Your Reps in the News: May 5, 2017

Congressman Mike Gallagher

Rep. Gallagher released a statement in support of President Trump’s new executive order that increases accountability for employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs and better protects whistleblowers: “During my time in the Marine Corps and two tours in Iraq, I witnessed firsthand some of the best men and women risk their lives for this country, many of whom were seriously wounded or died in battle. These brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way to defend our country, and the very least we can do is have their backs in their times of need. President Trump’s executive order is critical to improving accountability for employees at the VA and protecting whistleblowers so that our veterans can receive the best care possible.”

Source: Gallagher press release

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Sen. Baldwin and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI), reintroduced legislation aimed at reducing bullying and harassment that affects one in five students at colleges and universities across the country. The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2017 would require institutions of higher education to establish policies to prohibit harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. The legislation also establishes a grant program to support campus anti-harassment activities and programs. The legislation is named after Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University who took his own life after his roommate and another student invaded his privacy and harassed him on the internet. Lawmakers are deeply concerned with the rise of hateful and intimidating incidents spreading throughout college campuses nationwide, including actions undertaken by President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to withdraw guidance pertaining to discrimination against transgender students under Title IX of the education amendments of 1972, and the appointment of people to lead the Office for Civil Rights at the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services who apparently disagree or outright oppose the mission or role of the office and have advocated against the policy they now must enforce. “No student should have to live in fear of being who they are. Our schools should not be, and cannot be, places of discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation or violence,” Baldwin said.

Source: Baldwin press release

Senator Ron Johnson

Sen. Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement regarding the rollback of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) reclassification of broadband as a public utility: “The FCC is taking an important step to roll back harmful Obama-era regulations that stifle innovation and delay broadband deployment in Wisconsin and throughout America. I believe the Internet will remain free and open without heavy-handed regulations – as it did under the Clinton and Bush administrations. But if public advocacy groups and Democrats truly feel that additional protections are needed, they should negotiate a bipartisan legislative solution in Congress with the representatives of the American people.”

Source: Johnson press release

President Donald Trump

Supporters at President Trump’s rally in Harrisburg, Pa., on April 27 agreed on two things: Trump deserves high marks for his first 100 days in office, and House Speaker Paul Ryan needs to go. “Ryan is a complete idiot,” said rally-goer John Knepper speaking with AOL.com. “If I was Trump, boom, he’d be out of there in no time.” Tensions between establishment Republicans and Trump have seemingly heated up since the administration and Congress failed to repeal and replace Obamacare shortly after the president took office. In March, after a health care repeal bill was pulled from the floor of the House, President Trump urged the public to watch Justice with Judge Jeanine on FOX News the same night Judge Pirro called for Ryan to step down, quickly spurring speculation that the president wanted Ryan out. Supporters at the president’s 100-day rally seem to be on Pirro’s side.

Source: AOL.com