Kennedy, Hagerty call out DOJ for not providing answers about cases of illegal aliens’ voter registration
Oct 04 2024
MADISONVILLE, La. — Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) in raising concerns about the Biden-Harris Department of Justice’s refusal to answer Congress’s questions surrounding the prosecution of illegal aliens who registered to vote ahead of the upcoming election.
“We are deeply concerned by reports of non-citizens registering to vote and voting in federal elections. As of today, there has been no response from you or your Department regarding the inquiry on July 12, 2024, seeking information on efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce laws prohibiting non-citizen voting. Given that the 2024 Presidential Election is in less than 34 days, your Department’s inaction and refusal to provide any information regarding its efforts to promote public trust and confidence in our elections is especially alarming,” the lawmakers wrote.
State officials across the country have recently taken steps to prevent, deter and investigate cases of foreign citizens who have illegally registered to vote or attempted to do so, including in South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee. Since the lawmakers sent their initial letter, additional instances have emerged in Virginia and Texas.
“Clearly, there is a non-negligible amount of voter participation by non-citizens in federal elections, which is not only a serious threat to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent, but also has the potential to reduce Americans’ trust and confidence in election results,” the lawmakers concluded.
The lawmakers are also seeking answers about the number of illegal aliens who have been charged, tried and convicted for illegally voting or registering to vote and what steps U.S. Attorneys and the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division have taken to gather this information.
Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced a bill designating Oct. 13 through 19 as National Wildlife Refuge Week. The resolution praises the benefits of national wildlife refuges and recognizes their role in promoting hunting, fishing and conservation.
“Louisiana is home to more than 23 refuges that help protect our state’s unique species and make us the sportsman’s paradise. This Wildlife Refuge Week, I am grateful for the opportunity to promote America’s natural environment as we preserve these ecosystems for future generations to revel in and enjoy,” said Kennedy.
“For over 100 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has protected our wildlife and ecosystems in Delaware and across the nation while strengthening local economies. Wildlife refuges like Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges, which collectively cover over 10,000 acres, maintain a healthy ecosystem, local aesthetics, and recreational opportunities in the First State. I am proud to lead the bipartisan National Wildlife Refuge Week resolution alongside Senator Kennedy as we continue to support and conserve biodiversity,” said Coons.
The National Wildlife Refuge System generates more than $3.2 billion for local economies and supports 41,000 jobs.
The resolution is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped secure an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as part of the recent government funding package. Kennedy also helped secure language in the bill to help provide urgent disaster aid to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Francine.
“Our state is still picking up the pieces that Hurricane Francine left behind, and our communities need all the help they can get. I’m thankful we’ve delivered Louisianians additional disaster aid and protected their flood insurance so that the program doesn’t expire in the middle of hurricane season,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy helped prevent the NFIP from expiring on Sept. 30 by securing an extension of the program until Dec. 20, 2024.
Kennedy also helped secure disaster relief in the continuing resolution that will help Louisianians recover from Hurricane Francine by allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide aid for future storms.
These disaster funds can provide Louisiana with emergency shelter, food and medical assistance, as well as long-term recovery efforts such as rebuilding public infrastructure, housing assistance and supporting small businesses. The funds may also cover mitigation measures to reduce the risk of future disasters and help communities become more resilient.
Kennedy, Scott introduce bill to help Americans access capital, make investments and hold SEC accountable
Sep 24 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and colleagues in introducing the Empowering Main Street in America Act to promote Americans’ access to capital and investment opportunities. The legislation also fosters transparency of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) so that regulators are held accountable to the public.
“Every day, the American dream is becoming less attainable thanks to government bureaucracy. Louisianians and all Americans deserve a level playing field when it comes to accessing capital and making investments. I’m proud to help introduce the Empowering Main Street in America Act to ensure that small businesses and job creators in every corner of our country have the tools they need for financial prosperity and security,” said Kennedy.
“Our capital markets system is the envy of the world and has helped many Americans build wealth and save for their futures. But unfortunately for individuals in communities like the one I grew up in, investing in a local venture or raising capital to grow a business seems out of reach. We need to change that – and this comprehensive legislation will create economic opportunity and provide more Americans with the resources necessary to achieve financial security for their families and realize their version of the American Dream, while ensuring small business owners can access capital to grow and innovate,” said Scott.
The legislation would:
- Reverse burdensome regulations to help entrepreneurs, small business owners and public companies raise funding in rural and metropolitan areas alike.
- Expand the criteria that everyday Americans must meet in order to qualify as accredited investors.
- Improve the readability, clarity and accessibility of information that retail investors need to make informed decisions.
- Ensure the SEC is transparent by holding it accountable to Congress and the public by broadening oversight provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act.
Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) also cosponsored the legislation.
The full bill text is available here.
Kennedy introduces bill to protect taxpayer privacy, strengthen penalties for leaking personal data
Sep 24 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to safeguard Americans’ sensitive data and increase penalties for those who steal and leak Americans’ tax information.
“American taxpayers deserve to know that their financial data is safe from criminals and bad actors. My bill would discourage would-be crooks and vigilantes from exposing anyone’s personal tax information by increasing the punishment for those abuses,” said Kennedy.
Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act in the House, which passed the legislation earlier this month.
“Americans rightfully expect their personal tax information is safe and protected when they file their tax returns with the IRS. Unfortunately, that expectation was shattered when IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn was discovered to have stolen the private tax data of thousands of individuals, including President Trump, and leaked that information to the New York Times and ProPublica for publishing. Mr. Littlejohn was aware of the legal consequences before committing his theft, but was unfazed and undeterred. He even went as far as to destroy evidence and conceal his actions from law enforcement. The Taxpayer Data Protection Act scales up the punishment to fit the crime and sends a clear message to would-be criminals that Congress will not tolerate the theft of Americans’ personal and private tax information,” said Smith.
Under current law, disclosing tax information without that authority is a felony that is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, by a sentence of up to five years in prison or both. The legislation would increase the maximum fine to as much as $250,000, lengthen potential prison sentences to as many as 10 years and subject criminals to either or both punishments.
Kennedy’s bill would also clarify that a person who exposes personal data is subject to prosecution for every taxpayer whose data he or she leaked. The Biden Justice Department recently employed a political maneuver by charging Charles Littlejohn with one count of improperly disclosing tax return information even though he stole tax return information for thousands of Americans. Under this bill, criminals who share data from multiple Americans would not be able to avoid prosecution for multiple counts.
Background:
- In 2019, Internal Revenue Service contractor Charles Littlejohn illegally leaked the tax returns of President Donald Trump to the New York Times.
- In 2020, Littlejohn also illegally disclosed the tax information of roughly 7,600 individuals and 600 entities to ProPublica for political purposes.
- In 2023, the Department of Justice announced it was charging Littlejohn with just one count of disclosing tax return information without authorization despite his distributing the information of thousands of Americans.
- The judge overseeing the case ultimately sentenced Littlejohn to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine because the law did not allow a more appropriate punishment.
The full bill text is available here.
Kennedy, Grassley demand Biden-Harris admin hold HHS accountable for unaccompanied migrant children
Sep 23 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and a bicameral group of more than 42 colleagues in urging Pres. Joe Biden to hold the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) accountable for the mismanagement and misplacement of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children.
“As a result of your open-borders policies, overseen by Vice President Harris, who was tasked with ‘stemming the migration’ at our border with Mexico, more than 500,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have crossed the southwest border without a parent or guardian to provide care since you took office, a massive increase when compared to previous administrations. . . . Your Administration also fails them when they arrive in the United States by rushing them out of the custody of your Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) into the hands of unvetted sponsors who often continue to exploit and abuse them,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Even as the trafficking business and the number of children entering the U.S. surged, HHS ORR cut back significantly on background checks and vetting procedures to speed up the process, despite knowing children were being trafficked through HHS ORR’s UAC program. Your Administration likewise continued Vice President Harris’s longtime priority of cutting back on information sharing between HHS ORR and law enforcement related to unaccompanied children and sponsors,” they continued.
The lawmakers also detailed a list of the ORR’s negligence in handling migrant children, including its failure to comply with Congressional subpoenas or provide information, such as the whereabouts of UACs, to the Department of Homeland Security.
“HHS’s failure to ensure UACs are in appropriate placements and to adequately vet sponsors is harmful not only to the UACs, but also to American citizens. . . . HHS must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,” the lawmakers concluded.
In Dec. 2023, Sen. Kennedy urged the Biden-Harris administration’s HHS to protect vulnerable migrant children by abandoning its planned rule to allow minors to be placed with sponsors who did not undergo background checks or other safeguards.
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and 15 members of the House of Representatives also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) spoke on the Senate floor to discuss the Federal Reserve’s cut to interest rates, inflation and the economy.
Key remarks from Kennedy include:
“Americans are struggling to pay their bills. The reason, of course, is inflation . . . those high prices, they were made in Washington, and they are a cancer on the American dream.”
“And as a result of the high prices, people are struggling to pay their bills. I was looking at a report this week . . . people are having to borrow money to pay their bills, and they're having to borrow money on their credit cards.
“And I don't need to tell you that the interest on credit cards has gone up dramatically as a result of inflation. And the interest on credit cards is not like going to your bank, where credit is tight. Because of inflation, interest rates on those credit cards have gone through the roof.”
. . .
“If you look at consumer debt . . . last year, it hit $17 trillion—not million, not billion—$17 trillion. It hit that number last year for the first time. Inflation-adjusted debt is at its highest level since 2009.
“Now, I know some folks are thinking, ‘Yes, but inflation has come down.’ Yes, it has and, I want to thank the Federal Reserve for that because they had to do it alone. They sure didn't get help from Congress. But what does that mean? When inflation comes down, that's called disinflation. What does that mean? When inflation comes down, that just means prices are not rising as quickly as they were. That’s called disinflation. But prices are not going down. If prices were to go down, that would be called deflation.”
. . .
“Now, there are only two ways to reduce these prices. One is to go into a recession. China is in a recession. Prices in China are going down. It's too big of a price to pay. I don't want us to go into a recession, people to lose their jobs in order to get prices down.”
. . .
“So . . . we in the Senate are going to have to put our heads together and figure out how to grow this economy. Not at 1.5%, not at 2%, which has become the norm. We break 2% GDP growth now, and we want to have a toga party.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) spoke on the Senate floor to praise the people of Louisiana for their perseverance during Hurricane Francine. Kennedy also explained what types of federal aid Louisiana will receive to help facilitate cleanup efforts in the state.
Key remarks from Kennedy include:
“I am sorry to report that last week my people in Louisiana were hit by yet another hurricane: Hurricane Francine. It was a Category 2. It was right on the line between a Category 1 and a Category 2. We had winds of 100 miles an hour. We had nine to 10 inches of rain. We had a vicious storm surge.
“My people did what they always do: They got ready for it, they reacted to the storm with grace and with pressure. My people filled sandbags, and we checked on our neighbors and we listened to our local officials. We said prayers for our first responders. My people are tough as a pine knot, but they're also compassionate—and we made it through.
“Some have said, ‘Well, compared to past hurricanes, Francine was not as bad as some in the past.’ And that's true. It could always be worse, but that is cold comfort for the thousands of Louisianians who sustained damage from that storm surge and those ferocious winds and that rain.
“And I want to assure my people that, as we have in the past, we will persevere, and we will make it through. I have never, in my years in the Senate, voted against providing relief for any of our sister states and my fellow senators who have asked for it, who have been the victim of a natural disaster—and I never will.
“That's the first role of government is to protect people and property. And I will never vote against aid for one of our sister states that, through no fault of its own, is struck by nature. I say that because I will be asking the American people to help Louisiana one more time. We won't ask for a penny more than we need. The help that I will seek will be in the form of personal assistance and housing, for example, infrastructure assistance and mitigation grants.
“I want to thank President Biden, Governor Landry, with whom I toured by helicopter the damage last week. Governor Landry asked for a disaster declaration for the president, and President Biden was quick to agree. I want to thank him for that.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and colleagues in releasing the following statement on the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) proposal of an anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. General Assembly.
The PA’s resolution calls for the end of Israel’s presence in the West Bank, for sanctions against Israeli officials and for blocking arms transfers to Israel. The General Assembly has not passed a resolution condemning Hamas for the Oct. 7 attacks.
“This proposal introduced by the Palestinian delegation, ahead of the United Nations’ General Assembly, is an absolute disgrace that rewards terrorism. It is a clear insult to the Jewish people and anyone who understands history.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas and affiliated Palestinian terrorist groups against innocent Israeli civilians, which involved murder, mutilation, and sexual violence, the international community must unequivocally unite against this evil, one-sided effort to delegitimize Israel. Instead of proposing biased and counter-productive initiatives, which will do nothing to advance a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the international community must focus its energy and resources on ensuring Hamas and other terrorist groups are completely destroyed. We must remain firm to ensure every single hostage held by these terrorists is safely returned to their loved ones.”
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.),Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) also joined the statement.
Senate passes Kennedy-backed bill to make Biden-Harris admin’s DHS disclose catch-and-release data
Sep 18 2024
WASHINGTON – The Senate unanimously passed the Southern Border Transparency Act, which Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped introduce.
The bill, which Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) led, would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue reports detailing how it is handling illegal aliens seeking entry along the southern border.
“Vice President Harris was tasked with addressing immigration, and under her and Pres. Biden’s watch, millions of illegal immigrants have been released into our country by DHS. Louisianians and all Americans deserve total transparency about who is in their communities. For that reason, the House should bring this bill to the president’s desk quickly,” said Kennedy.
The Biden-Harris administration uses tools such as parole to drive down apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border and avoid removing foreign nationals who enter the country illegally.
“The Biden-Harris administration has gone to great lengths to hide the ball when it comes to levels of illegal immigration, but the American people deserve to know exactly how many migrants are being released into the country and exactly on what terms. This is the most basic of transparency measures—just the facts, that’s all we’re looking for,” said Cornyn.
The bill would require the DHS to report on the:
- Number of migrants paroled at each port of entry (POE), broken down by nationality and demographics.
- Number of migrants paroled in each Border Patrol sector, broken down by nationality and demographics.
- Number of migrants apprehended at each POE.
- Number of migrants apprehended in each Border Patrol sector.
- Number of petitions for parole received and granted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the total number of aliens paroled into the U.S., broken down by nationality and demographics.
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Hawley (R-Mo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) also cosponsored the legislation.
Bill text of the Southern Border Transparency Act is available here.
