Dear Friends,
People often ask me what I think the greatest issue of Joe Biden's presidency has been so far. I tell them it comes down to one word -- security. From his first day in office, our national security has been in peril. His initial refusion to place tough sanctions on Russia emboldened Vladimir Putin to invade the Ukraine. Biden also shut down domestic energy production, which made us dependent on Russia and other regimes for oil. Meanwhile, our southern border has been flooded with illegal crossings, drug trafficking, and human smugglers, because the President is apparently delivering on his reckless campaign promises to ignore immigration enforcement. And now he’s preparing to lift Title 42, a measure which allows for deportation on health risk grounds. After just fourteen months of the Biden Administration, almost two million people have crossed our southern border illegally from dozens of countries from all over the world, and include known or suspected terrorists, which puts the security of our cities and towns at risk.
At a local security level, many cities are suffering due to rising crime, homelessness, and drug addiction problems. In some places, parents are facing hostility from their children's own school boards and principals, being called "terrorists" for caring about what their children are being taught. Some people can't even be sure that they'll be able to afford both food and gas next month. President Biden's terrible policies have taken away even that most basic security for many people.
We essentially have no security under this Administration.
My Republican colleagues and I want to give that security back. We want to open up domestic energy production, which will help bring down those everyday costs and make America safer and respected again on the world stage. We believe parents have the right to the final say in their children's education and will defend their rights to speak up. We believe people should be able to walk the streets of their cities without fear of violence, and business owners should not have to board up their windows to keep from being robbed. And we should stop paying people not to work.
I'm continuing to work for your security, and I take my responsibility in that seriously. I hope these updates on the Sixth District and happenings in Washington are helpful to you. Please reach out to my office if we can be of any assistance.
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Gary Palmer
Member of Congress, Alabama's 6th District
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In the District
Service Academy Nomination Reception
Nominating students from the Sixth District for our country's service academies is always a humbling task. This year, I was pleased to announce 20 outstanding nominees. My staff and I enjoyed honoring them with a reception in the district to congratulate them on their achievements. I'm proud of them and confident they have great things ahead of them.
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Mayors' Lunch
It was great to gather with the Sixth District mayors and share updates from Washington with them. I always value this time with our mayors and hearing how my office can be helpful to them and their cities.
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American Village President Retirement
I was honored to attend a retirement celebration for Tom Walker, the Founder and longtime President of the American Village in Montevallo. His work over the past 27 years not only transformed a piece of Shelby County farmland into a national treasure, but has also transformed the vision, hearts, and minds of young people. Every year, thousands of students visit the American Village to learn about America's system of government and founding principles and values. I presented Tom with a flag that was flown in his honor over the United States Capitol. Alabama is grateful for Tom’s vision, his love of America and Alabama, and his great leadership!
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Children and COVID Shutdowns:
The closures of schools and daycares and the overall disruption to everyday life has had devastating effects across our society. Children and teens have been among the most negatively impacted. We've seen mental health problems and suicide attempts skyrocket among shockingly young age groups. I'm also deeply concerned about how the government's response to COVID has led to mass loss of trust in public health authorities across the country. Watch my discussion and questions on these subjects in an Energy and Commerce hearing here.
NCFI Reauthorization Legislation:
I was pleased to introduce H.R. 7174, the NCFI Reauthorization Act, alongside Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). Hoover, AL has served as home for the National Computer Forensics Association (NCFI) for many years and their training and programs have proved essential to fighting cyber crime across the country. This bill reauthorizes the NCFI for another ten years. To date, the NCFI has trained more than 18,000 individuals, including law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors and judges from all 50 states and U.S. territories. I appreciated Rep. Slotkin's partnership on this bill and her guidance through the reauthorization process. It was a bipartisan effort that will benefit the whole country. Read more here. |
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Leftist Energy Policy and Putin's War:
Hearing Highlight:
I spoke in a recent Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing about how the energy policies of this Administration have been not only grossly ineffective, but emboldened Vladimir Putin to attack Ukraine. It is unconscionable and nonsensical that the Biden Administration refuses to open up domestic energy production and instead relies on adversarial regimes around the world for oil, such as Russia and now Venezuela and Iran. Watch my remarks here.
Resolution Introduced:
Because this issue is so crucial, I introduced a resolution that condemns the Biden Administration for seeking to purchase oil from Venezuela and Iran. It decries current action and calls on the Administration to prioritize American energy independence. It makes no sense to rely on evil dictatorships when we are sitting on an abundance of resources right here at home. Read more about the resolution here. |
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From Gary’s Bookshelf
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
This excellent book by Malcolm Gladwell examines success, motivation, and the way adversity affects our decisions and lives. Gladwell shares both historical and psychological research to help readers better understand the world around us and the role of adversity. In a culture that has grown increasingly averse to discomfort and risk, this book offers a necessary challenge and fresh perspective.
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I appreciate the work of my colleague Rep. Michael Cloud on veteran care and VA backlog. Here we discuss how he's taken initiative on the issue of ensuring the VA hires qualified medical professionals so that our veterans receive the best possible care. The 2019 GAO report found that the VA had hired medical professionals whose licenses had actually been revoked. Rep. Cloud has introduced legislation that would prevent this from happening in the future. Listen to our conversation here or by clicking the image above. |
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Recent Press Talks
State of the Union Reaction: Right after President Biden's State of the Union address, I talked with WVTM13 to give my immediate reaction. Unfortunately, President Biden made clear in his address that he is out of touch with the real state of the union. Our country has seen one crisis after another unfold since he took office and his Administration is disconnected from that reality. Watch here.
A Starting Point: U.S. & Venezuelan Oil: In a "Daily Point" Interview for A Starting Point, I discussed the history of relations between the U.S. and Venezuela and why it's now so ill-advised and dangerous for President Biden to seek to purchase oil from Venezuela in the midst of our energy crisis. We should not be courting dictators around the world for energy resources when we could produce it right here on our own land. Watch here.
Alabama Morning News with JT: I joined JT to give an update on the war in Ukraine, President Zelenskyy's message to Congress, and what I think we should be doing differently in the help we're giving. Listen here.
Straight Arrow News: I joined Annie Anderson of Straight Arrow News to share how inflation and high energy prices are having such devastating effects on families across the country. Republicans have actual solutions to these problems, and I believe it's these "kitchen table" issues that will guide people's votes in the midterm elections this November. Watch here.
NTD News Capitol Report: Good to join Steve Lance on the Capitol Report to explain how domestic energy production is essential to bringing down gas and energy prices. Watch the conversation here.
Jeff Poor Show: I'm continually grateful to Jeff Poor for having me on his show to update people in Alabama on happenings in Washington. This time, we discussed the war in Ukraine, how we ought to be helping the Ukrainians, and how China and Taiwan are watching this war and noting how the rest of the world is responding. Listen here.
Washington Watch: I was glad to join the Family Research Council's radio show to discuss Ukraine and how China in particular is watching Russia's actions closely in this war. The U.S. must be on guard against China and realize that world domination is their goal. Watch here.
Julie Mason Mornings with SiriusXM: It was good to be back with Julie Mason this month to discuss the necessity of domestic energy production, the war in Ukraine, and how the U.S. needs to be wary of China. Listen here.
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