Forces leader General Mazloum.

General Mazloum has fought on the ground in Syria, and meeting with him will provide us with valuable insight as we work to stabilize the region and fight the resurgence of ISIS. You can read the letter here

 

Defending Against Emerging Threats

Keeping the United States military on top as the world’s best fighting force requires forward-thinking leadership and investment in new technologies. At the Senate Armed Services hearing, I spoke with Vice Admiral Charles A. Richard, nominated to serve as Commander of United States Strategic Command, about what we should do to ensure U.S. dominance in contested electronic warfare environments. 

Safeguarding Our Communities

Sanctuary cities provide protection for one group: illegal immigrants. At Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, we heard heartbreaking testimony detailing acts of violent crime that only occurred because pro-amnesty lawmakers insist upon preventing law enforcement officers from doing their jobs.

We need to remember the story of Pierce Corcoran and other victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, because no more families should have to suffer this same tragic loss. Tennessee is right to have implemented a statewide anti-sanctuary city policy.

 

Protecting Religious Liberty

Our individual freedoms are part of what makes America the greatest country in the world. We should not be telling artists how to express their creativity or force them to create art that is inconsistent with their religious beliefs. This is why I’m leading my colleagues in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court encouraging the justices to protect religious liberty. You can learn more here.

In The News

It’s not surprising that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has few friends in Washington. Facebook has made billions from abusing and misusing consumer data. You can watch my interview on Fox Business’ Making Money with Charles Payne here.

On Fox Business’ The Evening Edit, I gave a rundown on the situation in Syria with host Elizabeth MacDonald. One thing remains clear: protecting the Kurdish people must remain a priority. 

Marsha’s Roundup

Ilham Ahmed, President of the Syrian Democratic Council, came to the Capitol to discuss the ongoing conflict in Syria. She has shown resilient leadership and courage on behalf of the Kurdish people, and we appreciate her meeting with us.

Kurdistan Regional Government Ambassador Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman and I discussed the Turkish attacks on our partners in Syria. She reaffirmed the importance of maintaining U.S. troops in northern Syria and the importance of ensuring that ISIS prisoners remain in captivity. 

First Lady Melania Trump, Senior Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, and Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and I met to brainstorm new strategies communities can use to fight back against the opioid epidemic. To start, we can ensure that sentencing penalties for trafficking fentanyl reflect the deadliness of the drug. Earlier this year, I introduced the Ending the Fentanyl Crisis Act to do just that. 

It was great to meet the Library of Congress’ Albert Einstein Fellow, Amara Alexander, at Tennessee Tuesday this week. Amara is an elementary school engineering teacher from Chattanooga, and we’re glad to have her in D.C.!

Stay In Touch

As a reminder, you can reach any of my six offices in Tennessee to share a concern or request assistance with a federal agency. The phone number for my Washington D.C. office is 202.224.3344, the same number previously used by Senators Bob Corker and Bill Frist. 

Be sure to follow my work on behalf of Tennesseans on social media

Facebook: facebook.com/marshablackburn
Twitter: @MarshaBlackburn
Instagram: @MarshaBlackburn

My Best,

 
Marsha

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles