April 2017
In This Issue
CNP Action, Inc. presents the April edition of Heard Around the Hill. This monthly publication provides updates and news about what is happening on Capitol Hill, plus events and projects sponsored by Conservative groups around the country. This month's edition includes:  
Quick Links
     GorsuchCongratulations Justice Neil Gorsuch
Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy administers the judicial oath to
Judge Neil Gorsuch

On April 7, the U.S. Senate voted 54-45 to confirm President Trump's nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, as the next Supreme Court Justice. Here are a few press releases from CNP member-led organizations after Judge Gorsuch was confirmed: On April 10, Judge Gorsuch was sworn in to the high court by Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy.
 NaNa Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye Regulations
President Trump signing H.J.Res.38

The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) has started a new project called Red Tape Rollback. Several prominent national think tanks and policy organizations have partnered with PLF to implement this project of reducing regulations through the use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

The founding partners are: The Club for Growth, The Heritage Foundation, The Buckeye Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute and State Policy Network. CNP Member David Mcintosh is the President of The Club for Growth. CNP Gold Circle and Executive Committee Member Jim DeMint is the President of The Heritage Foundation. CNP Member Robert Alt is the President of The Buckeye Institute. CNP Member Tracie Sharp is the President of State Policy Network.

Is there a regulation that has been harmful to your business or family? If so, go to Red Tape Rollback and check to see if your regulation has been reported to Congress. If it has not, then enter it into the website so it can be added to the list of regulations to repeal.

The Senate Republican Policy Committee has a 2017 CRA Tracker. This tool shows the status of the 18 CRAs reported to Congress. 11 of the 18 have become law.

On April 5, Marc Short, White House Director of Legislative Affairs, gave an update on CRAs during a White House press briefing. Here is the text. 
     RyanCNP Members Meet with Speaker Ryan
Ralph Reed, Jay Sekulow, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Speaker Paul Ryan and Grover Norquist

On March 30, CNP Members Marjorie Dannenfelser, Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed and Jay Sekulow with a handful of other leaders met with Speaker Paul Ryan to discuss moving forward on health care reform efforts.
     syriaAirstrikes in Syria


Jerry Boykin
On April 7, CNP Action, Inc. Board Member, CNP President and Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins interviewed on his radio show, Washington Watch, former U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and CNP Member and FRC's Executive Vice President Lieutenant General (Retired) Jerry Boykin about President Trump's recent airstrikes in Syria. This segment runs approximately 11 minutes (2:27 to 13:24). The rest of the show is dedicated to the appointment of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, latest research from the Barna Research Group and President Trump's meeting with Egypt's President El-Sisi.
      eoReligious Freedom Executive Order Needed
U.S. Senator
Roy Blunt
 
U.S. Senator
James Lankford
 

In President Trump's first 82 days in office, he has issued 23 executive orders; however, he has not yet signed a religious freedom order. Senators Blunt and Lankford wrote a letter to President Trump urging him to issue such an order. In their letter they wrote, "An executive order requiring federal government agencies to protect the right to religious freedom is necessary, and directing agencies to adhere to existing federal laws protecting religious freedom is sound policy." They invited their fellow senators to sign on (17 did) and delivered the letter to President Trump last week.

As mentioned in last month's edition of Heard Around the Hill, CNP delivered a letter to President Trump with over 150 conservative leader signatures asking him to sign an executive order that protects religious liberty. 
     fittonUnmasking of Trump Associate Names
Brian Kilmeade and Tom Fitton

CNP Action, Inc. Board Member, CNP Gold Circle Member and Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton appeared on Fox & Friends on April 5 to talk about the unmasking of Trump associate names by former Obama National Security Advisor Susan Rice.
  testimonyTestimony Before the House
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
Brad Phillips
On April 4, CNP Member and Persecution Project Foundation (PPF) Founder and President Brad Phillips testified on Capitol Hill before the House Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission about human rights and sanctions in Sudan. To read the full text of his testimony, please click here.

PPF provides active compassion for the persecuted. They bring crisis relief and spiritual hope to victims of civil war, genocide and religious persecution. They also provide on the ground assistance while restoring hope and rebuilding communities through the love of Christ.

The mission of the Commission is to promote, defend and advocate internationally recognized human rights norms as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other relevant human rights instruments, in a nonpartisan manner, both within and outside of Congress.  
The next Heard Around the Hill will be issued on Wednesday, June 14. If you would like to submit information to be included in this publication, please send your submission to Sherri Francescon before 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 8. 

CNP Action, Inc. is the section 501(c)(4) sister organization of the Council for National Policy, an educational organization founded in 1981. CNP Action, Inc. does not support candidates or political parties, but it may promote issues or specific pieces of legislation. This publication is for informational purposes and does not necessarily represent the opinion of CNP Action, Inc. or its constituents. 
Sherri D. Francescon
Managing Director, CNP Action, Inc.