Blog

The American People Deserve Better

Jun 27 2013

As the Senate nears a vote on the Gang of 8 immigration reform proposal, I delivered a speech to explain the many problems with the bill. Here are the main points I made during this speech as I shared them on Twitter. Help me out by retweeting your favorites.

General Statement for the Record-NDAA Mark-Up

Jun 17 2013

I have spoken to many commanders in the past months about sequestration. While they were unanimous in their criticism of sequestration, they also told me that their ability to handle it would have been increased if they had more time to prepare. To give them more time for preparation, we should be authorizing to levels that are current law, not what we wish they could be.
Tags:

Statement on Lee amendment #174 To Strengthen Protection of Religious Freedom in the Military

Jun 13 2013

Thank you Mr. Chairman.  I would like to call up my amendment #174 to strengthen the protection of Religious Freedom in the Military.  This amends section 533 to clarify that expressions of belief that do not have an adverse impact on military readiness and good order and discipline are to be accommodated by the Armed Services.

Recent news reports about the Air Force meeting with organizations that try to subvert religious expression in the military have many around the United States concerned about the environment that is being created in the Armed Services.  The leader of one of these organizations called Christians “monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces” and equated sharing one’s religion as “spiritual rape”.

For many of our men and women in uniform, their faith and religious beliefs are what sustain them through the enormous pressures and stresses of the battlefield, the months away from loved ones with little communication, the life-changing injuries, and the loss of close friends. 

If an environment is created where those service members feel that expressing their religion, sharing their faith, or showing outward representation of their beliefs could be found in violation of military policy and grounds for reprimand, it will have an unsettlingly negative effect on military morale and undermine recruitment, retention, and cohesiveness efforts. 

I understand that a delicate balance must be struck in the military so that good order and discipline are preserved.  I believe that my amendment strikes that balance.  Nothing in this would preclude disciplinary or administrative action for conduct that is proscribed by the UCMJ, and commanders would have the ability to maintain readiness and discipline in their ranks.

Our servicemen and women put their lives on the line everyday in order to protect our constitutionally guaranteed rights, including the expression of our beliefs.  Congress must ensure that we are protecting them as well. 

Amendments that would improve the immigration bill

Jun 12 2013

Today, I will be filing almost a dozen amendments to the Immigration Reform bill.  Here is a brief description of each one:

  1. Lee #1208 Requires fast-track Congressional approval at the introduction of the DHS strategies and at the certification of the strategies’ completion.  Increases accountability of Congress to oversee implementation of border-security measures.
  2. Lee #1209 Clarifies that the legalization process should be funded entirely by the fees collected. Lessens the economic cost of immigration reform.
  3. Lee #1210 Removes eligibility for RPI status for those who have absconded or sought to re-enter after receiving a deportation order. Toughens enforcement of existing immigration laws.
  4. Lee #1211 Replaces “any offense under foreign law” with “any act committed outside the United States” as a ground for inadmissibility.
  5. Lee #1212 Increases requirements to show that back taxes have been paid.
  6. Lee #1213 Clarifies that penalties for RPI applicants may not be waived, limited, or reduced. Decreases the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive penalties.
  7. Lee #1214 Removes “sworn affidavits” from the list of documents that RPIs may use to satisfy the employment requirement for adjustment to LPR status. Toughens enforcement standards for RPI status.
  8. Lee #1215 Requires an annual report on welfare benefits granted to illegal aliens and RPIs.  Fosters greater oversight of who is eligible for the country’s generous programs.
  9. Lee #1216 Inserts intent requirements for employer discrimination provisions. Tightens the law to prevent frivolous lawsuits.
  10. Lee #1217 Increases the W-visa starting cap from 20,000 to 200,000 and the post-phase-in cap from 200,000 to 400,000.  Better manages the flow of new immigration to the country while increasing access to needed labor.
  11. Lee #1207 Allows Customs and Border Patrol agents to engage in enforcement activities on Federal Lands, where they are currently prohibited from protecting the border.  

 

My Immigration Floor Speech in Tweets

Jun 12 2013

Earlier today, I delivered a floor speech to identify the many problems with the Gang of 8 immigration proposal.  I turned the speech into a series of tweets, so you can help me spread the word about the problems with this bill.  Please help me RT these tweets:

Senators Join to Oppose Gang of Eight Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

Jun 04 2013

Today I joined Senators Cruz, Grassley, and Sessions to send a letter to our colleagues, which highlights our ongoing concerns with the comprehensive immigration reform bill, S. 744. You can read the letter below to see why we think the Gang of Eight Bill does not uphold promises to secure the border, enforce the law, nor improve legal immigration:
Tags:

Too Big to Manage

May 16 2013

The three events of the last few days – the IRS, the AP, and Benghazi – tend to confirm our worst fears about our government. They tend to tell us what we don't want to believe, but what sometimes turns out to be true. That your government is targeting you. That your government is spying on you. And that your government is lying to you.
Tags:
« First < Prev Next > Last »

Related Links