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Post by Press Release on Feb 2, 2013 9:11:59 GMT -5
Paul Introduces National Right to Work Act Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul this week introduced the National Right to Work Act, S. 204, which seeks to preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities. "Every American worker deserves the right to freedom of association - and I am concerned that the 26 states that allow forced union membership and dues infringes on these workers' rights," Sen. Paul said. "Right to work laws ensure that all Americans are given the choice to refrain from joining or paying dues to a union as a condition for employment. Nearly 80 percent of all Americans support the principles and so I have introduced a national Right to Work Act that will require all states to give their workers the freedom to choose." Sen. Paul's Right to Work Act does not add a single word to existing federal law, it simply deletes forced unionism provisions in federal law. Due to six infringing and freedom-crushing provisions in the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Railway Labor Act (RLA), there are currently 8 million working Americans who are required by law to pay union dues. These workers are not required to join a workers union but they are required to pay the dues; and if workers refuse to pay these union fees, they risk losing their jobs to Big Labor.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 5, 2013 19:05:15 GMT -5
Embassy Security Bill gets OK from Senate Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Rand Paul this week issued the following statement into the Congressional Record regarding S.227, the Embassy Security Bill, which passed the U.S. Senate. As a cosponsor of this important legislation, I am pleased that the Senate will pass this bill and once again provide for stronger security at our diplomatic facilities. Numerous reports have documented the security failures that resulted in the tragic deaths of four Americans at the consulate in Benghazi. Both the Administrative Review Board and the report of the Senate Homeland Security Committee found that inexcusable failures of judgment led State Department decision makers to ignore the rising threat levels in Benghazi and the repeated requests for enhanced security at the site. Marine Security Guards were not on site to protect our consulate in one of the most dangerous and unstable regions in the world. The failures of management that led to these decisions are reprehensible; the lapses in judgment indefensible. It is beyond my comprehension why the individuals whose poor decision making directly resulted in the deaths of four Americans remain employed by the State Department, and compensated by the U.S. taxpayers. One of the most troubling aspects of the Benghazi attack is the complete disregard that State Department leadership gave to the repeated requests for enhanced security from Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Should funding have been an issue, the State Department always has the option available to come to Congress for approval to transfer funds within accounts. In fact, this is what S.227 accomplishes - it provides the State Department transfer authority to prioritize diplomatic security in our embassies around the world. It is a sad, but necessary post script to this tragic event - and a step that, if taken earlier by the State Department, may have saved the lives lost in Benghazi. It is my hope that the Senate takes into consideration my repeated calls for increased Marine security at our embassies in high threat areas of the world. In the two budgets I have authored during my Senate tenure, I not only called for increased funding for military protection, but also for reducing the presence of embassies in the most dangerous areas of the globe. The safety of our men and women in diplomatic service must be prioritized. This means placing more emphasis on involvement in security by the Defense Department. But it also means assessing whether our diplomacy in the most dangerous areas of the world is better done from afar.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 13, 2013 18:00:43 GMT -5
Paul Delivers Tea Party Response to State of the Union Address Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Rand Paul delivered the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union address.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 15, 2013 5:27:12 GMT -5
Industrial Hemp Farming Act Introduced Today in U.S. Senate Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, both of Kentucky, joined Oregon Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden in introducing legislation to allow American farmers to cultivate and profit from industrial hemp. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013 would remove federal restrictions on the domestic cultivation of industrial hemp. Specifically, the bill would remove hemp from the Schedule I controlled substance list under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and would define it as a non-drug so long as it contained less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Prior to World War II, Kentucky provided 94 percent of the nation's industrial hemp. Today the U.S. is the world's largest consumer of hemp, but it remains the only major industrialized country that bans farming the product. U.S. imports have consistently grown over the past decade - increasing by 300 percent over that period. Earlier this week, the Kentucky State Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approved legislation that would set up a state permitting program for the growth of industrial hemp. And today, the Kentucky Senate passed SB 50, which establishes oversight for Kentucky farmers to cultivate legalized industrial hemp. It now awaits a vote in the Kentucky House of Representatives. "The Industrial Hemp Farming Act paves the way to creating jobs for Kentucky," Sen. Paul said. "Allowing American farmers to cultivate industrial hemp and benefit from its many uses will boost our state's economy and bring much-needed jobs in the agriculture community. Today's State Senate victory, coupled with the efforts Sen. McConnell and I are making here in Washington increase my confidence that they will soon payoff, to the benefit of Kentuckians." "I am proud to introduce legislation with my friend Rand Paul that will allow Kentucky farmers to harness the economic potential that industrial hemp can provide," Sen. McConnell said. "During these tough economic times, this legislation has the potential to create jobs and provide a boost to Kentucky's economy and to our farmers and their families." The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013 is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 525, which was introduced last week in the House with 28 original co-sponsors.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 20, 2013 20:03:19 GMT -5
Paul Returns $600,000 to Taxpayers Senator Rand Paul Press Release
At a press conference today in Louisville, Sen. Rand Paul announced that he will be returning $600,000 to the United States Treasury - money unspent from his official operating budget. The total amount being returned is more than 20 percent of Sen. Paul's original office budget. Sen. Paul returned $500,000 to the Treasury last year, contributing to the $1.1 million in money unspent from his operating budget since he took office. "I ran to stop the reckless spending, and I pledged to the people of Kentucky that I would work to keep their hard-earned money out of the hands of Washington bureaucrats whose irresponsible spending has threatened our country's economic health," Sen. Paul said. At the press conference, Sen. Paul presented taxpayers with an over-sized check for $600,000, representing the money being returned to the Treasury. Sen. Paul will also introduce legislation this year incentivizing federal employees to identify and eliminate wasteful programs in their respective agencies.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 22, 2013 21:59:08 GMT -5
The Sequester Without Layoffs Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul today unveiled the following plan to offset the anticipated layoffs of employees following the automatic spending cuts set to take place next month as a result of the sequester agreement. Below is a detailed look at cost-saving initiatives that, if implemented, would offset the impending sequester cuts, with a total savings of $85.75 billion annually. The Sequester Without Layoffs •·Stop Hiring New Federal Employees: $6.5 billion saved annually Every year, thousands of federal employees retire or leave their jobs. In 2011, roughly 62,000 people ended their careers with the government. Estimates vary, but allowing a federal bureaucrat to retire without replacing that person with another employee can save anywhere from $60 billion to $200 billion over 10 years. This provision estimates to save $6.5 billion in one year. •·Bring Federal Employee Pay in Line With Private Jobs: $32 billion saved annually According to the Congressional Budget Office, the average compensation of a federal employees is 16 percent more than their private equivalents. By reducing salaries to align more with their private counterparts, this provision could save as much as $32 billion a year. •·Reduce Federal Employee Travel by 25 Percent: $2.25 billion saved annually The latest data provided by the General Services Administration suggested that the federal government spent $9 billion on travel. Reducing the federal travel budget by at least 25 percent can reduce the budget by $2.25 billion a year. •·Focus Military Research on Military Needs: $6 billion saved annually According to research done by the staff of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), found that the Defense Department spent $6 billion on research that had nothing to do with military or military-related health inquires. •·Require Competitive Bidding for Government Contracts: $19 billion saved annually The Davis-Bacon prevailing wages law requires federal projects to pay the employees higher wages. This would repeal this requirement and allow the government to save money by making pay competitive to all government employees. The Heritage Foundation estimates that this will save $9 billion a year. Also, many contracts in the federal government are provided to companies without requiring a competitive bid - or the opportunity for the government to contract work at the lowest price possible. This provision would require the government to competitively bid all contracts. This provision would save an additional $10 billion a year. •·Cut 50 Percent of Foreign Aid: $20 billion saved annually We spend more than $40 billion a year on foreign aid. When we're dealing with a budget crisis here at home, it's only responsible to bring this money home. This provision would eliminate half the foreign aid budget.
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Post by Press Release on Feb 28, 2013 18:18:40 GMT -5
Legislation will try to stop Obama Administration from Blocking Fishing Access Joint Press Release from Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul joined their colleagues from Tennessee, Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, in introducing the Freedom to Fish Act today. The legislation would prevent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from installing physical barriers along portions of the Cumberland River, which would block fishing access to the tailwaters of the Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams. "I have heard from many Kentuckians, including County Judge Executives and officials at the Kentucky Division of Fish and Wildlife, who are concerned with the Corps plan to block access to areas which are popular with anglers from across the Commonwealth. They have expressed their opposition to the proposal, which they say would have a major impact on the communities near the dams and to Kentucky's economy," Sen. McConnell said. "Instead of imposing burdensome federal regulations, which this Administration believes is the solution to every problem, I believe the Corps should work with these communities on alternative proposals that ensure safety, but allow anglers access to waters they have safely fished for years." "There is a deep love for fishing in the tailwaters of the Cumberland River, and to deny the public this recreational activity would not only disappoint thousands of fishermen across the country, but lead to detrimental impacts on the area's economy," Sen. Paul said. "Safety can be promoted in this area without completely blocking all boating below the dams, and by working together I believe we can come to a solution without imposing burdensome regulations that seek to hurt local businesses and residents." Senators McConnell and Paul have heard from local officials who told them that one such alternative is for the Corps to focus their efforts on the rare occasions when the dam gates are open and spilling, apparently the only time when the waters themselves present an active danger.
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Post by Press Release on Mar 7, 2013 13:58:13 GMT -5
Senator Rand Paul Senator Paul Deserves An Answer Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Press Release
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the need for Attorney General Holder to answer Sen. Paul’s legal question, and on the nomination of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: “Yesterday the junior Senator from Kentucky took to the Senate floor to exercise his rights as an individual Senator in pursuit of an answer from the Attorney General concerning the rights of United States citizens. That filibuster was extended, heartfelt and important, and I wish to say a few words in reaction to that effort, and as well on the nomination of John Brennan to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The question he raised was entirely appropriate and should have already been answered by the Obama administration. “First, I wish to state for the record, and to correct any misimpression that yesterday’s long debate was a criticism of the Senate’s oversight of our Nation’s intelligence activities. In fact, The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is responsible for conducting vigorous oversight of our Nation’s intelligence activities, and I want to make clear that they were not the subject of last night’s debate. The members of that Committee conduct that oversight in a professional, responsible manner, and selflessly serve the rest of the Senate in that capacity. Let me assure the Senate, the activities of the Intelligence Community are closely monitored and overseen by the Intelligence Committee, to include all counterterrorism activities. “Most recently the Committee has conducted a serious and much-needed inquiry into the terrorist attack on the Temporary Mission Facility in Benghazi, Libya and has conducted a thorough review of John Brennan’s nomination to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Feinstein and Vice Chairman Chambliss the Committee has made significant progress in reviewing Mr. Brennan’s record, the intelligence related to the terrorist threat in Libya, and in reviewing the administration’s legal opinions concerning some overseas activities. “Second, in reviewing Mr. Brennan’s nomination Senator Paul has asked a series of questions of the executive branch. Senator Paul has a right to ask questions of the administration, and the administration has a responsibility to answer in keeping with the rules established for oversight of intelligence activities and for protecting sensitive information. The specific question, however, is not an intelligence related question, but a straightforward legal one: ‘Does the President have the authority to order the use of lethal force against a United States citizen who is not a combatant on U.S. soil without due process of law?’ To his credit, John Brennan directly answered the question motivating Senator Paul’s filibuster. The Central Intelligence Agency does not conduct lethal operations inside the United States, nor does it have the authority to do so. “What is befuddling is why the Attorney General has not directly and clearly answered the question. “The United States military no more has the right to kill a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil who is not a combatant with an armed unmanned aerial vehicle than it does with an M-16 . The technology is beside the point. It simply doesn’t have that right and the administration should just answer the question. There is no reason we cannot get this question answered today, and we should get this question answered today. Frankly, it should have been answered a long time ago. “Last, during Senator Paul’s filibuster I noted that I cannot support John Brennan’s confirmation. During January of 2009 the President issued a series of executive orders, which in my judgment weakened the ability of our intelligence community’s ability to find, capture, detain and interrogate terrorists. As President Obama’s senior adviser on counterterrorism, Mr. Brennan has been a fierce defender of the administration’s approach to counterterrorism as articulated by these Executive Orders. He has been a loyal, dogged defender of the administration’s policies—policies with which I seriously disagree. “My greatest concern is that the Director of Central Intelligence Agency must be entirely independent of partisan politics in delivering objective analysis and advice to the President. After four years of working within the White House, confronting difficult policy matters on a daily basis, and having attempted to defend the administration’s policies sometimes publicly, sometimes to the media, and occasionally to the U.S. Senate, I question whether Mister Brennan can detach himself from those experiences. For that reason, I will oppose his nomination.”
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Post by Press Release on Mar 19, 2013 17:21:03 GMT -5
Dr. Paul Introduces the Life at Conception Act Senator Rand Paul Press Release
On Thursday, Sen. Paul introduced S.583, a bill that would implement equal protection under the 14th Amendment for the right to life of each born and unborn human. This legislation does not amend or interpret the Constitution, but simply relies on the 14th Amendment, which specifically authorizes Congress to enforce its provisions. From Section 1 of the 14th Amendment: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." "The Life at Conception Act legislatively declares what most Americans believe and what science has long known- that human life begins at the moment of conception, and therefore is entitled to legal protection from that point forward," Sen. Paul said. "The right to life is guaranteed to all Americans in the Declaration of Independence and ensuring this is upheld is the Constitutional duty of all Members of Congress."
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Post by Press Release on Apr 12, 2013 15:52:02 GMT -5
Senate to Vote on Gun Bill No One Has Read Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Senators Mike Lee (UT), Rand Paul (KY) and Ted Cruz (TX) released the following statement regarding the pending vote on the motion to proceed to new gun control legislation: "The Senate will vote on the motion to proceed to the firearms bill (S.649). It is expected that the Toomey-Manchin provision announced yesterday will replace the current language regarding background checks. Yet, as of this morning, not a single senator has been provided the legislative language of this provision. Because the background-check measure is the centerpiece of this legislation it is critical that we know what is in the bill before we vote on it. The American people expect more and deserve better.
"Unfortunately, the effort to push through legislation that no one had read highlights one of the primary reasons we announced our intention to force a 60 vote threshold. We believe the abuse of the process is how the rights of Americans are systematically eroded and we will continue to do everything in our power to prevent it."
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Post by Press Release on May 15, 2013 20:12:37 GMT -5
Senate Democrats Block Resolution Condemning IRS Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Senate Democrats placed a hold on Sen. Rand Paul's recent resolution that condemns the targeting of Tea Party groups by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and calls for an investigation into this practice. "This resolution is not about Republican vs. Democrat or conservative vs. liberal. It is about arrogant and unrestrained government vs. the rule of law. The First Amendment cannot and should not be renegotiated depending on which party holds power," Sen. Paul said. "Each senator took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, yet Senate Democrats chose to block my resolution and thus refused to condemn the IRS for trampling on our First Amendment rights. I am incredibly disappointed in Washington's party politics and I am determined to hold the IRS accountable for these unjust acts."
A copy of the blocked resolution can be found HERE: www.paul.senate.gov/files/documents/MIR13198.pdf
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Post by Press Release on Jun 4, 2013 7:43:51 GMT -5
Freedom to Fish Act Signed Into Law Senator Rand Paul Press Release
The Freedom to Fish Act, which protects fishing access at the tailwaters of dams along the Cumberland River, was signed into law by President Obama. The act, which was co-sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, places a two-year moratorium on the Army Corps of Engineers' plan to install physical barriers in several locations, including at the Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams. Following its enactment, Sen. Paul issued the following statement: "I am pleased Freedom to Fish has been signed into law - and I know I am speaking for many Kentuckians when I say that. The livelihoods of many business owners and fishermen were at stake, but because of this legislation's enactment, they will continue to enjoy the freedom to fish without the bureaucratic overreach of the Army Corps."
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Post by Press Release on Jun 6, 2013 15:41:41 GMT -5
Fourth Amendment Restoration Act of 2013 Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul today announced he will introduce the Fourth Amendment Restoration Act of 2013, which ensures the Constitutional protections of the Fourth Amendment are not violated by any government entity. "The revelation that the NSA has secretly seized the call records of millions of Americans, without probable cause, represents an outrageous abuse of power and a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. I have long argued that Congress must do more to restrict the Executive's expansive law enforcement powers to seize private records of law-abiding Americans that are held by a third-party," Sen. Paul said. "When the Senate rushed through a last-minute extension of the FISA Amendments Act late last year, I insisted on a vote on my amendment (SA 3436) to require stronger protections on business records and prohibiting the kind of data-mining this case has revealed. Just last month, I introduced S.1037, the Fourth Amendment Preservation and Protection Act, which would provide exactly the kind of protections that, if enacted, could have prevented these abuses and stopped these increasingly frequent violations of every American's constitutional rights.
"The bill restores our Constitutional rights and declares that the Fourth Amendment shall not be construed to allow any agency of the United States government to search the phone records of Americans without a warrant based on probable cause."
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Post by Press Release on Jun 27, 2013 6:40:49 GMT -5
Obama Administration’s War on Coal is a war on Kentucky jobs Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul released the following statement regarding President Obama's continued assault on the coal industry. "President Obama today declared a war on coal, and thus declared a war on Kentucky jobs and our economy. Whether it is through the retroactive denial of permits, onerous regulations on coal-fired power plants, or unreasonable environmental requirements, the policies of this Administration are threatening the very way of life that has sustained Kentucky communities for generations," Sen. Paul said. "As a defender of the free market and of coal, I will continue to fight back against the EPA and any other federal agency whose goal is to stifle coal production. I will continue to stand up for our miners in Washington as we continue to recognize the sacrifices they make to provide food for their families and energy for America."
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Post by Press Release on Jul 12, 2013 7:54:33 GMT -5
Is it time to End Foreign Aid to Egypt? Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul has introduced legislation to prohibit the United States from sending foreign assistance to the government of Egypt, as a result of the country's military coup d'état on July 3, 2013. Click HERE to read Sen. Paul's legislation in its entirety. This week, it was reported that the Obama Administration was moving forward with plans to deliver four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt despite the political unrest in the country. Earlier this year, the Senate voted against an amendment introduced by Sen. Paul that would have prohibited the U.S. government from selling F-16 military aircraft, M1 tanks, and similar military weapons to the Egyptian government. "Egypt is the latest example of the Obama Administration's misguided foreign policy," Sen. Paul said. "The overthrow of the Egyptian government was a coup d'état, and the law is clear that when a coup takes place, foreign aid must stop. But, the President still plans to continue to send aid to Egypt, at a pace of more than $1.3 billion per year. By the President's refusal to call the situation in Egypt a 'coup' and continuing the flow of foreign assistance to Egypt, he is forthrightly saying 'I am ignoring the rule of law.'"
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Post by Press Release on Jul 19, 2013 7:21:07 GMT -5
President's lieutenant on the war on coal promoted to be commanding general Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Rand Paul released this statement following the Senate vote on the nomination of Gina McCarthy to serve as administrator to the Environmental Protection Agency. Her nomination was confirmed, 59-40. "By nominating Gina McCarthy to serve at the helm of President Obama's overreaching EPA, he has essentially promoted his lieutenant in the war on coal to be commanding general. The President's war on coal is a war on Kentucky jobs and I will fight him every step of the way."
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Post by Press Release on Aug 1, 2013 22:53:30 GMT -5
Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul, M.D., introduced his Medicare Reform Plan, the Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act (CHCSA). This bill will not only fix the Medicare system in its entirety, it also saves taxpayers $1 trillion in the first 10 years. This plan will provide better health care benefits, choice, quality, and outcomes by enrolling all senior citizens into the same health care plan as Members of Congress and other federal employees. "As a doctor, I have had firsthand experience with the vast problems facing health care in the United States. Medicare, as we know it, is broken and in desperate need of reform. It is indefinitely $43 trillion short and must be reformed now before it's too late. My plan fixes the Medicare system, and gives seniors access to the best health care plans enjoyed currently by Members of Congress and does so without breaking the bank," Dr. Paul said. "Seniors deserve to have a world-class health care system, and U.S. taxpayers deserve to have their hard-earned dollars put to better use, in a system that will not eventually bankrupt this country." Click HERE to read the bill in its entirety. www.paul.senate.gov/files/documents/HEN13823.pdf
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Post by Press Release on Aug 16, 2013 22:52:48 GMT -5
Obama Administration Refuses to End Foreign Aid to Egypt Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul today released the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement that the United States was canceling joint military exercises to Egypt. "While President Obama 'condemns the violence in Egypt', his Administration continues to send billions of taxpayer dollars to help pay for it. The law is very clear when a coup d'état takes place, foreign aid must stop, regardless of the circumstances. With more than 500 dead and thousands more injured this week alone, chaos only continues to grow in Egypt. So Mr. President, stop skirting the issue, follow the law, and cancel all foreign aid to Egypt." On July 31, 2013, the Senate voted on Senator Paul's Egypt amendment to S. 1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. Amendment No. 1739 would have stopped military foreign assistance to Egypt by enforcing current law that the Obama Administration is violating, which prohibits the United States from providing foreign assistance to nations that experience a military coups d'état. That money would have been redirected to the "Bridges in Critical Corridors" fund in S.1243. The Paul Amendment, however, was tabled. During the debate, Senator Paul argued the following: "The law is very clear. Everyone here in Congress can read. They recognize, they recognize that the law says when there is a military coup, the aid must end. Today we will vote on whether or not they will obey the law or whether they will openly flout the law and disobey. When a military coup overturns a democratically elected government, all military aid must end. That's the law. There is no presidential waiver. The law states unequivocally that the aid must end. So when the military coup occurred in Egypt, how did the President respond? How did Congress respond? The President and his cohorts in Congress responded by shoveling good money after bad into the failed state of Egypt. The President is intent on building nations abroad and not taking care of our nation here at home."
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Post by Press Release on Aug 29, 2013 6:15:56 GMT -5
Paul asks for open debate in Congress on war with Syria Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul released the following statement today regarding reports of potential military action by the Obama Administration in Syria. "The United States should condemn the use of chemical weapons. We should ascertain who used the weapons and we should have an open debate in Congress over whether the situation warrants U.S. involvement. The Constitution grants the power to declare war to Congress not the President.
"The war in Syria has no clear national security connection to the United States and victory by either side will not necessarily bring in to power people friendly to the United States."
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Post by Press Release on Sept 5, 2013 20:49:40 GMT -5
Paul refuses to support action that will support radical Islamists and al-Qaida Senator Rand Paul Press Release
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a committee business meeting to address the potential authorization of use of military force in Syria and proceeded to discharge from committee a bill for full consideration of the Senate that would grant the President authorization to use military force in Syria. Sen. Rand Paul, a member of the committee, offered the following statement in response. "We are told there is no military solution in Syria, yet we are embarking on a military solution. The President has failed to demonstrate a compelling American national interest in the Syrian civil war.
"To be sure, there is a tragedy of a horrific nature in Syria, but I am unconvinced that a limited Syrian bombing campaign will achieve its intended goals. I frankly think that bombing Syria increases the likelihood of additional gas attacks, may increase attacks on Israel and turkey, may increase civilian deaths, may increase instability in the Middle East and may draw Russia and Iran further into this civil war.
"By pre-announcing a limited attack, we pre-announce limited effect.
"Our brave young soldiers should not be asked to risk their lives and limbs in a civil war with no certain ally. On the one hand, we have a tyrant who gassed his own people. On the other hand, we have radical Islamists and al-Qaida. When no compelling American interests exist, we should not intervene. No compelling interests exist in Syria."
During the meeting, Sen. Paul offered the following amendment for a vote. It is the sense of the Senate that the President does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.
The committee voted down this amendment 14-4. Sen. Paul intends to press this issue in the full Senate next week as well. "It should be made explicit that the Constitution invested the power to go to war in Congress. Since the Administration refuses to say it will abide by this vote, win or lose, Congress should send a clear message," he continued.
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Post by Press Release on Oct 10, 2013 18:16:05 GMT -5
Democrats Block Efforts to Reopen the Federal Government Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Senator Rand Paul today joined his Republican colleagues on the Senate Floor to offer a series of unanimous consent requests to reopen the federal government, including funding for the National Institute of Health, the National Park Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Post by Press Release on Oct 22, 2013 11:33:35 GMT -5
Paul Amendment would hold government officials to same standard as American people Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul last week introduced S.J. Res. 25, a Constitutional amendment that would hold government officials to the same standard as the American people. The amendment states that "Congress shall make no law applicable to a citizen of the United States that is not equally applicable to Congress." The amendment also contains two provisions that apply that same principle to the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch of the federal government. The amendment text can be found below: www.paul.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1011
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Post by Press Release on Nov 1, 2013 13:31:29 GMT -5
Paul Calls for the Release of individuals detained on account of their religious beliefs Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Rand Paul today joined as an original co-sponsor of the following Senate Resolution calling for the government of Iran to immediately release Pastor Saeed Abedini and all other individuals detained on account of their religious beliefs. "Saeed Abedini is an American pastor that has been imprisoned indefinitely due to his Christian faith. Across the globe, Christians are under attack and this Administration is doing nothing to stop it. This reasonable resolution calls on the government of Iran to release Abedini and all other individuals detained on account of their religious beliefs. I will continue to do all that I can to protect American citizens from religious persecution abroad."
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Post by Press Release on Dec 10, 2013 13:41:17 GMT -5
The life and legacy of South African President Nelson Mandela Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul today issued the following statement on the life and legacy of South African President, Nelson Mandela: "Nelson Mandela not only changed history, his call for tolerance, peace and acceptance changed the minds of people across the globe. The indelible mark he left on his country and the world will serve as an example of rightness and perseverance for humanity for all time."
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Post by Press Release on Dec 11, 2013 21:18:28 GMT -5
Ryan-Murray Budget Deal does nothing to reduce our nation's $17.3 trillion debt Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul today issued the following statement opposing the Ryan- Murray Budget Deal: "There is a recurring theme in Washington budget negotiations.
It's I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.
I think it's a huge mistake to trade sequester cuts now, for the promise of cuts later," Sen. Paul said. "The small sequester spending cuts were not nearly enough to address our deficit problem. Undoing tens of billions of this modest spending restraint is shameful and must be opposed. I cannot support a budget that raises taxes and never balances, nor can I support a deal that does nothing to reduce our nation's $17.3 trillion debt."
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Post by Press Release on Dec 16, 2013 18:41:44 GMT -5
District Court rules National Security Agency's (NSA) phone surveillance program unconstitutional Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul today issued the following statement applauding the U.S. District Court ruling that deemed the National Security Agency's (NSA) phone surveillance program unconstitutional: "I commend U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon for upholding and protecting our Fourth Amendment rights. This decision represents an important first step in having the constitutionality of government surveillance programs decided in the regular court system rather than a secret court where only one side is presented," Sen. Paul said. "In June, I introduced the Fourth Amendment Restoration Act which, if enacted, would have restored our Constitutional rights and declared that the Fourth Amendment shall not be construed to allow any agency of the United States government to search the phone records of Americans without a warrant based on probable cause. The NSA phone surveillance program is a blatant abuse of power and an invasion of our privacy. This ruling reminds the Federal government that it is not above the law. I will continue to fight against the violations of American's Constitutional rights through illegal phone surveillance until it is stopped once and for all."
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Post by Press Release on Dec 16, 2013 18:46:19 GMT -5
Kentucky Delegation Files Amicus Brief at US Supreme Court to Support Kentucky Coal Jobs Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced today that he filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court to support Kentucky’s coal miners, their families, small businesses and all those negatively affected by the Administration’s War on Coal. Senator McConnell’s amicus brief was joined by Senator Rand Paul and Congressmen Hal Rogers, Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie and Andy Barr of Kentucky. Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, also joined the brief. The amicus brief was filed in a sequel case (Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency) to the Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency that the EPA may regulate greenhouse gases as hazardous pollutants under the Clean Air Act – which resulted in the EPA’s 2010 first-ever permitting requirements for motor vehicles, known as the “Tailpipe Rule.” The EPA has since used the Tailpipe Rule to trigger regulations on coal-fired power plants and other stationary sources. An amicus brief is a brief filed in a court by someone who is not a party in the case. Such briefs may supplement the legal arguments made by the parties and can aid the court by bringing to its attention aspects of the case not covered by the parties, such as the impact of the issues in the case on third parties.
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Post by Press Release on Dec 19, 2013 22:39:22 GMT -5
Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2013 Introduced Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today introduced S.1852, the Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2013. This bill provides for the establishment of free market enterprise zones in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhance and renew educational opportunities and increase community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas. These zones will apply to any zip code with unemployment greater than one and a half times the national average. This bill will dramatically reduce taxes and red tape so that families and businesses can grow and thrive. "In order to change our course, we must reverse the trend toward more Big Government by ending the corporate welfare and crony capitalism that limits choice and stifles competition. We must encourage policies that will lift up the individual, allow for the creation of new jobs, improve the school system and get these communities back to work. The answer to poverty and unemployment is not another government bailout; it is simply leaving more money in the hands of those who earned it. The Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2013 will do just that," Sen. Paul said. "I am proud to co-sponsor Senator Paul's bill and I applaud him for his work to help distressed areas around the nation, including those in Kentucky," Sen. McConnell said. "In addition to helping bring businesses to distressed areas, this legislation will assist in job creation by unraveling burdensome federal regulations that are stifling economic development."
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Post by Press Release on Jan 10, 2014 14:50:34 GMT -5
Paul, McConnell Push Economic Freedom Zones as Amendment to UI Extension Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding their proposal to create economic freedom zones, which are designed to help some of the most impoverished areas in the nation: "For months, the Democrats who run Washington have been desperate to distract from the pain of Obamacare. And now, if you listen to them, they think they've found something that might work. The one thing they think can actually distract folks from the misery of this law is the misery of an economic malaise that they've presided over for five years. I mean, you really have to hand it to them in one respect. It takes a lot of chutzpah to spend an entire presidential term pushing policies that are supposedly meant to help the little guy, and then turn around and blame everybody else when they flop.
"But chutzpah won't solve the problem. And the poll-tested talking points and failed "stimulus" ideas we've seen Democrats trot out thus far, well, they won't do much to improve the plight of millions of Americans struggling in today's economy either. To me, that's the real tragedy. Because the discussion about how to help Americans who battle against the odds, day after day - that's a conversation we should be having. In fact, it's a debate Republicans are having. In recent days, we've seen several leading Republicans talk about how to tackle poverty in the 21st Century. And unlike the Democrats' outdated ideas from the 60s, Republicans are thinking about ways to update our nation's approach with fresh proposals that speak to the situation Americans actually find themselves in today.
"The Republican approach is to learn from past mistakes. It's about turning the Left's good intentions into policies that can actually get the job done. And it's about moving beyond the treatment of symptoms, and getting at underlying problems.
"That's the thinking behind the Economic Freedom Zones Act, which Senator Paul and I recently introduced. It aims to shine a light into some of the most impoverished corners of our country ... to raise up cities and families who've been left behind, and sometimes crushed, by outdated ideas from the 60s. And to do it in a way that lasts.
"With this legislation, some of the most disadvantaged areas of our country would acquire the ability to apply for an Economic Freedom Zone status that would help lift the burden on some of the poorest families in the country. Small business owners would see fewer government regulations, enabling them to create jobs and drive prosperity. Entrepreneurs would see punitive tax barriers peeled back, allowing them to lead a recovery with new ideas and energy. Failed education systems would see reforms that lift up disadvantaged children, giving new hope to a younger generation. Cities and regions that now face a dark future could transform themselves, if they chose, almost instantly into magnets for new ideas. And hope.
"So if our Democrat colleagues are serious about their focus on economic distress - if it's more than just some poll-tested Obamacare distraction - then I invite them to work with us on innovative new approaches like this. They could allow the Senate, for instance, to consider our proposal as an amendment to the UI legislation currently on the floor.
"Because this is a discussion that needs to be about really helping people.
"And these Economic Freedom Zones are similar in some ways to the Promise Zone initiative recently developed by the Obama Administration. I was pleased to hear that eight counties in Eastern Kentucky will soon receive Promise Zone designation. That's why I wrote in support of granting this designation last year, because there's no doubt that Eastern Kentucky is a region that has suffered enormous hardship in recent years - much of it, unfortunately, related to the very same Administration's 'war' on coal families. But the Promise Zone designation is a step in the right direction nonetheless. Senator Paul and I will be heading to the White House later today for a Promise Zone event, because we're encouraged that the President is finally focused on a concrete approach to jobs that members of both parties can support - proving that we can accomplish things when we focus on real efforts rather than political show votes designed to fail.
"And Promise Zones are something we could build on with far more comprehensive approaches, like Economic Freedom Zones that would reach even more communities in need of revitalization. Because let's remember this: government programs can sometimes help, but they can't do everything. And the 1960s mindset about how to fight poverty - it needs to change to fit the realities of the 21st Century.
"I want to share a sentiment I read just yesterday from Thomas Vinson, an unemployed coal worker from the very Kentucky county where LBJ launched his big-government blitz 50 years ago. This was his take on the so-called 'War on Poverty': What good are all these government programs if they don't get you a job? It's a feeling, the article noted, that's widespread among his neighbors in Martin County.
"This is why Republicans say it's time for modernization and new approaches. It's time to give folks like Thomas real hope. It's time to give them more than good intentions."
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Post by Press Release on Jan 14, 2014 11:53:15 GMT -5
Kentucky House Committee Passes Restoration of Voting Rights Amendment Senator Rand Paul Press Release
Sen. Rand Paul today released this statement following the passage of House Bill 70 - a proposed constitutional amendment which would restore the right to vote for non-violent felons who have completed their sentences - by a Kentucky House committee: "I applaud the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee for passing House Bill 70, a constitutional amendment which would restore the right to vote for non-violent felons," said Sen. Paul. "A government of, by and for the people is only possible with a free right to vote. I am committed to securing this right for the people of the Commonwealth and I urge the Kentucky House of Representatives to pass HB 70 so this amendment can be placed on the ballot."
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