Regulation Nation

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, on which I serve, passed three of the transparency and regulatory bills I introduced earlier this year. The Early Participation in Regulations Act, Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, and Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act are all aimed at making government more transparent and removing the burden of harmful regulations to small businesses, which means more jobs and a better economy in the future. I worked closely with Sen. McCaskill from Missouri on the Federal Agency Customer Experience Act to ensure that the federal government is more responsive to the American people. These are all commonsense steps to improve the service and engagement of federal agencies.

To read more about Wednesday’s hearing, CLICK HERE.

Healthcare Reform in the Senate

In the last e-newsletter, I shared that the House of Representatives was working through the details of the health care reform bill. Since April, the House has passed its version of a bill to repeal large portions of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and replace it with a new structure aimed at bringing down costs, boosting affordability, and increasing choice in health coverage. Now it is the Senate’s turn to produce its own health care reform bill. One obscure fact about the Senate is that its rules require a nonpartisan cost estimate of the bill from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) before the bill can be considered. This estimate will not be available until next week, and you will most likely hear this referred to as a CBO “score”on the news.

There is still a long way to go before a final product will be voted on by the Senate, and your opinion and stories are important to me. If you have questions or concerns about the debate, please contact my office.

CLICK HERE to watch my floor speech from this week on this topic.

Worldwide Threats

Last week, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held a rare open meeting focused on worldwide threats. This is an annual hearing the committee holds to examine America’s greatest national security threats from around the globe.

During the hearing with most of the leaders of our major intelligence agencies, we covered issues from North Korea to Syria, Islamic terrorism, cybersecurity, and drug trafficking, just to name a few. I was able to question top US intelligence and national security leaders on the Russia investigation, drug trafficking, cyber threats, and Iran.

To watch a video of my Q&A, CLICK HERE.

Senate Investigations into Russia’s Interference with US elections

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is currently conducting an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. It is alarming that any other country would seek to influence the bedrock of our democracy. As a committee, we are committed to following the facts wherever they may lead us. It is important to ensure that our system of free and fair elections is not influenced by outside sources, that no American corresponded with a foreign government, and that we can identify the source of any leaks of classified documents.

The appointment of Robert Mueller as Special Counsel will add a new leader to the FBI investigation, but it will not deter the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation.

CLICK HERE to watch a recent interview I conducted on this appointment, and the committee's work.

National Day of Prayer

On May 4, Americans recognized the National Day of Prayer in their homes, communities, businesses, and churches to pray for our nation. Alongside Representative Louie Gohmert, I was honored to serve as this year’s national co-host of the National Day of Prayer Observance in the US Capitol. 

We should pray for our nation, our leaders, our families, and each other. This day and every day is a good day to pray and reflect on our own lives, attitudes, and actions; we should not expect a change in others if we are not willing to allow the same change in ourselves. We also use this day to recognize one of the hallmarks of our nation’s freedoms, the free exercise of religion—the right to practice our faith or to have no faith at all.

To read my full release, CLICK HERE.