The Tiffany Telegram: June 11, 2021

Dear Friend,

President Biden's border crisis is getting worse with each passing day.

More than 180,000 illegal aliens flooded into our country in May alone – the highest level we've seen in more than two decades. To put that number in perspective, it is more than twice the capacity of a sold-out Lambeau Field.

Even worse, the Biden administration admitted that almost 40 percent of the illegal aliens they encountered last month – many of whom fan out across America under the White House's dangerous "catch and release" policy – are repeat offenders who have tried to enter our country illegally at least once already in the last 12 months.

The numbers are, simply put, staggering.

In just the last three months – from March to May – Customs and Border Protection officials have encountered more than a half-million migrants at our southwest border. And the tidal wave of migration isn't slowing down.

The human cost has also been shocking. An investigative report this week revealed that traffickers are enjoying record profits thanks to these misguided White House policy changes – with some individual smugglers now pocketing in excess of $200,000 a year from their illegal activities. Check out the infographics we've included below to get an idea of how big the scope of this problem truly is.

On a brighter note, it was great to see so many families out enjoying Wisconsin's great outdoors while I was home traveling around the district. Watching the misguided lockdowns and mandates that destroyed so many livelihoods disappearing in our rearview mirror as we approach the Independence Day holiday is a fantastic start to summer.

Thanks again for starting your weekend with us, and we hope you enjoy this week's Telegram.

Sincerely,

Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress

Parents pushing back against racist classroom indoctrination
As Telegram readers know, we've been leading the charge against dangerous liberal initiatives that seek to treat Americans based on the color of their skin instead of the content of their character. The Biden administration is part of the problem, continuing to push so-called "Critical Race Theory" training into our classrooms. The good news is that parents across America are fighting back and overwhelming the Biden Education Department with complaints. In related news, a federal judge also halted a Biden administration program to provide debt relief to farmers that explicitly excluded white farmers. As you may remember, I introduced legislation to shut down this unfair and unconstitutional program earlier this year. Americans know racial discrimination is wrong – and they know that the best way to end it is for the government to stop doing the discriminating. And I am confident we will win this fight.

Report confirms perils of migrant surge
Telegram readers had a chance to learn about the lawless situation I encountered during a trip to the Darien Gap in Panama in our last edition – the place where the pipeline of illegal immigration to our country begins for many human traffickers and drug smugglers. The international aid group Doctors Without Borders confirmed many of the horrors that migrants who embark on this harrowing journey encounter – assaults, robberies, a lack of food and water, drownings and even gang rapes. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle made light of this horrifying situation on social media after I shared what I saw on my visit – characterizing this dangerous region as "a nice vacation." You can read more about that here.

Is apple pie next on the "cancel culture" menu?
I know. I couldn't believe it either – but it's true. A newspaper from across the pond published a commentary piece suggesting that this all-American dessert is – you guessed it – racist. The column, written by Raj Patel argued that "apple pie is as American as stolen land, wealth and labor." Really, I'm not joking. You can read more about Mr. Patel's crazy column here – maybe even enjoy it over a slice of apple pie.

Washington's big spenders could learn something from Wisconsin
I'm sure a lot of you have read recent news about Wisconsin's state budget – and like I've been saying for many months, fiscal responsibility is a better approach to Washington bailouts. In 2010, with a multi-billion state budget shortfall, I told my constituents it would take a series of responsible budgets to turn Wisconsin's finances around – and that's exactly what we did. This week's budget surplus estimates confirm that a long-term commitment to fiscal responsibility pays dividends for taxpayers. That is why I signed on to the Republican Study Committee's plan to restore fiscal sanity in our nation's capital so we can keep taxes low and government limited, while fulfilling our commitments to retirees who rely on Social Security and Medicare. Wisconsin did it. Washington should too.

Committee Update
Natural Resources Committee Update
On Wednesday, the Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands had a legislative hearing regarding four different bills that dealt with access to our public lands. One of these bills titled the MAPLand Act (H.R. 3113), would have federal land management agencies digitize recreational access information and make it publicly available because much of this information is currently located at a local level in paper files. Right now, it can be very hard to determine what areas are open for public access on our federal lands. The American public deserves access to their public lands. Lawmakers should be working together to ensure that it is easier for people to use and enjoy their lands. Even in our own neighborhood of northern Wisconsin, there are plenty of road closures in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest that are difficult to access and ought to be more open and accessible to the public. I will continue working to make sure that all those who wish to visit and take advantage of our nation's "Lands of Many Uses" have an easy opportunity to do so.

House Judiciary Committee
FBI Director Wray comes to Congress
On Thursday, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee on a host of issues. I wanted to hear from him about our national security and the perception of a two-tiered justice system. As you may also know, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents recently arrested two Yemeni men at our border who were on the FBI terror watchlist as well as the "no fly" list. You can read about that announcement here. Once this information came to light, however, the Biden Administration immediately had CBP pull down the press release (you can still see it on the CBP archive here). We know that these two men aren't the only dangerous individuals trying to get into our country. We also know that Mexico has deported 19 terrorists, and that Panama has placed 49 migrants on the terror watchlist and deported them. The number of aliens from countries other than the Northern Triangle or Mexico showing up at our southern border has risen significantly since President Biden took office. People from countries of particular concern for terrorist activity in addition to Yemen – places like Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran have also been coming. And that's not a coincidence. Numerous Border Patrol agents have told me that the volume of migrants coming into the US have exploded as a direct result of President Biden's promise to all comers, and the dangerous policies that his administration has embraced. As we discussed earlier, the Darien Gap has become a migration superhighway, with people from all over the world flying into South American countries because of lax visa requirements. From there, these extra-continental migrants walk through the jungle and make their way to the United States. Many do not make it. Migrants I spoke with confirmed what Border Patrol agents told me about the "root causes" of this human tidal wave. They told me they are coming to the United States because of "la invitacion" or "the invitation," from President Biden. The bottom line is that the White House's open borders policy is as dangerous for the migrants as it is bad for Americans. It's got to stop.

Judiciary Committee Hearing: FBI Director Chris Wray

Politicizing the FBI
Another issue on everyone's mind is the weaponization of the FBI against members of certain political views. Time and again, we have witnessed justice being carried out in unequal ways. We saw Secretary Hillary Clinton destroying computers and phones, without consequence, Hunter Biden allegedly lying on his firearms background investigation, without consequence, and Ex-FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith getting probation for lying in order to secure renewal applications to the FISA, so the FBI could spy on Carter Page. We didn't see any early dawn raids of their homes, and the media largely ignored it. Americans expect fair, unbiased and non-partisan law enforcement. I look forward to working with my colleagues to end these double standards, and get law enforcement out of the business of partisan politics.

Recent Legislation
Nord Stream 2 Letter to Biden
This week I signed on to a letter to President Biden criticizing his decision to green light Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. For President Biden to sign off on a Russian pipeline that presents challenges to American interests while shutting down pipelines here in the United States is both hypocritical and dangerous. Allowing this Russian pipeline to move ahead will allow Moscow to extend its political and economic influence in Europe. The President has effectively put Russian jobs and political interests over American jobs and affordable energy here at home. You can read this letter here.

Protecting free speech
This week I cosponsored the Protect Speech Act, with my colleague Rep. Jordan. This bill will hold Big Tech accountable, bring existing federal law into line with Congress's intent, and protect freedom of speech on the internet. With the immense power that platforms like Twitter, Google, and Facebook have over the flow of information, Congress must repeal and reform the legal protections governing digital services. Current law allows Big Tech to censor conservative speech. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act ("CDA 230") gives an internet platform the ability to moderate unlawful or offensive content on its platform without becoming liable for all content posted on its website in the same manner as publishers. Over time, however, CDA 230 has been expanded beyond Congress's intent, giving license to Big Tech to target and censor particular viewpoints—notably, those of conservatives. This bill will close that loophole and limits their special immunity – and their ability to shut down opposing viewpoints. Free speech is a core American principle, and should never be subject to the decisions of a handful of Silicon Valley billionaires.

President Biden circumvents Congress, and continues Assault on the 2nd Amendment
On Monday, the Justice Department released new proposed regulations surrounding the popular accessory known as a "Pistol Stabilizing Brace." The proposed rule-making on pistol-braced firearms represents a gross abuse of executive authority. Millions of law-abiding gun owners now will be forced to destroy, register, or surrender their lawfully acquired pistol-braced firearms. That's why I joined my colleague Rep. Duncan in cosponsoring the No Frivolous Applications for Short-Barreled Shotguns Act (NFA SBS), which will allow all SBS's to be treated as any other shotgun, and thus preventing the ATF from requiring a tax tamp for smooth-bore non-NFA items that are equipped with stabilizing braces. I also joined Rep. Hudson in sending a letter to the Attorney General and the Acting Director of the ATF, urging them to correct this unconstitutional injustice. You can read the letter here. These unconstitutional power grabs and assaults on the second amendment by Democrats need to stop, and I will continue to defend the constitution. You can read the ATF proposed guidance here.

District Update
Roundtable with Secretary Pompeo
This week, former U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, joined me in Wausau, WI to host a roundtable discussion on the global business climate with many of our district's business leaders. Pompeo gave praise to our education leaders, as he noted how impressive Wisconsin's technical college programs and manufacturing capabilities are.

Join Congressman Tom Tiffany for Service Academy Day!
Meet with representatives from West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, and ROTC. All ages welcome to attend.

2021 Service Academy Day
Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 11:30am
Eagle's Club
1703 South 3rd Avenue
Wausau, WI 54401

Good News from Wisconsin's 7th District

Wausau Welcomes New Chief

The Wausau Fire Department officially has a new chief at the helm. Robert Barteck, who was recently appointed interim fire chief, will now head the 62-member fire department.

Battle of the Books

The Minocqua Public Library will be hosting its annual summer reading challenge from June 14 to August 11.

Summer in the Northwoods

Antigo Visual Arts 2021 "Summer in the Northwoods" show opens this Saturday, it features the work of 20 area artists.