Calls to defund the police are antithetical to achieving meaningful reform and will only sow seeds of division that stoke anarchy. The men and women of law enforcement lay down their lives every day in the line of duty, and this course of action that Democrats are championing is an affront to health, safety, and security of our communities. It is disheartening to hear my Democrat colleagues echo this sentiment instead of creating solutions that ensure meaningful progress. Law and order are fundamental tenets of a free society, but when anarchy is assigned a higher value than protecting the American people, the lines become blurred and discord will prevail.

This week, President Trump ushered in novel solutions that put the safety of our nation’s communities first. By increasing accountability, bolstering police performance standards, and uniting our communities through strength, our nation’s commitment to uphold law and order will be renewed. I commend President Trump’s unwavering leadership during this time in our country. The American people demand change, and we must continue to take steps forward to achieve that change together.

On Thursday, House Republicans introduced the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act, the companion bill to Senator Tim Scott’s JUSTICE Act that he introduced on Wednesday morning in the Senate. The JUSTICE Act offers real solutions to increase transparency, accountability and performance so our nation’s law enforcement officers are better prepared to protect and care for the communities they serve. These reforms build upon the directive in President Trump’s recent Executive Order to develop policies that encourage proactive police strategies to address concerns and strengthen and build upon the relationships that ensure the safety and security of all communities.

Assessing Impacts of COVID-19 On K-12 Education

I want to recognize the teachers and schools for their herculean work this spring to stand up distance learning mechanisms for students, and in some cases, doing so almost overnight. Educators at all levels should be celebrated for their dedication in responding to the coronavirus crisis and going far beyond their normal responsibilities to respond to the needs of their students and communities.

Just as our teachers are working to overcome the many challenges this global pandemic poses, this nation’s elected officials must also step up and do the job they were elected to do. This means working from D.C. and being physically present like our Founders intended. That’s why Republicans on the Education and Labor Committee participated in this week’s hearing from our hearing room. Physically distancing and performing one’s Constitutional obligations are not mutual exclusive – we can do both.  We can and should be at work in Washington, and I urge my Democrat colleagues to make that a priority moving forward.

To watch the full committee hearing, click here.

New Scam Update

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that scammers have conjured up a new scheme that involves faux stimulus checks. According to the IRS Criminal Investigations unit, online phishing scams involving emails, text messages, and links are the culprit. When scammers attempt to defraud someone, they will send mass emails to a multitude of accounts – typically with an enticing subject line that will prompt an individual to click on the email.

From there, scammers will either prompt an individual with a solicitation that offers a stimulus check in exchange for a designated amount of money that the individual would pay up front as a “fee”. Due to this scheme, it’s estimated that over $30 billion in stimulus payments could be stolen. The IRS report also discusses how these scammers are starting to pose as the World Health Organization (WHO) and even as the IRS itself to further deceive their victims. Further, after the CARES Act was passed and signed into law by President Trump, thousands of website domains were bought by scammers that are operating under the guise of organizations that can assist in distributing stimulus checks.

Remember, the IRS will never contact you via email, phone, text message, or social media with information about your stimulus payment. They will also not ask you for your Social Security number, bank account information, or debit card information.

Recent Events

From the Education & Labor hearing room during our hearing this week

Todd and Lisa Smith from Winston-Salem on a visit to D.C.