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This Week in Washington

WASHINGTON D.C. – Here’s our top stories…

Gosar Introduces the GRIP Act

The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Shall NOT Be Infringed:

This week, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and I introduced the Gun-owner Registration Information and Protection (GRIP) Act. This bill prohibits state, localities or any other organization from using federal funding to maintain firearm registry database that list gun-owners who lawfully own or possess firearms.  The GRIP Act would clarify existing law that prohibits the use of any federal funding by states or local entities to store or list sensitive, personal information related to the legal ownership or possession of firearms.  The legislation is in response to states that in recent years enacted statutes requiring gun owners to register their handguns.

Gosar Calls for COVID-19 Vaccines to be Prioritized for Americans First

Vaccinate America First Resolution:

I proudly cosponsored the Vaccinate America First Resolution. Under President Trump, Operation Warp Speed combined American ingenuity and investment to create the fastest vaccine development in human history. Yet, under the recently passed Pelosi-Biden COVID-19 relief bill, nearly $750 million is allocated to the export of COVID-19 vaccinations. As our nation strengthens its vaccine rollout, it is imperative that we do not disrupt vaccine distribution by exporting them to foreign countries.  

While the nationwide vaccination program has begun in earnest, only 10.2% of the population is fully vaccinated. Until every American that wants a COVID-19 vaccine is able to receive the injection, we should not be exporting our nation’s precious serum supply to foreign countries, and certainly not China. With long wait lines and shortages across much of our country, the last thing we should be doing is redirecting vaccines anywhere outside our border. 

A true America First policy prioritizes its own citizens before foreigners.  Spending your tax money and exporting hard-to-get vaccines to foreigners is what America Last looks like. This is a travesty and puts our vulnerable citizens at risk.  

Pelosi Powers Through With Her America Last Agenda

Democrats’ “PRO Union” Bill is Actually Very Anti-Worker:

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is the Democrats attempt to dramatically rewrite U.S. labor laws in a manner that benefits union bosses while hurting hard-working Americans. By implementing a number of policies aimed at increasing union influence, the PRO Act would require employers to turn over voter lists to union bosses, allows micro unions and implements card checks which would open up wide swaths of the economy to union organizing, especially small business. It is even a direct threat to Arizona as it would strip our status as a right to work state, meaning Arizonans would no longer have the option to choose whether union or non-union work is best for them. This bill is bad for the American worker and economy and therefore I voted no.

Federal Gun Registry?

Another Year, Another Democratic Swipe at Our Second Amendment Rights:

Unfortunately, Democrats focused much of their attention this week on stripping law-abiding gun owners of their second amendment right by enacting new gun control measures.  First, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8, legislation that would criminalize most forms of private arms transfers while imposing strict licensing provisions.  If that wasn’t enough, the House also passed H.R. 1446, a bill that would extend the review period for background checks from three to 10 days. Both pieces of legislation do nothing to address actual crime but would mistakenly prevent some lawful gun owners from purchasing firearms. The bills are also seen as part of an effort by Democrats to create a federal gun registry database now that they hold both chambers of Congress and the White House. I could not support either bill. 

Other Highlights From This Week

The Fair Access to Banking Act prevents discrimination by banks and financial service providers against industries and businesses which abide by the law and are constitutionallyprotected. There is a concerning trend in the modern social justice world to deny service to “cancelled” industries, like coal, cannabis and guns. I was proud to cosponsor this bill to protect against discrimination.  

I also cosponsored the Death Tax Repeal Act to end the misguided practice of handing farmers, ranchers, and small business owners hefty taxes when a loved one passes away. Taxing a family for being successful is antithetical to the American Dream and even more egregious to give to a family suffering from the loss of a loved one. I was proud to support this legislation.  

Gosar in The News and Other Stories We Think You’ll Want to Know

KYMA, Gosar Discusses Disappointment with Biden Migrant Release Policy

FOX 41, Pair of Arizona Congressman Question CDC’s School Reopening Guidance

The Truth About Guns, AZ Rep. Gosar Introduces GRIP Act to Ban Federal Funds for State Firearms Registries  

The Daily Signal, Big Problems with Biden’s Border and Immigration Policies 

Breitbart, Paul Gosar: Big Tech Getting 15 Percent Discount to Hire Foreign Workers Over Americans

Fox News, Oversight Republicans Hit DHS ‘Silence’ on Plan to Fix Border Crisis: ‘Our Questions Remain Unanswered’

Catholic Current, Fr. McTeigue and Congressman Gosar Discuss the Crisis at Our Southern Border

Resources

ALERT: Tax Season is upon us once again. If you did not receive a stimulus payment in January 2021 and you should have, or did not receive the correct amount, you may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return. Click HERE for more information.

2019 Public Charge Rule Vacated and Removed

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of Public Affairs

2019 Public Charge Rule Vacated and Removed

DHS Withdraws Proposed Rule Regarding the Affidavit of Support

WASHINGTON—Today, DHS filed for public inspection with the Federal Register a rule that formally removes from the Code of Federal Regulations the now-vacated 2019 rule on public charge inadmissibility.  On March 9, 2021, a court order vacating the 2019 public charge rule went into effect, and DHS immediately stopped applying the rule.  Today’s rule completes the last step in implementing that vacatur. 

“Today, DHS closed the book on the public charge rule and is doing the same with respect to a proposed rule regarding the affidavit of support that would have placed undue burdens on American families wishing to sponsor individuals lawfully immigrating to the U.S.,”  said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.  “In the weeks ahead, we will work with our federal agency partners and community leaders to ensure immigrants and their families have accurate information about our public charge policies. DHS is committed to implementing reforms that improve our immigration system and reduce unnecessary barriers to legal immigration.”

As DHS announced on March 9, as a result of the vacatur, the 1999 interim field guidance on the public charge inadmissibility provision (i.e., the policy that was in place before the 2019 public charge rule) is now in effect.  

Today, DHS also submitted a notice to the Federal Register withdrawing an Oct. 2, 2020, proposed rulerelated to the affidavit of support. Under Section 213A of the INA, USCIS requires an affidavit of support for most family-sponsored immigrants and some employment-based immigrants. The individual who signs the affidavit agrees to financially support the named immigrant and becomes the sponsor once the intending immigrant becomes a lawful permanent resident. The affidavit of support proposed rule would have changed evidentiary requirements to impose new, costly burdens, estimated at $240 million annually, on those sponsoring lawful immigrants.

Cloture and Fililbuster rules in the US Senate

Dear Mr. Hamster,

     Thank you for contacting me about the cloture and filibuster rules in the United States Senate. It is an honor to serve Arizona in the United States Senate, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on the issues facing our state and our country. Hearing from Arizonans helps me better serve our state, and I hope you will continue to share your perspectives and suggestions.

     The filibuster is a procedural feature in the United States Senate that allows Senators to prolong debate on a bill or nomination. Debate on a piece of legislation can only end if there is a unanimous agreement to proceed to final consideration of a bill or nomination, or if senators vote in favor of a cloture motion. The ability to filibuster and prevent final consideration of a bill has been used to slow the legislative process and prevent votes on legislation. Many Arizonans are frustrated by Senate procedures that delays the ability of Congress to pass legislation. As Arizona’s Senator, I am focused on delivering results for Arizonans by working with my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, to pass commonsense, bipartisan legislation in the United States Senate, which is widely supported and therefore not subject to cloture rules. 

     Article 1, Section 5 of the Constitution allows each chamber of Congress to set the rules for how they consider legislation. Senate Rule XXII sets the threshold for ending debate on a filibuster, also known as a “cloture motion,” at 60 votes for legislation, and 51 votes for the consideration of nominations. No proposal to change the Senate’s filibuster or cloture rules have been formally proposed this year.

     In recent years, some have argued that Senate filibuster and cloture rules should be modified to allow proposed legislation to be considered more quickly, with a simple majority of votes, while others contend that the Senate’s current rules ensure full consideration of a bill before the Senate votes. All Arizonans can agree that when possible, Senators should work to consider bipartisan solutions to solve the pressing challenges faced by our nation. As Arizona’s Senator, I will work with Republicans and Democrats to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions to the challenges Arizonans face, including lowering the cost of health care, combating the coronavirus, and helping every Arizonan get a good paying job.

     Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this issue, and I hope you will continue to contact my office with any future comments or questions. I am committed to being transparent and accountable with all Arizonans, which is why I release my public schedule every week at kelly.senate.gov. There you can also learn more about my work as Arizona’s senator.

Sincerely, I

Mark Kelly
United States Senator

We secured Arizona’s priorities in the coronavirus relief package

Peter,
We have good news for Arizona. Working closely with Arizona health care providers, educators, small business owners, and local leaders, we secured critical priorities for our state in the coronavirus relief bill approved by the U.S. Senate.
The legislation boosts vaccinations, supports employers, provides budget support to prevent cuts to local first responders and essential services, strengthens Arizona schools and broadband access, extends unemployment insurance, supports tribal communities, and provides aid for rural Arizona hospitals and providers.
The relief package includes the following priorities we’ve championed for Arizona over the past several months:
– Investments in Arizona health care, hospitals, and providers: including support for more vaccines and vaccinators, expanded testing and infection-tracking, more personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers and first responders, $8.5 billion for rural hospitals and health care providers, $14.5 billion for veterans’ health services, and $6 billion for the Indian Health Service and tribal health.
– Resources for Arizona families, employers, and workers: including our Restaurant Rescue Plan to keep independent restaurants open, extended unemployment insurance, enhanced Child Tax Credits and Earned Income Tax Credits, $1.4 billion to support older Arizonans, resources for Arizona schools, enhanced broadband internet service, and $4.5 billion to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
– Budget support for communities and Tribal governments across Arizona: including $110 million for border communities and non-governmental organizations, $20 billion for Tribal governments, $900 million for critical Bureau of Indian Affairs programs, and more than $1.1 billion for Native education programs.
This legislation provides Arizona with needed relief to address our ongoing public health crisis and begin a full economic recovery.
Once the bill is signed into law, we’ll continue working closely with Arizona communities to ensure these resources are distributed quickly and appropriately, and my team and I will be ready to assist Arizonans with accessing this new support.
We’ll keep updating our website regularly to provide Arizonans with more resources and support: https://www.sinema.senate.gov/corona.