This week, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report. The NDAA is the annual bill that authorizes defense spending and sets priorities for America’s military. This legislation authorizes $740.5 billion in defense funding, including a pay raise for our troops and ensuring the Department of Defense maintains a 30-day supply of PPE and access to diagnostic equipment and testing.
I was proud to help secure authorization for vital funding for Georgia’s 12th District, including:
While the NDAA has historically been a bipartisan measure, over the past few years Democrats have tried to insert partisan poison pills completely unrelated to military readiness. However, after making its way through the legislative process in both the House and Senate, I’m glad to see that many of these provisions -- specifically those aimed at restricting the Second Amendment and curtailing the President’s authority to deploy the National Guard -- were ultimately rejected in the final bill.
Fighting For Small Businesses
This week I continued to fight for vital COVID-19 relief for Georgia’s families and small businesses. Unfortunately, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats continue to block targeted legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program – which has $138 billion in unused funds that could provide immediate assistance to our small businesses.
Ensuring the Integrity & Transparency of the 2020 Election
As I’ve said before, the right to vote is sacred and must be protected by ensuring all legal votes are counted and any cast improperly are investigated. That’s why I want to share a brief timeline of the actions I’ve taken to date to ensure the integrity of the 2020 election:
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On November 6th, I asked AG Barr to use all U.S. Department of Justice resources to ensure that the election was conducted in a manner that is fully consistent with state and federal law.
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On November 11th, I asked AG Barr to authorize the start of inquiries by the DOJ in possible implications with the 2020 presidential election.
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On November 13th, I asked the DOJ to expedite an investigation into claims of abnormalities in software and hardware used.
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On November 18th, I joined Grant Stinchfield on Newsmax calling for more transparency in the Georgia election.
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On December 1st , I called on AG Barr and the DOJ to take action now, specifically in Georgia where officials will be preparing for the Senate runoff election, to ensure that election materials, including voting machines, be preserved for analysis.
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On December 9th, I asked President Trump to direct AG Barr to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate irregularities in the 2020 election.
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On December 10th, I joined over 100 of my colleagues in filing an amicus brief to express our concern with the 2020 election. We believe the suit filed by Texas and supported by 17 other states merits full and careful consideration by the Supreme Court.
I understand the concerns of Georgians, and know that I will continue to fight for our democratic process and ensure the voice of the American people is heard!
Update on Progress at Plant Vogtle Unit 3
This week we received exciting news for Plant Vogtle: Unit 3 is now 96% complete and received its first nuclear fuel shipment! Once operating, Units 3 and 4 will be able to provide 500,000+ homes and businesses with carbon-free energy for the next 60 to 80 years.
USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Deadline
Attention GA-12 Farmers: TODAY is the last day to apply for assistance through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through your local FSA office.
Dairy farmers: The enrollment period for the 2021 DMC program year also closes tomorrow, so make sure to sign up for that program today!
Israel-Morocco Normalization Agreement
This week, Morocco and Israel announced a new agreement, making Morocco the fourth Arab country to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. These agreements are historic and made possible thanks to the Trump Administration’s leadership and commitment to our cherished ally Israel.
Congratulations to Tom McCall, New Georgia Farm Bureau President
We thank retiring President Gerald Long for his service, and know that Georgia Farm Bureau will remain in good hands under Tom McCall’s leadership.
Tom’s decades of experience as both a farmer and chairman of the Georgia House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee will serve him well as he represents Georgia farmers, and as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I look forward to working closely with him.
We continue to see great progress as we work toward a COVID-19 vaccine under Operation Warp Speed. We are on track to have a safe and effective vaccine in record speed, and this is possible thanks to President Trump rolling back bureaucratic red tape and allowing steps to occur simultaneously. As we continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic, we must also continue to take deregulatory actions to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and economic recovery.
That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor the Terminating Heavy Regulations to Invigorate a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Act. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) provides Congress with the authority to undo bureaucratic overreach, and this legislation would expand the scope of the Congressional Review Act to include regulatory guidance to ensure no executive branch can impose federal overregulation in attempt to push a political agenda.
As always, my office is here to help. You can email me ⇒ HERE, contact any of our offices or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Sincerely,
Rick Allen
Member of Congress |
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