Below you will see a summary of some of the work we’ve done together in the 116th Congress. This includes links to Conference products including the daily Trailblazer messaging email, the Wrangler email with information on Hill activity, policy papers with key details on emerging subjects, recess packets with crucial background to share at home, as well as links to our press and other media events.
2019
January 2019:
Summary: The federal government was partially shut down as the year began, and Conference highlighted Speaker Pelosi’s hypocrisy in refusing to secure the border. The Speaker even called border security an “immorality.” Some of her members felt increased pressure after news reports found that they took a trip to Puerto Rico while the government was shut down.
January 8, 2019 – Conference Meeting on 1/8/2019 featuring Vice President Mike Pence, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and Acting OMB Director Russ Vought
January 9, 2019 – Conference Meeting
January 14, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
January 19, 2019 – Conference Call
January 22, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
January 28, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
January 29, 2019 – Conference Meeting
January 30, 2019 – Media Training for Members with Matt Rhoades and Alex Conant
February 2019:
Summary: Conference continued to expose the failure and radical nature of House Democrats’ policies, specifically on the absurd Green New Deal summary published by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that called for eliminating air travel, retrofitting every single building in the country, and addressing flatulence from cows to address climate change. House Republicans stood together to condemn anti-Semitic remarks made by Rep. Ilhan Omar, and held House Democrats accountable for refusing to criticize her offensive rhetoric.
February 26, 2019 – House GOP Members Hold Event Opposing Democrats’ Gun Legislation
Hosted 10 meetings:
February 4, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
February 6, 2019 – Conference Meeting
February 8, 2019 – Best Practices for New Members featuring Liz Cheney, Brian Fitzpatrick, Will Hurd, and Jason Smith
February 11, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
February 21, 2019 – Ethics for Chiefs featuring Tonia Smith from the Ethics Committee, Megan Savage from Susan Brooks’ office, and Jen Daulby from House Admin
February 22, 2019 – Legislating in the Minority for Legislative Directors with Kelly Dixon, Bill Hughes, and Will Dunham
February 24, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
February 26, 2019 – Breakfast with Devin Nunes
February 26, 2019 – Conference Meeting
February 27, 2019 – Ethics for Members with Kenny Marchant and Elliot Burke
March 2019:
Summary: House Democrats pushed through H.R. 1 – a bill to empower Democrat politicians and enact taxpayer-funded campaigns. House Republicans stood with Leader McConnell to highlight the negative features of this legislation, and worked harder than Democrats to appropriately define it. House Democrats began their obsession with impeachment, while the Mueller Report’s findings, which were initially disclosed at the beginning of the month, found no collusion.
April 10, 2019 – Press Conference on the Cohen Resolution
Hosted 6 meetings:
April 1, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
April 2, 2019 – Conference Meeting
April 8, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
April 29, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
April 30, 2019 – April Monthly Meeting for Chiefs
April 30, 2019 – Conference Meeting
May 2019:
Summary: Democrats remained obsession with impeachment instead of focusing on solving problems for the American people, forcing NBC News to ask what they had to show for their majority five months in. Republicans explained to the country how Democrats were not working in the country’s best interest or paying attention to the issues that were important to voters, and also argued that the partisan prescription drug bill that the Speaker brought to the floor would undermine the country’s effort to develop cures, therapeutics, and vaccines.
May 9, 2019 – Gold Star Moms Join House Republicans, Kellyanne Conway to Discuss National Security
May 15, 2019 – Press Conference to Announce Ripening of Discharge Petition on anti-BDS Legislation
Hosted 7 meetings:
May 6, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
May 8, 2019 – Conference Meeting
May 13, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
May 20, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
May 21, 2019 – Conference Meeting
May 23, 2019 – Rules Bootcamp I on Committees for Members from Rules Committee staff
May 23, 2019 – Rules Bootcamp I on Committees for Legislative Directors from Rules Committee staff
June 2019:
Summary: Conference emphasized the importance of border security, while Speaker Pelosi and Democrats blocked emergency funding to address the “humanitarian and security crisis” on the southern border. Eventually, Speaker Pelosi finally caved and passed legislation providing these resources after threatening to block the bill in the House despite it passing the Senate 84-8. Her defeat on this issue was characterized as a “striking defeat,” for her speakership and marked continued division within the House Democratic caucus.
July 24, 2019 – Rep. Lee Zeldin and Rep. David Kustoff (No Cheney)
1 Additional House Republican Media Event:
July 12, 2019 – House Republicans To Speak About Dems’ Putting Politics Before Our Troops
Hosted 11 meetings:
July 8, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
July 9, 2019 – July Monthly Meeting for Chiefs
July 10, 2019 – Conference Meeting
July 15, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
July 19, 2019 – July Breakfast Club for Chiefs
July 19, 2019 – Modernization Committee Listening Session for Legislative Staff
July 22, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
July 24, 2019 – Conference Meeting
July 26, 2019 – Modernization Committee Listening Session for Chiefs
July 30, 2019 – Modernization Committee Listening Session for Communication Directors
July 31, 2019 – July Best Practices for Chiefs featuring the House General Counsel
August 2019:
Summary: Conference providedmaterialsnecessaryduringthe district work period to highlight House Democrats willingness to enable socialism within their ranks, and for not accomplishing anything in Washington due to their obsession with impeaching the President.
August 5, 2019 – Modernization Committee Listening Session for Schedulers
August 6, 2019 – Conference Call for Members on Gun Violence featuring FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Director David Bowdich
September 2019:
Summary: Conference worked immediately and aggressively to counter House Democrats’ baseless impeachment narrative. We made clear that Democrats were not pursuing impeachment because of a phone call, but used research and facts to explain that they had wanted to impeach President Trump since the day he was elected, and were attempting to fulfill a political goal by removing him from office instead of upholding their oath to the Constitution.
December 9, 2019 – House Republicans Introduce H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act (Rep. Kevin Brady, Rep. Virginia Foxx, and Rep. Greg Walden; No Members of Leadership; Conference sent out Advisory)
Hosted 8 meetings:
December 2, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
December 4, 2019 – Conference Meeting featuring Vice President Mike Pence
December 6, 2019 – H.R. 3 Policy Conference for Members led by Greg Walden, Kevin Brady, and Virginia Foxx
December 9, 2019 – December Monthly Meeting for Chiefs featuring Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committee staff
December 9, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
December 13, 2019 – Chiefs Breakfast Club
December 16, 2019 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
December 17, 2019 – Conference Meeting
2020
January 2020:
Summary: Conference exposed Speaker Pelosi’s hypocrisy for rushing impeachment in 2019 by claiming it was in the interest of national security, but then refusing to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate. When she ultimately chose to transmit the articles, she held an elaborate signing ceremony and handed out pens to celebrate the occasion, proving that their efforts were political and not a “serious” and “solemn” duty as they claimed.
January 13, 2020 – January Monthly Meeting for Chiefs
January 13, 2020 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
January 14, 2020 – Conference Meeting
January 16, 2020 – Policy Conference on Energy and the Environment for Members led by Greg Walden, Garret Graves, and Bruce Westerman
January 20, 2020 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
January 22, 2020 – January Best Practices for Chiefs
January 23, 2020 – Google Training for Communications Directors
January 27, 2020 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
February 2020:
Summary: After President Trump delivered his State of the Union Address emphasizing our historically strong economy and heroic stories of individual Americans, Speaker Pelosi tore up his remarks, dishonoring the brave Americans who the President cited in his speech. The Democratic presidential primary also showed how their party was embracing a radical form of socialism that would devastate the nation.
February 10, 2020 – February Monthly Meeting for Chiefs
February 10, 2020 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
February 11, 2020 – Conference Meeting
February 12, 2020 – Policy Conference on China for Members with Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger
February 19, 2020 – Facebook Training for Communications Directors
February 24, 2020 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
February 26, 2020 – Conference Meeting
March 2020:
Summary: Republicans emphasized the importance of taking the spread of COVID-19 seriously and encouraged constituents to take appropriate safety measures. We shared information with offices and constituents about the emergency legislation passed by Congress to address the pandemic, and exposed comments from Democrats who said that they wanted to use this historic crisis as “an opportunity” to enact their agenda. Additionally, Speaker Pelosi faced strong criticism after she slowed down negotiations over the CARES Act and prevented it from passing for several days in an unsuccessful effort to try and include a number of non-coronavirus-related provisions in the final legislation.
March 10, 2020 – Conference Meeting featuring Dr. Scott Gottlieb
March 12, 2020 – Policy Conference Call featuring an Economic Update from Larry Kudlow
March 13, 2020 – Conference Call
March 16, 2020 – Conference Call
March 19, 2020 – Conference Call
March 20, 2020 – Conference Call for Chiefs and Legislative Directors featuring staff from Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Appropriations Committees
March 20, 2020 – Conference Call for Chiefs and Legislative Directors featuring SBA and Small Business Committee staff
March 25, 2020 – Conference Call
March 25, 2020 – Conference Call for Chiefs and Legislative Directors featuring staff from Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Appropriations, Financial Services, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees
March 26, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Dr. Scott Gottlieb
April 2020:
Summary: Speaker continued to block efforts to provide additional relief for the American people while she made the rounds on the late-night TV circuit with ice cream. Additionally, Conference launched America Works Together website to highlight stories from everyday heroes across the country as we faced this unprecedented pandemic, and created a PPP Works website to highlight the successes of the Paycheck Protection Program.
April 1, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci
April 3, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
April 8, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Vice President Mike Pence, Ambassador Deborah Birx, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Rear Admiral John Polowczyk
April 9, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza
April 14, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
April 14, 2020 – Chiefs Meeting featuring Chris Cox
April 17, 2020 – Conference Call featuring HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir, and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn
April 19, 2020 – Conference Call
April 21, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Larry Kudlow
April 23, 2020 – Conference Call
April 27, 2020 – China Series Conference Call featuring Derek Scissors and Rosemary Gibson
April 30, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Mike Conaway and Greg Walden
May 2020:
Summary: Republicans messaged aggressively against a bill Speaker Pelosi brought to the floor that amounted to an irresponsible $3.4T partisan wishlist. Speaker Pelosi was criticized by even her own members for failing to bring a serious legislative proposal in the midst of the crisis. We also held Democrats accountable for evading their responsibilities to their constituents and implementing an unconstitutional proxy voting scheme, using it as an excuse to attend campaign events and even a rocket launch. Additionally, while Republicans focused on holding China accountable for the virus, Speaker Pelosi called those efforts “a diversion.”
May 27, 2020 – House Republicans’ Press Conference on Proxy Voting
Hosted 8 meetings:
May 5, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Jay Powell
May 8, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Mike Conaway
May 8, 2020 – Best Practices for Teleworking for Chiefs featuring Jen Daulby from House Admin
May 12, 2020 – Conference Call
May 14, 2020 – China Series Conference Call featuring Dr. Toshi Yoshihara and Nadege Rolland
May 20, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Mitch McConnell
May 21, 2020 – Best Practices for District Directors during Telework featuring Jen Daulby from House Admin
May 27, 2020 – Conference Call
June 2020:
Summary: House Republicans held Democrats accountable for refusing to condemn, denounce or distance themselves from the dangerous “defund the police” movement, and also highlighted how Speaker Pelosi chose to promote a partisan messaging bill instead of working with Republicans on a policing bill that could become law. Democrats also continued their embrace of far-left Green New Deal principles in their ridiculous highway bill.
June 30, 2020 – Rep. Rodney Davis and Rep. Mac Thornberry
Hosted 6 meetings:
June 2, 2020 – Conference Call
June 2, 2020 – June Monthly Meeting for Chiefs
June 9, 2020 – Conference Call
June 16, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Tim Scott
June 18, 2020 – Workshop on Virtual Presentations for Chiefs led by Marsha Redmon
June 30, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Dr. Scott Gottlieb
July 2020:
Summary: Conference continued to hold Democrats accountable for their repeated disdain for the police, and highlighted how Speaker Pelosi seemingly condoned violent riots taking place across the country saying “people will do what they do.” The Speaker also continued to face criticism for continuing to pursue her partisan wishlist, instead of working in a bipartisan fashion to pass key coronavirus relief that the country needed.
August 19, 2020 – Conference Call featuring Mark Meadows
September 2020:
Summary: Speaker Pelosi’s actions were so partisan that her own members criticized her for blocking a COVID-19 relief deal, and for forcing Senate Democrats to block a targeted, common sense proposal. Later, while Republicans worked to get additional PPP funding to small businesses that needed it, Speaker Pelosi discouraged her members from signing a GOP discharge petition. She also proposed new legislation full of far-left priorities to address COVID-19, proving that she was prioritizing her party’s political priorities instead of working across the aisle to bring to the floor legislation that could pass.
September 14, 2020 – September Monthly Meeting for Chiefs
September 14, 2020 – Hybrid Conference Meeting
September 21, 2020 – Weekly Communicators Briefing
September 23, 2020 – District Director Virtual Fly-in
September 29, 2020 – Weekly Communicators Zoom Briefing
September 30, 2020 – Hybrid Conference Meeting
October 2020:
Summary: Republicans continued to show that Democrats were not serious about providing COVID relief to the American people since they chose to double-down on Speaker Pelosi’s all-or-nothing approach and filibuster a targeted COVID relief bill in the Senate that would have provided important relief for the American people. While House Republicans tried 39 times to pass legislation that would allow small businesses to access unspent PPP funds, Democrats blocked it every time in a sign that their caucus was more interested in playing politics than providing key relief for Americans that needed it.
