April 2018  

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: 

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CNP Action, Inc. 

 

 

 

Council for National Policy 

 

 

 

Conservative Action Project 

 

 

 

The White House 

 

 

 

Senate Leadership 

 

 

 

U.S. Senate 

 

 

 

House Leadership 

 

 

 

U.S. House of Representatives 

 

 

 

 

capCAP Memo for the Movement:
Conservatives Support the Nomination of Mike Pompeo to Lead the State Department
Mike Pompeo

Yesterday, April 12, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations began the nomination hearing for Mike Pompeo, the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to be Secretary of State. This was the first step in the Senate's consideration of his nomination. Here are excerpts from his prepared remarks before Congress.


The Conservative Action Project released a memo in support of Mike Pompeo on April 2. Following its release, it received the below press coverage:
You may view this memo and others on the CAP website. Please share CAP's memos with your network to have a more well-informed citizenry. The memos will provide them with principled policy statements. You are welcome to reproduce, publish or quote from the memos or any part thereof.  No attribution to CAP or any of the signers is necessary.
speakerSpeaker Ryan to Retire


On Wednesday, April 11, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) announced that he will retire at the end of his term in January 2019. Above is a video of his press conference. To view, please click on the image or here.
alaska2018 Alaska Cruise


Brent Bozell
Brent Bozell, Founder and President of the Media Research Center (MRC), invites you to join their 2018 Alaska Cruise aboard Holland America Lines' ms Eurodam cruise ship from August 11-18! This cruise is co-sponsored by FreedomWorks. You will mingle with an all-star cast of conservative luminaries while enjoying all the luxurious amenities you expect to find on a premier cruise ship, including shows, fine dining, music and much more.

Cabins are selling fast, so book yours soon to make sure you do not miss out on what is sure to be a trip of a lifetime! Click here for more information or call (844) 889-1590.



On Monday, April 9, Republican Study Committee (RSC) Members and their staff received a Legislative Look Ahead briefing paper from the RSC policy team. The document lists short descriptions of selected issues that may be addressed by the House of Representatives in 2018, with an emphasis on the second quarter of the year. Some potential areas of consideration could include "Phase 2" of Tax Reform, the Farm Bill, Welfare Reform and Workforce Development, a Rescission Bill, Obamacare Repeal & Replace, Flood Insurance and a menu of Values Issues.

If you have any questions, plans to engage on any of these issues or have interest in connecting directly with the RSC policy team, please contact Alexa Walker at alexa.walker@mail.house.gov.  

*Please note, the Legislative Look Ahead is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as statements of support or opposition from the RSC.

As noted above, a Rescission Bill, may be addressed by the House. Paul Teller, Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, asks that you send him suggestions for SPECIFIC items that should be rescinded as the Trump Administration considers proposing a spending -rescissions package to Congress. Please include as much background information as possible on your specific items, to increase the likelihood of them being considered. Paul's email is paul.s.teller@who.eop.gov.
 
GorsuchOne Year After Neil Gorsuch is Sworn in as Supreme Court Justice

This past Tuesday, April 10, Justice Neil Gorsuch celebrated his one-year anniversary on the Supreme Court. Here is a document that the Judicial Crisis Network created and below are a couple op-eds about his first year:

Edwin Meese III

Ken Blackwell

  • Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III wrote a RealClearPolitics commentary entitled, Gorsuch's First Year: An Anniversary Worth Celebrating. Ed stated, "Gorsuch has proven himself to be precisely the type of person President Trump pledged he would nominate to the bench, someone in the mold of the late Justice Antonin Scalia: an impartial judge who applies laws as they were written and shows an abiding respect for the rights guaranteed by the Constitution."
  • Ken Blackwell wrote a Townhall op-ed entitled, In Neil Gorsuch, Trump Kept His Promise to the American People. Ken stated, "President Donald Trump and his supporters should celebrate as well, because in Gorsuch, Trump kept one of his core campaign promises to the American people."

On another note, ever wonder what is happening at the Supreme Court, what the justices are up to and more? If so, check out SCOTUS 101, a Heritage Foundation podcast.

 

 

Mike Davis

Plus, you may be interested in the status of President Trump's nominations considered by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. If so, here is a document from Mike Davis, Chief Counsel for Nominations for the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

 

As you will see on the above document, there are too many nominees awaiting confirmation votes by the full Senate. Conservative Partnership Institute has written about ways in which Senate Republicans could pressure Democrats to speed up confirmations. Just forcing Democrats to the floor to talk, instead of wasting time in quorum calls, would be a start.  

valuesValues Voter Summit:
Early Bird Registration Rate Expires April 30


On September 21-23, FRC Action, the legislative affiliate of the Family Research Council (FRC), will host its 13th annual Values Voter Summit (VVS) at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. This event is co-sponsored by AFA Action, American Values, United in Purpose and Christian Healthcare Ministries.

Tony Perkins
VVS will focus on the midterm elections. If you attend, you will learn how you can make a difference in this year's elections. Attendees will hear from dynamic speakers and will be given the opportunity to attend celebrity book signings, a special movie screening, a jam-packed exhibit hall, in-depth breakout training sessions and the Faith, Family, and Freedom Gala!

In order to take advantage of the $99 early-bird registration rate, you need to register before April 30.

Speaking of midterm elections, FRC Action published a Tony Perkins' Washington Update entitled Can Evangelicals Save the GOP? this week. Tony Perkins is the President of FRC.
newA New Capitol Hill Documentary Series


Check out the trailer for The Swamp, a new documentary series providing an inside look at how the game is played on Capitol Hill, featuring Representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA-5), Rod Blum (R-IA-1), Dave Brat (R-VA-7) and Ken Buck (R-CO-4).
cnpaiCNP Action, Inc. Letter to the President
President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt

Last Friday, April 6, CNP Action, Inc. delivered a letter to President Trump in support of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. POLITICO published Conservatives Unite to Ask Trump to Keep Pruitt and The Daily Signal published Conservative Leaders, GOP Lawmakers Voice Support for Scott Pruitt in response.
reinforceResource Bank 2018


Kay Coles James
On June 5-8, you are invited to join The Heritage Foundation at this year's Resource Bank Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to exchange ideas, share success stories and strategize solutions that can bring real results in policy battles facing states across the country. Check out ResourceBank.org to see the most recent agenda and to register today.

Kay Coles James is the President of Heritage.
majorMajor Victory in the Fight Against
Sex Trafficking
President Trump Signing FOSTA

On Wednesday, April 11, President Trump signed H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (FOSTA), which makes it a federal crime to own, manage or operate a website with the intent to promote or facilitate prostitution - and which gives law enforcement new tools with which to fight human trafficking. To learn more, here is a fact sheet and remarks from the bill signing.

 
Penny Nance
Before FOSTA passed the Senate, Concerned Women for America (CWA) worked with a pro-victim, anti-sex trafficking coalition to educate senators about the bill. Read about how CWA's coalition lobbying helped turn the tide for the FOSTA vote in the Senate. Here is CWA's press release when FOSTA passed the Senate, and here is their press release from Wednesday after President Trump's signature.

Penny Nance is the President and CEO of CWA.  
feedomFreedom Cruise to Normandy
Freedom Alliance and the National Rifle Association (NRA) invite you to join their Freedom Cruise to Normandy aboard the privately chartered AmaWaterways' AmaLyra from August 9-16. The voyage begins in Paris, France and will cruise the Seine River and stop in Vernon, Caudebec-En-Caux, Normandy, Rouen and Les Andleys before returning to Paris. You will see the beaches where so many fought for freedom. You will visit the American Cemetery, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. You will have the opportunity to reflect on the impact of D-Day as you explore the area's memorials, churches and villages. Here is a video Oliver North, Founder of Freedom Alliance, encouraging you to sail with him. Wayne LaPierre is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the NRA. To view the 7-day itinerary and to register, click here. Only 17 cabins remain!

Oliver North

Wayne LaPierre

On March 23, President Trump signed the Taylor Force Act (TFA) into law. This fulfills a popular campaign pledge made by President Trump to better scrutinize how American aid is spent abroad. TFA defunds the Palestinian Authority (PA) until they cease and denounce funding and support for terrorists and their families for acts against Israel or other non-Palestinian groups.

Herbert London


According to The Jerusalem Post article, London Center Enlightens Public on Human Rights Violations, the London Center for Policy Research, helmed by Herbert London, was "critical in the creation of the Taylor Force Act..."




Mat Staver
Liberty Counsel issued this press release after TFA's passage. Mat Staver, Chairman of Liberty Counsel, President of Christians in Defense of Israel and Founder and President of Covenant Journey said, "I applaud President Trump and Congress for defunding the Palestinian Authority advocacy and support of terrorism.... Prior Republican and Democratic presidents have continued to fund the Palestinian Authority even though they knew that our tax dollars were being used to promote and fund terrorism. As of today [March 23], that sad chapter has been closed and a new day has dawned."

The next Heard Around the Hill will be issued on Wednesday, June 13. 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. (ET) on Friday, 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 newsletter is for informational purposes and does not necessarily represent the opinion of CNP Action, Inc. or its constituents. 

 

Contributions to the Council for National Policy do not fund the activities of CNP Action, Inc.  CNP Action, Inc. is funded by separate contributions.

    

Sherri D. Francescon

Managing Director, CNP Action, Inc.