Special Policy Update from U.S. Congressman Andy Barr

Nearly two years ago, the American people reached their breaking point with the destructive policies of the Democrats' radical agenda and voted for change. When Republicans gained a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, we faced an uphill battle against a Washington dominated by the Democrat Party, entrenched bureaucrats, and a biased media machine. It may have felt like a David versus Goliath scenario, but in the past 21 months, House Republicans have come together to forge a unified agenda that addresses the real concerns of American families. From combating inflation and soaring energy costs to tackling historic levels of illegal immigration, rising crime, national security threats, and holding those in power accountable, I proudly stand with my Republican colleagues as we continue advancing our vision for the country. Here are some key highlights of the legislation passed during the 118th Congress:

Lower Energy Costs Act

The Biden-Harris Administration launched a war on American energy with radical policies that imposed excessive regulations and deepened our dependence on foreign suppliers. In response, House Republicans acted by passing legislation to cut through burdensome red tape and increase domestic energy production, ensuring we no longer rely on hostile foreign dictators who jeopardize our energy security. The Lower Energy Costs Act not only aims to restore American energy independence but also provides much-needed relief to families facing skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, grocery store, and beyond. 

Secure the Border Act

Under President Biden and "Border Czar" Vice President Harris, over 8.2 million illegal immigrants—and more than 2 million "gotaways"—have crossed our open southern border, costing American lives like those of Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, and Rachel Morin. This year, House Republicans responded by passing the most comprehensive border security bill in history. The Secure the Border Act strengthens our defenses by increasing the number of border patrol agents, resuming construction of the border wall, ending catch-and-release, reinstating the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, and cracking down on the flow of fentanyl to protect our communities. 

Parents Bill of Rights Act

Woke agendas have no place in our schools nor does removing parents from being involved in their child's education. The Parents Bill of Rights Act ensures parents have the right to transparency when it comes to their child's education, to know how their taxpayer dollars are being used by schools, and to express their concerns to school boards without being silenced by the federal government.

                      Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary                     Controlled Applications Act

The Chinese Communist Party’s latest tactic to spy on American citizens is through social media infiltration. TikTok, controlled by ByteDance and linked to the CCP, poses a serious national security threat. In response, House Republicans took decisive action with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This legislation gives TikTok a clear choice: sever its ties with the CCP or face a ban in the United States. The bill passed the Senate and was signed into law by President Biden, ensuring stronger protection of Americans' privacy and security. 

REINS Act of 2023

The Biden-Harris Administration has enabled federal agencies to usurp the powers of the legislative and judicial branches, allowing unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats to create laws behind closed doors. In response, Republicans took action to curb executive overreach by passing the REINS Act of 2023, which requires congressional approval before any major rule or regulation can take effect. This ensures accountability and restores the proper balance of power. 

SAVE Act

Fair, democratic elections are what make the United States one of the greatest countries in the world. Protecting election integrity has been a top priority for House Republicans ensuring that only American citizens are voting in American elections. The SAVE Act requires individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024

Under President Trump's leadership, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established a pro-family, pro-worker, and pro-growth tax reform package. Some temporary provisions of this legislation have expired, but the working class remains the backbone of America's economy. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 allows working families to keep more of their paycheck and also restores important tax incentivizes that drive investment in the US economy. 

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

Protecting the sanctity of life is one of the most important duties we, as human beings, have been given. Newborn babies deserve protection and care regardless of the circumstances under which they are born. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act secures medical protections for babies that survive an attempted abortion. 

Standing with Israel

In the aftermath of the horrific terror attacks against Israel on October 7th, 2023, House Republicans stood by our commitment to provide Israel with the tools it needs to defend itself. The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act quickly provided military equipment for our ally Israel. The Biden-Harris Administration attempted to interfere, so we passed the Israel Security Assistance Support Act which forced the delivery of congressionally approved military aid. Similarly, the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act halted the administration's reckless hostage deal which included dropping charges against five Iranian criminals charged with endangering our national security and waiving sanctions on $6 billion of Iranian funds which had been frozen in South Korea.  

Addressing Antisemitism on College Campuses 

Following Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attacks on Israel, the U.S. has seen a disturbing uptick in antisemitism on college campuses. The Committee on Education and the Workforce discovered a troubling culture where administrators fail to implement protections and even mock Jewish students. House Republicans have demanded answers from these universities about student safety and funding of pro-Hamas groups and propaganda. As a result, the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia resigned in disgrace.

Investigating Trump Assassinations 

As the 2024 Presidential Election is just around the corner, we have seen increased violence from the Democratic Party. President Donald Trump has survived two assassination attempts - the first on July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the second on September 15th in Palm Beach, Florida. Republicans formed a task force to investigate the series of failures by the U.S. Secret Service and to ensure Americans' choice of president remains unthreatened.

Combatting the Border Crisis 

The Committee on Homeland Security released a report revealing that even before taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration was warned by experienced border security professionals on the dangers of open borders. As such, the current crisis at our southern border was not some inevitable phenomenon – it was directly caused by the actions taken by President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. House Republicans impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for violating border security laws enacted by Congress and threatening the safety of the American people, but unfortunately, Senate Democrats refuse to hold him accountable for his failures.

 Biden-Harris Failed Afghanistan Withdrawal Report

The Foreign Affairs Committee’s investigation into the Biden-Harris Administration’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan revealed that the Administration disregarded the advice of military and security professionals, ignored the facts on the ground, and indulged in wishful thinking and endless deliberation that left American troops and diplomats in-country dangerously exposed – ultimately resulting in the tragic and unnecessary deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers. House Republicans passed legislation to condemn key figures and officials in the Administration, including President Biden, Vice President Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby, State Department Secretary Antony Blinken, and others, for their part in this historic disaster.

               Investigating President Biden’s Influence Peddling               and Classified Documents

In February 2024, the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees subpoenaed Attorney General Merrick Garland for records, including transcripts, notes, video, and audio files, related to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation of President Biden’s willful mishandling of classified information in which Hur declined to recommend charges against Biden citing his memory problems. Garland refused to produce the audio recordings of Special Counsel Hur’s interviews with President Biden and his ghostwriter. On June 12, 2024, House Republicans voted to hold A.G. Garland in contempt for failing to comply with the subpoena. On July 2, 2024, the House Judiciary Committee filed a lawsuit in D.C. federal court to obtain these recordings. We remain committed to obtaining this critically important evidence in our investigation into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents.