The Tiffany Telegram: May 21, 2021

Dear Friend,

This week the House of Representatives reconvened for legislative activity. But before we get to that, we wanted to talk again about the worsening crisis on our southern border.

With inflationary price increases and the return of 1970s-style lines at gas stations grabbing headlines, the situation on our border with Mexico may have been bumped off the front page, but it isn't getting any better. We continue to see record crossing numbers and disturbing reports of serious criminals attempting to slip in amid the surge.

This week the White House announced it would divert billions in fundingthat was set aside to replenish medical reserves to pay for the costs of housing unaccompanied alien children.

At the same time, the Biden administration announced it would no longer stop illegal aliens from accessing public housing assistance. Readers may remember that President Biden also recently rolled back rules that would have helped ensure that prospective immigrants have the means to support themselves here in America and not end up on taxpayer programs.

These policy shifts are bound to make things worse.

The White House needs to stop taking steps that encourage illegal immigration, and work with lawmakers to stop the influx by reinstating President Trump's successful "Remain in Mexico" policy and ending the failed policy of catch-and-release.

The House considered two measures this week related to hate crimes. Unfortunately, I believe this effort was focused more on promoting division than making sure criminals are held responsible for their actions. All violent crimes are abhorrent, should be condemned, and the perpetrators prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law – but politicizing the issue to pit Americans against one another based on race is wrong. We are all Americans, and we should denounce all crimes – regardless of the skin color of the offender or the victim.

You may have also seen news regarding legislation to create a bipartisan commission on the January 6 Capitol riot. Unfortunately, by narrowly focusing on this one isolated event – while turning a blind eye to the months of widespread, politically-motivated rioting, looting, violence and mayhem across the country that preceded it – the bill missed the mark.

We've got a lot more to tell you about, and we hope you enjoy this week's version of the Telegram.

Sincerely,




Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress

Getting Wisconsin back to work
This week I joined several of my Wisconsin colleagues in asking Governor Evers to help employers by pulling back on payments that are discouraging many Americans from returning to work. More than 20 states have already announced plans to do so. Policies that discourage people from getting back to work are a lose-lose proposition. It simply doesn't make sense to pay people to stay home when so many employers are desperate to find help. You can read our letter to the governor here.

American NBA stars pocketing questionable Chinese endorsement cash?
We told you last week about reports of NBA figures raking in endorsements from Chinese sports apparel companies linked to the Chinese government – the same Chinese government committing what human rights groups and the U.S. State Department have described as genocide. This week I joined Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania in pushing the Biden administration to sanction these companies and clamp down on lucrative endorsement deals funded by modern-day slavery. You can read our letter here.

Committee Update
Committee on Natural Resources
This week I participated in a Natural Resources Committee Republican Member Forum on critical minerals. These minerals – key components in our technology and defense systems – are critical to our economy and our national security. Right now, China is the dominant player in the critical minerals market, particularly when it comes to extraction and refining. We have the capacity to extract and refine critical minerals right here in America, and with the best environmental standards. One of the panel's witnesses made a great point when it came to pursuing an "all of the above" approach for critical minerals in the same way we should with energy. One option discussed was the reclamation and recovery of tailings deposits in historic mines – essentially a form of recycling that will help increase our domestic critical minerals extraction. You can watch the questions I asked here. While we are on the topic of critical minerals, you may be interested to know that I am a cosponsor of two bills that help address this issue, the Accessing America's Critical Minerals Act, and the American Critical Mineral Independence Act. Both bills will help promote responsible development of critical minerals here in the U.S. and help reduce our dependence on China.

House Judiciary Committee
We've been giving you regular updates on some of the divisive ideas under discussion on the Judiciary Committee, from sweeping new gun control proposals and a push for lighter criminal sentences to demands that we "defund the police." This week was no different, with some of my colleagues on the other side calling once again for a so-called "assault weapon ban." For more than thirty years, the aim has been to strip Americans of their Constitutional right to bear arms. In 1988, the "Violence Policy Center" laid the framework, still used today, to dispense fear— "The weapons' menacing looks, coupled with the public's confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semiautomatic assault weapons—anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun—can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons." In 2019, 60% of firearm-related deaths were suicides. That same year, out of 10,258 gun-related homicides, only 3.5% were committed with rifles. In fact, for four consecutive years, firearms related deaths have declined, and self-defense shootings have increased. Instead of turning law-abiding gun owners into criminals or victims with unwise, unfair and unconstitutional new restrictions, I hope my colleagues will focus on the root causes of violence, and work together with Republicans to support our police, enforce our existing laws, and keep our communities safe by holding criminals accountable.

Recent Legislation
Child Tax Credit
Many of you have likely seen in the media, recently enacted legislation will include $1.8 trillion in tax credits for families and children over the course of ten years. Until 2021, the child tax credit was $2,000 per child under 17, but in 2021 Congress increased the credit to $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17 and $3,600 for children under age 6. Beginning on July 15th, the IRS will begin making monthly payments in the form of one-twelfth the annual credit i.e. a single parent making $60,000 annually will receive $250 per month. You can learn more here.

This week, I hosted ABATE of Wisconsin in DC for a meeting on motorcycle rights and safety, along with my Wisconsin colleague, Rep. Scott Fitzgerald.

District Update
Congratulations to Troop 97's newest Eagle Scouts!
This week, I had the honor of presenting Jack Meister, Jeffrey Melling, Lucas Meyer and Sylvester Richardson of Boy Scout Troop 97, Chippewa Valley with the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting, the Eagle Scout.

Congratulations to these outstanding young men on receiving the honor of Eagle Scout!

COVID-19/Vaccine Update
Before we begin our COVID update, I would like to draw your attention to an exciting development in antibody testing, which is used to measure your body's immune response after fighting off a virus. T-Detect is new PCR-based antibody test which recently obtained emergency authorization from the FDA. As you may know, many people who are exposed to COVID-19 often present as asymptomatic and never go through a formal testing process to reach a positive result. Prior to T-Detect hitting the market, antibody testing was fairly inaccurate with between 30-60 percent of tests detecting the presence of antibodies in recovered individuals. T-Detect shows a 97 percent accuracy within their clinical trials. This will greatly help to show individuals who are already carrying antibodies against COVID to find the most accurate number when we attempt to calculate our overall herd immunity levels.

On the local case front, Wisconsin case numbers reached record lows of 394 daily reported cases statewide. These low numbers mark the lowest case rates our state has experienced since May of 2020 nearly a year ago. Additionally, our hospitalization rates remain stable throughout the state with more than 96 percent of hospitals showing immediately available beds.

On the vaccine front, Wisconsin passed the milestone of 5 million shots distributed earlier this week. Currently about 50 percent of state residents have received at least one dose, and 42 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.

We would also like to draw attention to the constantly evolving mask mandates throughout the state. Most county and city mask mandates still in place will expire June 2—those include Dane and Milwaukee counties. Finally, if you are still looking to receive a vaccine please utilize the DHS website for the vaccination facility nearest you: COVID-19: Vaccine Registry | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Resources
The USDA continues to make resources and assistance available to agricultural producers and working families to ensure access, safety and stability for food markets and supplies.

Small businesses can also apply for assistance through the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan program. This program provides economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic.

If a friend forwarded you this newsletter, and you would like to receive it in the future, you can subscribe here for weekly updates and connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

As always, you are welcome to visit my website or to contact my offices in Washington, DC or Wisconsin, which remain open for service, if you have any questions or need assistance.