Policy Papers
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January 2017 Job Reports
Unemployment Rate: 4.8 percent Jobs Created: 227,000 Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent for January, up 0.1 percent from last month. Today’s jobs report shows an increase of 227,000 nonfarm jobs in January, higher than analysts’ prediction of job growth of 174,000. Employment for November was revised down from 204,000 to 164,000 jobs created; and December was revised up from 156,000 to 157,000.... Continue Reading
February 2, 2017
Steven Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury
On November 30, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Steven Mnuchin to serve as treasury secretary. The Senate Finance Committee approved his nomination on February 1. Steven Mnuchin has decades of experience in the financial sector. Biography Steven Mnuchin earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale. He worked at Goldman Sachs for 17 years, first in mortgages, U.S. bonds, and municipal bonds, and later as the firm’s chief information officer. Mr.... Continue Reading
February 1, 2017
Ryan Zinke to be Secretary of the Interior
Ryan Zinke has a lifelong career serving our country and experience with land and energy issues that make him primed to lead the Department of the Interior. Zinke pledged to restore DOI trust with state, local, and tribal partners and support responsible multiple use of federal lands. President Obama had his first DOI secretary confirmed on inauguration day; Zinke received solid bipartisan support at his committee hearing and vote. Biography Ryan Zinke is currently the sole... Continue Reading
February 1, 2017
Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy
Rick Perry’s 30 years of dedicated public service and accomplishment in Texas have prepared him to be an effective leader of the Department of Energy. He committed to modernize the nuclear stockpile, promote all forms of energy, dispose of nuclear waste, and advance critical scientific research and development. The last two presidents had their first energy secretary confirmed on inauguration day; Perry received solid bipartisan support at his committee hearing and vote. Biography Rick... Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Elisabeth "Betsy" DeVos to be Secretary of Education
Betsy DeVos has devoted her life to giving children – especially those from low-income families – better choices of schools. She supports accountability for all schools, as determined by states, not Washington. DeVos: “I look forward to working with [Congress] to enact solutions that empower parents and students, provide high quality options, and spend tax dollars wisely.” Biography Betsy DeVos has spent decades advocating for school reforms and helping... Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
What to Expect When You're Expecting a SCOTUS Nomination
The Democrat playbook for Republican Supreme Court nominees is consistent. No matter who the nominee is, they will obstruct confirmation. No matter how mainstream the nominee’s views are, Democrats will say they are extreme. expect democrats to obstruct The president will nominate a Supreme Court justice this evening. No matter who the president chooses, Democrats will obstruct the confirmation process. Even before the new president was inaugurated, Democratic leader Chuck... Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
National Security Priorities for 115th Congress
Congress has the opportunity to begin to repair the damage done by an eight-year absence of U.S. leadership. Priorities include reauthorizing the surveillance authorities of FISA section 702 and debating the constraints placed on the military by the Budget Control Act. Congress must also conduct vigorous oversight of the administration’s national security policy, such as implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement. Reauthorize FISA Title VII The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 updated Title... Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Relief from Harmful Regulations: Week One
President Obama, the “regulator-in-chief,” buried the American people and small businesses under an avalanche of regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the most costly regulations. Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration have vowed to provide much-needed regulatory relief and have already taken steps to keep this promise. Last August, the New York Times dubbed President Obama the “Regulator-in-Chief.” The newspaper explained:... Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Giving America Relief From Excess Regulations
The Trump administration has frozen any new federal regulations. After the presidential election, the Obama administration released 38 major new rules that will cost Americans $157 billion. Later this month, the Senate can begin to reverse some of the regulatory overreach by the Obama administration. White House chief of staff Reince Priebus issued a memo on Friday freezing new government regulations. This memo follows the precedent set by previous administrations. He asked agencies to delay... Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Tom Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
Congressman Tom Price is a doctor who has dedicated his life to putting patients first. Dr. Price is a proven leader, a tireless problem solver, and a consistent voice on quality health care policy. He is the first medical doctor to be nominated to head HHS since 1989. Biography Tom Price’s first job was bringing in the cows for milking on the family farm in Michigan. The family moved to suburban Detroit when he was five years old. His mother worked as a teacher, and his father and... Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Wilbur Ross to be Secretary of Commerce
Wilbur Ross has vast private-sector experience and a deep understanding of the economy. He has pledged that expanding U.S. exports would be a top priority. Commerce Committee Chairman Thune said that Mr. Ross’s “extensive management experience in the private sector, and his understanding of the challenges faced by workers and businesses alike, will equip him well for the job of leading the Department of Commerce.” Biography Mr. Ross currently serves as chairman and chief... Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of EPA
Attorney General Pruitt has committed to restoring the rule of law at the Environmental Protection Agency, fulfilling the agency’s core mission, and working cooperatively with state and local regulators, Congress, and the American public. Pruitt will advance regulations that produce meaningful environmental benefits, ensure public safety, and safeguard individual rights, without stifling our economy. Senators on both sides of the aisle have expressed their support for and confidence... Continue Reading
January 19, 2017
John Kelly to be Secretary of Homeland Security
General Kelly had a long and decorated career in the Marine Corps, during which he took a leading role in prosecuting the fight on radical Islamic terrorism and protecting the southern border. General Kelly has significant experience leading large and complex organizations. Bipartisan experts agree that General Kelly is uniquely qualified to lead DHS. Biography General John Kelly retired as a four-star Marine Corps general in 2016. General Kelly enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1970 and was... Continue Reading
January 19, 2017
Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation
Secretary Chao has had a long and varied career in the public, non-profit, and private sectors, serving as secretary of labor and deputy secretary of transportation. Secretary Chao recognizes the challenges facing America’s transportation systems. She has pledged to work “to rebuild, refurbish and revitalize America’s infrastructure.” Biography Secretary Elaine Chao, who immigrated to the U.S. with her family at age 8, has had a long and varied career in the public,... Continue Reading
January 19, 2017
Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
On December 5, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Benjamin Carson to serve as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Dr. Carson has had an extremely successful career across multiple disciplines, including as a neurosurgeon and author. Dr. Carson has demonstrated that he has the intellect and leadership skills to lead HUD. Biography Benjamin Carson was born in Detroit in 1951. He graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology... Continue Reading
January 10, 2017
2017 Policy Calendar
January 10, 2017
Tradition of Confirming the Cabinet
President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominees are following the traditions of their respective committees. The Senate has a tradition of confirming the Cabinet expeditiously. President-elect Trump’s nominees are moving forward with hearings this week and toward confirmation beginning January 20. The Senate has a tradition of confirming a president’s Cabinet expeditiously. Particular deference is paid to a new president’s team. The president-elect’s Cabinet nominees are... Continue Reading
January 6, 2017
Democrats Pledge Supreme Court Obstruction
Democratic leader Schumer has already promised to try to block President-elect Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. This obstruction would do a disservice to the American people and the Senate. Senate Democrats should follow Republicans’ example and afford a full and fair process to the Supreme Court nominees of a new president. Senator Schumer Speaks for the Democrats Now Earlier this week, when appearing on Rachel Maddow’s TV show, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that... Continue Reading
January 6, 2017
December 2016 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 4.7 percent Unemployed Americans: 7.5 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 4.7 percent for December, up 0.1 percent from last month. Today’s jobs report shows an increase of 156,000 nonfarm jobs in December, lower than analysts’ prediction of job growth of 183,000. Employment for October was revised down from 142,000 to 135,000 jobs created; and November was revised up from 178,000 to... Continue Reading
December 8, 2016
Senator Sessions: A Record of Integrity
Senator Sessions had a distinguished legal career before being elected to the Senate. His Senate record shows his abiding commitment to equality and fairness under the law. The nation’s leading law enforcement groups strongly support his nomination to serve as the 84th United States attorney general, citing his steadfast commitment to the rule of law. Background and Family Senator Jeff Sessions is serving his fourth term as United States Senator from Alabama. He was born in Selma,... Continue Reading