U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate as well as the House and Senate leadership and House and Senate committees.
Featured Stories
Webster Votes to Ensure Full Accountability and Transparency
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Florida, issued the following statement on July 24, 2024:
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Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, released the following statement after voting to pass H.Res. 1367, establishing a Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump.
"The attempted assassination of President Trump on July 13th marked a dark and disturbing moment in our nation's history. It is clear numerous security failures contributed to the attempted assassination that injured President Trump as well as 2 others and killed Corey Comperatore. This task force
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Florida, issued the following statement on July 24, 2024:
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Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, released the following statement after voting to pass H.Res. 1367, establishing a Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump.
"The attempted assassination of President Trump on July 13th marked a dark and disturbing moment in our nation's history. It is clear numerous security failures contributed to the attempted assassination that injured President Trump as well as 2 others and killed Corey Comperatore. This task forceis part of our commitment to conduct a thorough investigation and evaluation and get answers for the American people. We will not rest until there is full accountability to ensure this never happens again."
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Original text here: https://webster.house.gov/press-releases?ID=ACE5E28E-949C-4095-B996-7E027521F93E
Sens. Cornyn, Cruz Slam Failed Border Czar Harris, Lame Duck Biden for Not Visiting Border During Texas Trips
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following statement on July 25, 2024:
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U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statement ahead of Vice President Harris' visit to Texas today and President Biden's expected visit on Monday:
"Despite the fact that border security is one of the most important issues leading up to November, neither failed Border Czar Kamala Harris nor lame duck President Joe Biden are planning to stop anywhere near the border on their upcoming trips to Texas. This is yet another insult to the brave men and women
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following statement on July 25, 2024:
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U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statement ahead of Vice President Harris' visit to Texas today and President Biden's expected visit on Monday:
"Despite the fact that border security is one of the most important issues leading up to November, neither failed Border Czar Kamala Harris nor lame duck President Joe Biden are planning to stop anywhere near the border on their upcoming trips to Texas. This is yet another insult to the brave men and womenwho've stepped up to defend our southern border while the Biden-Harris administration refuses to do so and to the families who have lost loved ones at the hands of cartels and deadly drugs like fentanyl. We would be more than happy to host them at the border so they can see the devastating consequences of their failed policies - not some sterilized version of the truth.
"Let us be clear: Kamala Harris was hand-picked as Joe Biden's border czar to address this crisis more than three years ago, and she has failed to do so on all fronts.
"Her record as border czar can be defined by millions of illegal crossings, tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors lost within our country, and deadly drugs like fentanyl pouring into our communities. Democrats may try to rewrite history about Kamala Harris' involvement with the border in order to boost her coronation by party elites as the Democrat nominee for President, but Texans have seen the truth with our own eyes."
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Original text here: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-cruz-slam-failed-border-czar-harris-lame-duck-biden-for-not-visiting-border-during-texas-trips/
Senator Carper Emphasizes Importance of Timely Nominations for Postal Regulatory Commission and D.C. Court of Appeals
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Delaware, issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
Today at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee nominations hearing, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) heard from Postal Regulatory Commissioners (PRC) Ann C. Fisher and Ashley E. Poling who currently serve on the PRC and have been nominated to serve a second term, and judicial nominees Carmen G. Iguina Gonzalez and Joseph R. Palmore who have been nominated to serve as Associate Judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals. During the hearing, Senator Carper highlighted the importance
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Delaware, issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
Today at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee nominations hearing, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) heard from Postal Regulatory Commissioners (PRC) Ann C. Fisher and Ashley E. Poling who currently serve on the PRC and have been nominated to serve a second term, and judicial nominees Carmen G. Iguina Gonzalez and Joseph R. Palmore who have been nominated to serve as Associate Judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals. During the hearing, Senator Carper highlighted the importanceof continuing to hear from nominees for both the PRC and the D.C. Court system in order to confirm qualified people in a timely manner. Earlier this year, the Senator introduced legislation to prevent prolonged vacancies in D.C. courts.
During the hearing, Senator Carper emphasized the importance of swiftly filling vacancies in the D.C. Court system:
"I used to be governor of Delaware and as governor, I was privileged to nominate people to serve on a variety of courts, including Court of Chancery, [...] Supreme Court, and others. I know how important the role of the judiciary is in our state, and certainly here in the District. For too long, the [judicial] seats have not been filled and not been filled properly, and even in some cases left vacant for not just months, but years, which is I think shameful. And the Senate has responsibility, all of us Democrats and Republicans, [...] to fill these seats with confirmed folks. [...] Justice delayed is justice denied, and we can do a better job, we need to do a better job."
Additionally, Senator Carper stressed how the Senate must continue to confirm commissioners to the PRC to improve the financial solvency of the United States Postal Service:
"Senator Peters and I have worked for years [...] to make sure that we have a postal service that we can be proud of, that provides not just mail services for folks that are deployed around the world in our armed forces, but to meet the [needs of] our constituents across the country. [...] We have worked on legislation to try to stabilize the operation of the Postal Service and their finances, and we're still facing a situation where the quality of service, as evaluated by people who contact my office every month, is not getting better, and in many cases, is getting worse. [...] We've got to find a way to [better this operation] for the people we serve, and for the people who work with the Postal Service."
A video of Senator Carper's questions at today's hearing can be found here (https://youtu.be/w5v0eneHjG4).
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Original text here: https://www.carper.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-carper-emphasizes-importance-of-timely-nominations-for-postal-regulatory-commission-and-d-c-court-of-appeals/
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch on Bibi Visit: We Must Continue to Support Israel, End Hamas Terror
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on July 25, 2024:
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U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress:
"I am grateful for Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress this afternoon. His remarks reminded us yet again of the atrocities committed on October 7, the urgency of bringing all hostages home, and the need to
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on July 25, 2024:
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U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress:
"I am grateful for Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress this afternoon. His remarks reminded us yet again of the atrocities committed on October 7, the urgency of bringing all hostages home, and the need toeliminate Hamas as a military and political entity.
"America is more than a fair-weather friend. Our Israeli partners deserve unwavering American support as they continue the necessary work to bring all the hostages home, dismantle Hamas, and counter an increasingly aggressive Iranian regime.
"Any division between Israel and the United States is an opportunity for Hamas to continue terrorizing Israelis and Palestinians."
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Original text here: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-on-bibi-visit-we-must-continue-to-support-israel-end-hamas-terror
Rep. Schiff Issues Statement on Violent Anti-Israel Protests in Washington D.C.
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-California, issued the following statement on July 25, 2024:
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Today, Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to recent protests and violence by anti-Israel activists in Washington:
"What happened yesterday in Washington D.C. was the latest, hateful incident in the wave of antisemitism plaguing our country.
"To have strong disagreements is understandable. But to glorify Hamas - a barbaric terrorist organization with the stated goal of killing Jews and destroying the Jewish state - is abhorrent. Hamas
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-California, issued the following statement on July 25, 2024:
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Today, Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to recent protests and violence by anti-Israel activists in Washington:
"What happened yesterday in Washington D.C. was the latest, hateful incident in the wave of antisemitism plaguing our country.
"To have strong disagreements is understandable. But to glorify Hamas - a barbaric terrorist organization with the stated goal of killing Jews and destroying the Jewish state - is abhorrent. Hamasraped, tortured, and murdered its victims, and still holds several innocent Americans and dozens of other hostages.
"Protestors also destroyed public property and burned the American flag. The flag represents our country and its people, and our right to protest peacefully and express ourselves freely. To desecrate it is contemptible.
"People have a right to express their views - and they should. But to glorify terrorism and demean the symbol of our country should be anathema to us all."
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Original text here: https://schiff.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-schiff-statement-on-violent-anti-israel-protests-in-washington-dc
Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill To Label Taliban As Terrorist Organization
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace stands boldly against the recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by introducing the "Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2024." This legislation sends a clear message to the Middle East: the United States will not legitimize a regime controlled by terrorists.
"Freedom and justice demand we reject tyranny and oppression in all forms. Our bill ensures America never recognizes the Taliban's terror-driven regime," said Rep. Nancy
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace stands boldly against the recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by introducing the "Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2024." This legislation sends a clear message to the Middle East: the United States will not legitimize a regime controlled by terrorists.
"Freedom and justice demand we reject tyranny and oppression in all forms. Our bill ensures America never recognizes the Taliban's terror-driven regime," said Rep. NancyMace."By prohibiting any federal actions implying their legitimacy and designating them as state sponsors of terrorism, we stand firm against this rogue state's barbarism. The Taliban are terrorists, plain and simple."
Key Points of the Bill:
* No Taliban Recognition: The U.S. will never recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's government.
* Ban on Federal Actions: No federal agency can imply recognition of Taliban sovereignty or use funds to support such policies.
* State Sponsor of Terrorism: The Secretary of State must designate the Taliban regime as a state sponsor of terrorism.
* Terrorist Organization Label: The Secretary of State must designate the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organization.
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Original text here: https://mace.house.gov/TalibanBill
E&C Leaders Ask DOJ, HHS for Information Regarding Unusual Process for Marijuana Rescheduling
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release:
In a new letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) requested information related to rescheduling of marijuana.
KEY LETTER EXCERPTS:
"We write to express our concerns with the recent notice of proposed rulemaking titled 'Schedules of Controlled
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release:
In a new letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) requested information related to rescheduling of marijuana.
KEY LETTER EXCERPTS:
"We write to express our concerns with the recent notice of proposed rulemaking titled 'Schedules of ControlledSubstances: Rescheduling of Marijuana,' to transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The circumstances surrounding this proposed rule are unusual, and we are concerned by the process that led to this determination."
[...]
"We support research into innovative therapies to improve patient outcomes, but we are concerned with how the normal process was circumvented to achieve a result for political purposes and we have a number of unanswered questions."
BACKGROUND:
History:
* Marijuana is a psychoactive substance that has been listed in Schedule I since the CSA was enacted in 1970.
* All substances in Schedule I are classified as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
* This means that the manufacturing, possession, and distribution of marijuana is illegal at the federal level, except for certain research approved by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
* During the Obama administration in 2016, the DEA and HHS, acting through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conducted a multi-year review of whether to transfer marijuana from Schedule I to a lesser schedule. Both the DEA and HHS agreed that marijuana continued to meet the criteria to be considered a Schedule I substance.
* HHS concluded that "[...] marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use in the United States, and lacks an acceptable level of safety for use even under medical supervision."
* President Biden made a public statement on October 6, 2022, issuing pardons for all simple possession federal offenses of marijuana, requesting all Governors do the same with state level offenses, and requiring HHS and DOJ to begin the administrative process to quickly review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.
* While the administration has the authority to alter a substance's scheduling status, it is bound by the CSA to consider factors, including whether a substance has a medical use and to determine its potential for abuse and dependence, prior to changing its scheduling status.
Process:
* The DEA typically determines whether a substance has a medical use if it has been approved for marketing under the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and by conducting a five-part test, which considers the following:
* (1) there were adequate safety studies,
* (2) the drug's chemistry is known and reproducible,
* (3) there are adequate and controlled studies,
* (4) the drug is accepted by qualified experts, and
* (5) there is widely available scientific evidence.
* However, this proposed rule indicates that HHS notified the DEA that HHS disagreed with the existing process and decided to develop its own test to determine whether a substance has medical use under the CSA.
* This test is comprised of two considerations:
* (1) if there is widespread medical use of such a substance under the supervision of a licensed health care practitioner operating within a State-authorized program and,
* (2) if so, there is credible scientific evidence to support medical use of such substance.
* HHS analyzed marijuana by utilizing its own two-part test, determined it has a medical use, and therefore recommended to transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the CSA.
* DOJ received HHS's recommendation and declared that this new two-part test is sufficient to establish medical use, which is an unusual deviation from the typical process.
* It is notable that the proposed rule states, "DEA has not yet made a determination as to its views of the appropriate schedule for marijuana," seeming to indicate that the DEA is not yet convinced of the merits of this review.
* Additionally, most of the professional organizations listed in the HHS "Basis for the Recommendation to Reschedule Marijuana into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act" have released position statements that either request more evidence or oppose using marijuana as medicine for their specialties.
Further Considerations:
* To date, the FDA has not approved a New Drug Application (NDA) necessary to have satisfied the criteria required under the previous five-factor analysis, such as adequate and well-controlled studies proving safety and efficacy, for a drug product containing botanical marijuana to treat any medical condition(s); thus, it has remained a Schedule I drug without a currently accepted medical use.
* This is misaligned from typical practice, as the presence of a marketing application approved to treat a certain condition or disease has been central to the FDA's determinations.
* The Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency in marijuana is also continuing to increase.
* According to the proposed rule, THC potency has spiked from about three percent in 1991 to 17 percent in 2017 and it notes, "[...] DEA anticipates that additional data on public safety risks, risks from acute and chronic marijuana use via oral and inhaled administration routes, and the impact of THC potency may be appropriate for consideration."
* The proposed rule also states, "the vast majority of professional organizations did not recommend the use of marijuana in their respective specialties; however, none specifically recommended against it, with the exception of the American Psychiatric Association, which states that marijuana is known to worsen certain psychiatric conditions."
* Further, HHS's own report to Congress titled "Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids and Barriers to Research" states that "[m]ore research is needed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of cannabis and cannabinoids as a means of safely and effectively treating various indications [...] it is also worth noting that the U.S. jurisdictions that have legalized the use of cannabis products for medicinal purposes have often done so with inadequate scientific research to support all allowable uses."
CLICK HERE (https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/07_25_24_Follow_Up_Letter_to_HHS_and_NIH_re_MPOX_b550894bac.pdf) to read the letter.
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Original text here: https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/e-and-c-leaders-ask-doj-hhs-for-information-regarding-unusual-process-for-marijuana-rescheduling
