Issa: Need More Than Apologies After Big Tech Censorship

“Time to put an end to Big Tech’s era of excuses”

On November 16, Congressman Darrell Issa issued the following statement after Google/YouTube admitted the company made a mistake after removing from YouTube a video of his July speech from the EDGE 2021 conference:

“The latest excuse for inappropriate censorship from Big Tech is not enough. I’m also not interested in a personal apology from the companies, which instead belongs to every American who has had their voice silenced but couldn’t fight back. After years of accelerating hostility to free speech and nonstop efforts to silence conservative viewpoints online, it is way too late for anything but a pledge of transparency from Big Tech and a commitment of reform from Congress.”

“If the current Democrat majority continues to block fair and justified legal changes that will empower speech and stop censorship, I will lead this and further reforms when that opportunity is at hand.”

Issa Legislation to Support Transparency Measures for Federal Judges Passes Full Judiciary Committee

On November 17, following the passage of H.R. 5720, the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, Congressman Darrell Issa, Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet issued the following statement:

“The administration of law and order rests upon the unbiased and unwavering work of judges – and that’s why we must maintain an impartial and evenhanded judiciary,” said Rep. Issa. “With this legislation, we align accountability of the judicial branch with that of elected officials. It is a standard that is overdue.”

H.R. 5720 requires online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges. The bill, which Congressman Issa introduced with Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), is cosponsored by Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21), and Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-4). It would also require that federal judges submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions. Companion legislation was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (TX) and Senator Chris Coons (DE).

Issa Hosted Dynamic Roundtable with Local Parents, Defends Their Right to Guide Their Children’s Lives

On November 17, Congressman Darrell Issa hosted parents and community leaders in a wide-ranging discussion to address serious and widespread concerns facing children and families throughout public health, public safety, and public education.

“Every day, the voices of parents are being silenced, and they are either ignored or prevented from stating their legitimate concerns about their own children. That ends now,” said Congressman Issa.

Rep. Issa is an outspoken advocate for parents rights, and took action last month by introducing new legislation entitled “Stand With Parents,” which reaffirms their vital rights to make the most important decisions that impact the lives of their children.

“Families are the backbone of our communities. That’s why I was proud to host this conversation to let parents know their involvement is not only welcome, but necessary. Together we can empower parents and ensure their place at the center of their children’s health, education and safety.”

During the roundtable, Congressman Issa listened to California parents from throughout the region express their views concerning COVID school responses, sexual predators placed in family neighborhoods and educational content.

Issa: American People Know Partisan Democrat Bill Won’t Build Anything Better, Just Destroy it Faster

On November 19, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) issued the following statement regarding the House passage of H.R. 5376.

“The American people know this won’t build anything better. It will just destroy it faster.

“While Americans in every corner of the country are suffering from skyrocketing inflation and diminishing economic opportunity, House Democrats have other priorities.

“Democrats aren’t interested in fixing our current energy crisis; they’re giving away billions to Green New Deal activists.

“Democrats aren’t interested in stopping the worst border crisis in history; they’re starving our Border Patrol and promoting amnesty – even for criminals.

“Democrats aren’t interested in demanding that our stranded citizens in Afghanistan be a top priority; they’re covering for Biden’s abandonment and devoting no new resources to bringing them home.

“Democrats aren’t interested in easing the high tax burden on tens of millions of Americans; they’re unleashing the IRS as never before.

“Democrats aren’t interested in consensus, cooperation or transparency. Instead, they drafted a bill behind closed doors, negotiated in bad faith, broke their own procedural rules, and passed it with a party-line vote.”

Issa Co-Led Gynecological Cancer Bill Passes House;
“Johanna’s Law” to Renew Critical Women’s Health Effort

On November 30, The House of Representatives passed legislation co-led by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) to reauthorize Johanna’s Law, which supports federal campaigns to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers among patients and health care providers. In committee and on the floor of the House, the legislation was approved with unanimous bipartisan support.

“The lives we save are precious and priceless,” Rep. Issa said. “Education and awareness can make the critical difference for women and clinicians and ensure the timely testing, diagnosis, and treatment of gynecologic cancers. Johanna’s Law has proven year after year to help women and their doctors face and overcome a disease that when diagnosed early is truly treatable.”

The law is named for Johanna Silver Gordon, who lost her life to ovarian cancer in 2000 after her symptoms were misdiagnosed. Issa authored this bipartisan law in 2007 and has worked ever since with bipartisan coalitions to support its reauthorization and funding. The legislation passed today provides $25 million for FY 2022-2026 to reauthorize Johanna’s Law and support related efforts to promote awareness of HPV cancer and the HPV vaccine.

It is estimated that more than 113,000 new cases of these cancers are diagnosed each year. When diagnosed at a later stage, ovarian cancer has a less than 50 percent survival rate. This increases to a 90 percent survival rate if detected early.

Issa Announces Another American and Family Returning Home from Afghanistan

“After months fighting for his release Prince Wafa is finally coming home.”

On December 1, Congressman Darrell Issa announced that Prince Wafa, an American citizen abandoned in Afghanistan, is finally on his way home to San Diego.

“This one was personal. My team and I worked for months to ensure the safe return of Prince Wafa and his wife, and we were amazed by his courage and commitment,” said Rep. Issa. “His betrayal by President Biden and the almost limitless delays by this Administration were needless and shameful. He wasn’t the first American left behind and we are determined that he won’t be the last to come home.”

Prince Wafa is a local entrepreneur and a small business owner of convenience stores in the San Diego area. After President Biden began his catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Wafa risked his life to travel to Kabul where his wife had been waiting for her spousal visa paperwork to process. Despite President Biden’s promise, the Administration left – stranding Prince and his wife in the Taliban-controlled country and one of the most dangerous places on earth.

Prince Wafa then contacted Rep. Issa through the Afghanistan Evacuation Assistance portal on the congressman’s website. Congressman Issa and his team quickly went to work demanding action from the State Department – ultimately bringing him and his wife home to California.

“Prince Wafa’s story will not go unnoticed,” said Rep. Issa. “No American should have to go through what he endured, and this should also provide a lasting lesson: Today, we celebrate the return of a brave American. But there is much more work to do, and many more Americans to bring home.”

Issa Statement on Last-Minute and Hastily Assembled Pelosi-led Government Spending Bill

“Did nothing to hold the Biden Administration accountable

On December 3, Congressman Issa posted this statement:

“The Pelosi-led Congress has dedicated 2021 to the most partisan agenda in memory, and this last-minute, hastily assembled government funding band-aid did little to change that trajectory. This is a continuation of the year’s squandered opportunities to address the many crises brought on by the Biden Administration.

“Specifically, this resolution added billions in funding for Afghan refugee resettlement in this country and around the world – but did nothing to hold this Administration accountable for its deadly withdrawal, continuing failure to evacuate Americans still trapped, and ongoing absence of suitable vetting for unverified refugees. Blank check funding without course correction is at once a terrible insult to the hundreds of American citizens abandoned and an enduring national security problem that this White House wants to turn the page and forget about.

“In addition, this resolution declined to provide my colleagues on both side of the aisle an opportunity to vote to defund this Administration’s inappropriate and unconstitutional vaccine mandates. This would have provided an important opportunity for the Congress to lend its voice to one of the most important and unresolved questions in the country and for which millions of our fellow Americans need immediate resolution.”

Congressman Issa Meets with the Afghan Evacuation Coalition

On December 6, Congressman Issa released this statement following his meeting with the Afghan Evacuation Coalition, a union of veterans, professionals and concerned citizens actively working to bring greater leadership and prioritization of Afghan evacuation and resettlement efforts:

“This Administration’s devastatingly mishandled Afghanistan withdrawal resulted in the loss of 13 servicemembers and the continued failure to bring our abandoned citizens home and our Afghan partners to safety. Admirably, military veterans, active-duty soldiers and involved citizens have courageously stepped up to fill this void of leadership, and this coalition has made important strides. I look forward to continuing to work together with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and these active and involved citizens to encourage this White House not to turn the page on its mistakes in Afghanistan and commit to an open and honest collaboration going forward.”

Two Issa-Led Judiciary Committee Bills Overwhelmingly Pass the House of Representatives

On December 8, two bills led by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) — Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property & the Internet – H.R. 5720 and H.R. 5695, passed the House of Representatives.

H.R. 5720, the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act¸ will require online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges. Rep. Issa introduced the bill with Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), and is cosponsored by Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21), and Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-4). It would also require that federal judges submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions. Companion legislation was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (TX) and Senator Chris Coons (DE).

“No part of our foundation of law and order can succeed without the considered, continuous and constant work of judges – and that’s why an impartial and evenhanded judiciary is imperative,” said Rep. Issa. “Under the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, we will equalize the accountability of our third branch of government to the same standard of elected officials – and to the benefit of our system of justice.”

H.R. 5695 makes critical changes and needed technical adjustments to the U.S. Code. These adjustments organize previously passed legislation and make the law more comprehensive and legible.

“U.S. Code and legislation must be accessible and coherent for the American people,” said Rep. Issa. “This legislation promotes a more transparent and lucid government.”

Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 50th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and northeastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, Temecula, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.