U.S. HOUSE MEMBERS JULIA Brownley and SCOTT DesJarlais RE-Launch Congressional Range and Testing Center Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) announced the formation of the Congressional Range and Testing Center Caucus (CRTCC). The bipartisan representatives, who represent large military communities in their districts, will serve as co-chairs of the forum to educate fellow Members of Congress about Department of Defense range and testing facilities, such as Naval Base Ventura County in California and Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee.

    They released the following statements about their common agenda in the current 116th Congress:

    “As the proud representative of Naval Base Ventura County and the more than 19,000 personnel who work hard there every day to keep our nation safe and secure, I know how critical range and testing centers are to ensure our troops have the best technology available to help defend our country,” said Rep. Brownley. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with Congressman DesJarlais and other members of the Caucus to ensure our military has the resources needed to support our major range and test facility bases, which play a critical role in protecting the U.S. military’s technological advantages.”

    “Tennessee’s Fourth District lies at the heart of the Aerospace and Defense Technology Corridor spanning several states. It includes public and private enterprises developing cutting-edge technology to protect our country: unmanned aircraft, hypersonic flight and more. These facilities, such as Arnold Air Force Base, University of Tennessee’s Space Institute and Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, are crucial defense assets and economic resources, reliant on a high-skilled workforce,” said Rep. DesJarlais. “Congresswoman Brownley and I are helping to generate more public understanding and support for their work.”

    The CRTCC is comprised of bipartisan members from across the United States, representing an array of Air Force, Army, and Naval installations. As it did in the previous 115th Congress, the Caucus will continue its efforts to educate elected officials and their constituents about range and testing centers’ capabilities, their infrastructure, budgetary and workforce needs.

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NASHVILLE, TN -- Various national security departments would stay open during a government shutdown under new legislation that U.S. Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District submitted this week.

    The Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs are among the agencies that would continue to receive funding. This, according to a press release DesJarlais’ office released this week.

    But, as Desjarlais’ spokesman Brendan Thomas told The Tennessee Star in an emailed statement, Congress must pass the bill first.

    “As things currently stand, a government shutdown would disrupt funding for DHS, responsible for elements of national security. Under Rep. DesJarlais’ bill that would never happen,” Thomas said.

    “Instead of zero, DHS would receive 100 percent of its current funding. It could continue normal operations. But some agencies would receive only 95 percent of funding.”

    The press release quoted DesJarlais as saying he supports “building additional physical barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration, drugs and gang crime.” His legislation would pressure negotiators to fulfill promises both parties have made for decades, according to the press release.

READ MORE IN THE TENNESSEE STAR

“PREVENTING FUTURE SHUTDOWNS ACT” WOULD PENALIZE BAD-FAITH SPENDING NEGOTIATIONS

REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS INTRODUCES BILL TO FUND DEFENSE, REDUCE NON-ESSENTIAL FEDERAL SPENDING

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Congressman Scott DesJarlais, a conservative member of the House Freedom Caucus, has introduced legislation to continue federal operations at reduced spending levels in the event of lapsed appropriations. House and Senate negotiators are currently attempting to craft a Homeland Security funding bill that improves border security and avoids another a partial government shutdown on Friday. If negotiations fail, it would be the second partial shutdown in a month.

    Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04) supports building additional physical barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration, drugs and gang crime. He said his legislation would pressure negotiators to fulfill promises both parties have made for decades. “Bad deals to end shutdowns have typically resulted in even higher levels of wasteful spending, while the border problem has become worse and worse. In Washington, supporters of the failing status quo get everything they want, while in Tennessee, my constituents continue to demand safe borders and spending discipline.

    “The Prevent Future Shutdowns Act increases the penalty for those who resist and obstruct common-sense solutions to transnational crime, the drug epidemic, and illegal labor depressing Americans’ wages. It would force negotiators to approach these issues in good faith or face consequences.”

    The Preventing Future Shutdowns Act (H.R. 1124) would enact automatic appropriations at reduced spending levels in the event of a lapse. To continue normal operations, national security-related departments, including the Department of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs, would receive 100 percent of previously approved funding. Other departments would see a 5 percent reduction from previously enacted levels. Only discretionary funding would be affected.   

    Social security and other mandatory programs would remain untouched. “If the disruption were to cause real spending discipline, radical proposals such as a recent one to release foreign criminals into the U.S., would never see the light of day,” said Rep. DesJarlais, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “There would be a penalty for bad-faith negotiations. In fact, we would achieve a desirable short-term goal, and true border security would be attainable.

    “I will always fight for safe and secure borders, and I will always fight for spending discipline. This bill would help to achieve both at a critical moment.”

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REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS SUPPORTS PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY DECLARATION TO ADDRESS CARTEL VIOLENCE, DRUG TRAFFICKING, MIGRANT CARAVANS AND MASS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ACROSS U.S.-MEXICO BORDER

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) issued the following statement in support of President Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, where international cartels are smuggling drugs and human beings into the United States, and large numbers foreign nationals are illegally crossing into the country:

“Sophisticated international cartels, some of the most dangerous criminal and terrorist organizations in the world, are operating just across the border from the United States in Mexico. They partner with foreign adversaries, including Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and China, and smuggle drugs as well as human beings into our neighborhoods, including in my home state of Tennessee. Constituents in my district are suffering from the opioid epidemic. Mexican cartels produce or distribute most heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine here, killing tens of thousands of Americans every year, not including victims of MS-13 and other violent gangs, which have infiltrated recent migrant caravans. However, the equivalent of a migrant caravan enters our country almost weekly. These forces are destabilizing and deadly to people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, but particularly for the less fortunate among us. While wealthy elites erect walls for protection, poor- and working-class citizens must live with the consequences of insecure borders and years of congressional inaction. Unfortunately, Congress has largely abdicated its responsibility, placing the onus on President Trump to fulfill the federal government’s most important constitutional duty: national security.

“Under legal authority Congress has granted the executive, which Barack Obama also used to combat Mexican cartels, the President has the power to declare a national emergency, in order to fund the construction of new border barriers at dangerous weak points. As a fiscal conservative, constitutionalist, and strong advocate for the military, I believe the need is clear and pressing, the law supports immediate action, and ample funding exists to address this crisis.”

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PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS CLARIFIES BORDER CRISIS, SAYS REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) attended the President’s State of the Union Address to Congress tonight. The member of the House Armed Services Committee, as well as the House Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement in support of conservative economic policies, stronger border security and other elements of Donald Trump’s speech:

“More than 90 percent of the media coverage of President Trump is negative, despite our successful work to rejuvenate the economy, which has produced fantastic jobs reports recently. This State of the Union Address was an opportunity for him to address the American people directly, although millions, especially in Tennessee, are experiencing for themselves the power of conservative policies placing middle-class families and small businesses first. Lower taxes, lighter regulation, and energy independence have helped to create a surging manufacturing sector, rising wages and economic growth, which the prior Administration claimed would never return.

“This one is also returning the U.S. military to its dominant status, necessary to defend the United States against foreign adversaries, including Mexican cartels. Along with Iran, Russia and China, our weak border, permitting drug and human smuggling, is one of the primary national security threats of our time. Like the President, I am committed to solving it.”

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REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM NUCLEAR TREATY ADVANTAGEOUS TO RUSSIA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, overseeing U.S. nuclear and other advanced weaponry programs, issued the following statement in support of President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF):

“The failed reset of the prior Administration resulted in a more aggressive Russia. Under Vladimir Putin, the country has advanced its nuclear technology and supplied it to U.S. adversaries, for years flouting our mutual arms control agreements. The President and Congress, led by Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee, have ratcheted up economic sanctions, rebuilt the U.S. military, and strengthened our international alliances, including NATO. Our allies support this decision. Withdrawing from the INF Treaty, another one-sided deal Donald Trump has promised to cancel, is a necessity at this point. Russia refuses to comply, and our military must have every means at its disposal to defend Americans from hostile foreign powers.”

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TN Lawmakers Support Trump's Wall

CLEVELAND, TN -- Tennessee's political representatives in Washington remain supportive of President Trump's efforts to fund the construction of a wall along the nation's southern border, stating its necessity in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants, as well as drug traffic.

     Rep. Scott DesJarlais said the United States spends billions of dollars to fight illegal immigration.

    “In the U.S., we spend hundreds of billions of dollars annually to apprehend and detain illegal aliens, provide courts and lawyers, as well as housing, health care and education benefits for aliens and their families,” DesJarlais said. “Illegal labor depresses American workers’ wages. The costs of the drug epidemic and loss of life are incalculable. By building a wall, our country would save money and lives.”

    DesJarlais said bad laws and loopholes that encourage illegal immigration make a border wall necessary.

    "Because Democrats also refuse to change those bad laws, which have contributed to the deaths of so many people on both sides of the border, we must build the wall,” DesJarlais said.

READ MORE IN THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, today announced subcommittee assignments for the new 116th Congress. Congressman Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) will join the Subcommittees on Strategic Forces, as well as Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities. The former oversees nuclear weapons, missile defense and space programs. The latter oversees counter-terrorism, special operations, military intelligence and cyber issues, among others.

Rep. Thornberry named his colleague to the full committee earlier this month. Rep. DesJarlais will also serve on the House Agriculture Committee, an announcement Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11), the Ranking Member, made last week. Rep. DesJarlais issued the following statement:

“Tennessee, especially the Fourth District, is a top producer of agriculture staples. It’s a major farming and ranching state, where the Walking Horse industry is prominent. Rural areas are also experiencing manufacturing growth, making demands on infrastructure. On the Agriculture Committee, I will have the opportunity to promote rural broadband and workforce development, because important skills are in short supply, and on the Armed Services Committee, I will be able to assist our many military members, serving our country. Tennesseans working at nearby research and testing facilities are at the forefront of nuclear, hypersonic and space technology to protect America. My goal is to provide them and soldiers on the battlefield with all the resources they need to win, and to save taxpayers money. Significant reforms to the Pentagon bureaucracy are already underway.”

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CONGRESSMAN SCOTT DESJARLAIS SUPPORTS PRESIDENT’S BORDER POLICY “100 PERCENT”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Scott DesJarlais issued the following statement supporting stronger border and immigration security, after the President’s Oval Office address to the nation last night:

“Weak border security and bad laws are causing a humanitarian crisis at the southern border and in our local communities. Erecting more effective physical barriers would prevent drug and human smuggling into the U.S. We need more border agents and ICE officers, too, but Democrats oppose a wall, a fence and even ICE itself. But over ninety percent of heroin crosses into the U.S. from Mexico, killing Americans, and cartels and gangs are also smuggling women and children. Illegal immigration is overwhelming our court system.

“The President presented these clear facts, including his offers to sign legislation Democrats supported until he took office. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are now describing the most important issue confronting our country as a diversion and distraction. Tennesseans have been promised border security for years, and I’m 100 percent behind President Trump’s efforts to finally solve the problem.”

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