House Democrats Attack States' Rights

I’ve witnessed my Democrat colleagues attempt a lot of power grabs since being in the Majority, but H.R. 1 – the" For the Politicians Act" – is by far the most extreme. This bill will federalize elections, despite the Constitution explicitly granting states the authority to establish election law and administer elections.

Not only does the bill include troubling provisions like legalizing ballot harvesting, permanently expanding mail-in voting with no safeguards and allowing convicted felons to vote, it also forces taxpayers to subsidize political campaigns -- even if they do not support a certain candidate. This bill isn’t going to help the American People, it’ll only benefit politicians in Washington.

I offered an amendment to H.R. 1 that would strengthen voter identification laws, requiring that a State-issued driver’s license number, state identification number or copy of photo identification be submitted when requesting an absentee ballot for federal elections. Democrats would not even allow the amendment to be debated on the House floor.

While I believe changes are needed to restore election integrity, H.R. 1 is not the answer and will only exacerbate some of the recent issues experienced in the 2020 election. Just as the Georgia State House took steps to address election reform this week, H.R. 1 would supersede state laws like Georgia’s. We don’t want Georgia’s elections to look like California’s!

Opposing Efforts to Defund the Police

This week House Democrats once again ditched regular order and brought a partisan messaging bill to the House floor to defund the police without a single committee hearing or opportunity to amend the legislation. The bill would impose millions of dollars of new costs on police departments, essentially forcing many to shut their doors and would ultimately jeopardize your safety. Now more than ever we must support our brave men and women who protect us daily, not dismantle their departments!

That is why I am proud to cosponsor the JUSTICE Act, a Republican proposal that will bring targeted reforms to police departments to increase transparency and accountability, while also ensuring they have the necessary resources to protect our communities.

I urge my Democratic colleagues to work together on this issue instead of once again continuing down the path of only favoring socialist and extreme policies.

Business Roundtable Discussing the PRO Act

I’m proud to serve as Republican Leader on the House Education and Labor Committee’s Health, Employment, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee. Next week, the House will be considering H.R. 842, the so-called Protecting the Right to Organize Act, legislation that contains Big Labor’s wish-list, including forcing workers to pay millions of dollars from their hard-earned paychecks to labor unions and ultimately increasing the power and wealth of union bosses.

This week I held a roundtable with members of the HELP Subcommittee and national business leaders to hear how this legislation will hurt employers, American workers and our economy.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

It was great talking with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, including members from Georgia’s 12th District, about a range of issues including pediatric dentistry training and health care coverage.

Boys and Girls Club of America

The Boys and Girls Club of America does important work serving of our nation’s youth. This week I met with members virtually, including representatives from the CSRA and Vidalia, to discuss how we can work together to ensure our students are equipped with the skills needed to succeed.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Advocacy Group

Thanks to the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Advocacy Group for discussing this important topic that impacts an estimated 10-15% of women in the U.S. PCOS is the most common hormone disorder and cause of infertility in women, which can lead to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, severe maternal/fetal health complications and other life-threatening conditions.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Last weekend, both the FDA and CDC approved Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, marking another step forward in the fight to defeat the virus! Find a vaccination site near you.

I am incredibly grateful for the dedicated men and women in law enforcement who continue to face growing threats, both in and out of the uniform. I will do all that I can to ensure both our active and retired law enforcement officers who have served with honor are not hindered in their ability to protect themselves or our communities.

That is why I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 1210, the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) Reform Act. This legislation extends concealed carry privileges for qualified law enforcement officers to carry firearms on state, local, and private property otherwise open to the public; in national parks; of magazines not prohibited by federal law; and in Federal security level I or II public access facilities. This legislation also reforms qualification standards to alleviate undue burdens which currently exist.

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