Policy Papers
INF Treaty - Russian Cheating and American Suspension
KEY TAKEAWAYSSince 2014, Russia has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty by developing a ground-launched cruise missile.Secretary of State Pompeo joined NATO in declaring that Russia was in material breach of the treaty on December 4, 2018. Russia had 60 days to return to compliance and did not do so.On February 2, 2019, the United States suspended its compliance with the INF Treaty due to Russia taking no steps to address its violations. Under the terms of the treaty, the U.S.... Continue Reading
February 11, 2019
Andrew Wheeler: Nominee for EPA Administrator
KEY TAKEAWAYS Andrew Wheeler has worked in the environmental field for 25 years. He served as a career employee at EPA under Republican and Democratic presidents and for 12 years on the Environment and Public Works Committee in the Senate. Wheeler has served as acting administrator of the EPA since July 2018 and has shown himself to be a prudent executor of administration policy. Andrew Wheeler’s professional experience and current work as acting administrator of the EPA makes him an... Continue Reading
February 6, 2019
Crises Mount in Venezuela
KEY TAKEAWAYS The United States recognized a new leader for Venezuela and has increased sanctions on the Maduro regime. Conditions in Venezuela are worsening, with much of the country in poverty and many Venezuelans malnourished or starving. The United States has joined many other countries around the world in recognizing Juan Guaido and pushing for the removal of Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela’s humanitarian, political, and economic crises continue under the socialist regime of Nicolas... Continue Reading
February 5, 2019
William Barr: Nominee for Attorney General
KEY TAKEAWAYS William Barr is one of the most qualified attorney general nominees in history, having already served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush. He also served as an intelligence analyst at CIA, assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, and deputy attorney general. Barr has shown exemplary independence, promising to allow completion of the Mueller investigation and praising the tenure of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. As a... Continue Reading
February 1, 2019
January 2019 Jobs Report
Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.0 percent in January. Nonfarm jobs grew by 304,000 in January. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal had expected 170,000 jobs. Labor revised the jobs gains for November and December downward by a combined 70,000. The U-6 unemployment rate, a measure that also includes part-time and discouraged workers, was 8.1 percent, up from the previous month but down from a year... Continue Reading
January 15, 2019
Keeping Up the Fight on Nominations
KEY TAKEAWAYS During the 115th Congress, the Senate confirmed 30 circuit court judges, a modern record for a president’s first Congress. That progress came despite unprecedented Democrat obstruction that caused the most returned nominees – for judicial and executive branch jobs – of any president since Ronald Reagan. There are still 132 federal district and circuit court vacancies to fill, and more will likely arise. Major nomination hearings of the 116th Congress start this... Continue Reading
January 10, 2019
Democrats Mislead Americans on Border Security
KEY TAKEAWAYS The border barrier is an effective mechanism for border control when combined with deployed personnel and technology. Deeply misleading statements by leading Democrats are poisoning the debate on the border barrier. Democrats now oppose a border barrier by claiming it will not work, despite their past support and evidence to the contrary. Congressional Democrats continue to mislead the public regarding President Trump’s request for border security. Consider the facts... Continue Reading
January 9, 2019
2019 Policy Calendar
January 4, 2019
December 2018 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 3.9 percent Jobs Created: 312,000 Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.9 percent in December. One year ago, unemployment stood at 4.1 percent. Nonfarm jobs grew by 312,000 in December. Sectors with gains include construction (38,000), manufacturing (32,000), and health care (50,000). Job growth in the previous two months was stronger than originally reported. The department revised the numbers... Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Green New Deal: A Crazy, Expensive Mess
KEY TAKEAWAYS The Green New Deal proposes carbon neutrality and 100 percent renewable power within 10 years – experts say the latter goal is impossible by 2050, let alone 2029. All-renewable electricity would mean closing every nuclear, coal, and natural gas plant and would cost $7 trillion. The Green New Deal’s job guarantee would replace productive work with federally backed make-work jobs, distorting the labor market and hurting private businesses. House... Continue Reading
December 7, 2018
November 2018 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 3.7 percent Jobs Created: 155,000 Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported the unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in November, the same as the previous two months. It is the lowest rate in 49 years. Nonfarm jobs grew by 155,000 in November. Sectors with gains include manufacturing (27,000), health care (32,000), and transportation and warehousing (25,000). The U.S. has created more than 2.2 million new jobs since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became... Continue Reading
December 4, 2018
Border Security by the Numbers
KEY TAKEAWAYS The U.S. southwest border with Mexico is 1,950 miles long, with 650 miles protected by a pedestrian or vehicle barrier, and a portion of the remainder having natural obstacles. Illegal border crossings are up by more than 30 percent since last year, with 396,579 people apprehended trying to cross our southwest border in fiscal year 2018. There are 16,600 Border Patrol agents and 8,100 military troops currently deployed to guard our southern border. Border security... Continue Reading
December 4, 2018
Medicare for All: Higher Taxes, Fewer Choices, Longer Lines
KEY TAKEAWAYS A single-payer health care system would eliminate all private insurance and place all medical care in the hands of the federal government. The proposed Medicare for All system could cost an additional $32 trillion and require a 20 percent tax increase to implement. More than two-thirds of Americans do not support the plan once they are told a government-run, single-payer system would require an increase in their personal... Continue Reading
November 14, 2018
Obamacare Alternative Gains Speed
KEY TAKEAWAYS Short-term health insurance plans are proving to be an affordable alternative to Obamacare, with many being sold for half the cost of Obamacare plans. Most cost less than $200 a month, compared with an average $484 per month for Obamacare plans. It is estimated 4.3 million people will buy one of these plans – 1.7 million of whom have no insurance today. Short-term health insurance plans are being sold in many states for less than half the cost of Obamacare plans.... Continue Reading
November 2, 2018
October 2018 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 3.7 percent Jobs Created: 250,000 Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent for October, the same as September. It is the lowest rate in 49 years. Nonfarm jobs grew by 250,000 in October. Sectors with gains include manufacturing (32,000), construction (30,000), and transportation and warehousing (25,000). The U.S. has created more than 2.1 million new jobs since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law. Over the past... Continue Reading
October 26, 2018
The Economy – Full Steam Ahead
KEY TAKEAWAYS The economy expanded at a 3.5 percent inflation-adjusted annualized rate in the third quarter of 2018, following growth of 4.2 percent in the second quarter. This is the highest back-to-back growth in four years. GDP continues to expand at a robust rate due to strong pro-growth policies. The nation’s economy grew at an inflation-adjusted annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018. This follows 4.2 percent growth in the second quarter, 2.2 percent growth in the... Continue Reading
October 24, 2018
Space Force
KEY TAKEAWAYSThe Trump administration believes space has become a distinct warfighting domain, like land, air and sea, that requires a dedicated Space Force.Today, many space assets fall under Air Force Space Command, but operational responsibility is spread among the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.The Pentagon will submit proposals to Congress in early 2019 to create Space Force, which would represent the biggest military reorganization since the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986.President... Continue Reading
October 5, 2018
September 2018 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 3.7 percentJobs Created: 134,000 Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent for September, the lowest since December 1969. Nonfarm jobs grew by 134,000 in September. Sectors with gains were construction (23,000), professional and business services (54,000), and transportation and warehousing (24,000). Job gains were revised upward for July and August by a combined 87,000 jobs. The U.S. has created more than 1.8 million... Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Senate Republican Achievements
September 17, 2018
Policy Progress on Federal Boards & Commissions
KEY TAKEAWAYS The Trump administration has restored Republican control to five major independent federal agencies: the NLRB, FCC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the CFTC, and FTC. Under Republican leadership, these boards and commissions have worked to protect internet freedom, promote nuclear energy development, and roll back burdensome regulations. Republicans are poised to reverse harmful Obama-era policies such as the FCC’s adoption of net neutrality and NLRB’s attempts to... Continue Reading
