Issa: Mayorkas Must Face Impeachment Trial

November 13  “There is no disputing that Sec. Mayorkas has failed to faithfully carry out his duties and refused to uphold the oath he swore to uphold.

And it is no excuse that he is carrying out the policies of a president who betrayed our border patrol, made a mockery of our border laws, escorted millions of illegals to every corner of the country, and opened a gateway for unprecedented deadly fentanyl that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.

That’s why Sec. Mayorkas deserves to face an impeachment trial, and I am confident this Homeland Security Committee will make the case that he must be held accountable. I will be requesting my opportunity to testify before the committee and make my case why Sec. Mayorkas is the worst to ever hold his job and why impeachment would be a fitting punishment.”

Issa Introduces Legislation to Preserve Jamul Tribe Land

On November 17, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) introduced H.R. 6443, legislation to place 172 acres of land in East County, San Diego into tribal trust for the Jamul Indian Village.

Issa’s bill, The Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act, incorporates the acreage into the Jamul Indian Village Reservation – setting aside the land and preserving it for years to come.

“The Jamul Indian Village has sought for years to move tribal members onto reservation land so they can raise their families and preserve their native culture and history. This Fee-to-Trust bill would grant this historic tribe an opportunity to do just that. By placing Jamul’s land into trust, this bill safeguards the reservation, its sacred sites, and Kumeyaay traditions for generations to come.”

The 172 acres is currently owned by the Jamul Indian Village, which includes residential land for homes and council buildings, an ancestral cemetery, and the tribe’s only road for transportation.

The bill text can be found here.

Issa, Ernst Introduce Legislation to Bolster Integrated Military Warfighting

“When every second counts, better-integrated military units will take the fight to the enemy.”

On November 27, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) introduced H.R. 6444, legislation to implement an innovative and integrated military warfighting framework giving our military the most nimble, adaptable, and resilient options possible.

Rep. Issa’s bill, The Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) Implementation Act, will allow commanders to bring to bear any U.S. military asset, regardless of service branch. This flexibility and integration cuts through technological barriers known to stifle the ability of military leaders to coordinate weapons systems on the battlefield.

The Senate companion of The JADC2 Implementation Act was introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).

“The JADC2 Implementation Act enables the right people and programs at the Pentagon to deploy needed strategies in a transformative way,” said Congressman Issa. “These capabilities will be a force multiplier for military efforts abroad and achieve smooth and efficient integration of warfighting units on the battlefield. My thanks to Senator Ernst for her partnership on this bill and her commitment to enhance mission capabilities for our military.”

“No matter the service branch, commanders should have access to critical capabilities to best equip our warfighters and better coordinate our military’s efforts across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. Through the Joint All-Domain Command and Control Implementation Act, I’m working with Congressman Issa to further integrate our joint forces and give commanders better access to the tools they need to achieve their mission,” said Senator Ernst.

Specifically, the JADC2 Implementation Act:

• Clarifies and assigns responsibilities to appropriate offices within the Department of Defense;
• Provides Pentagon personnel with the authority and resources they need to prototype cutting-edge technology and put it straight into the hands of front-line operators.

The bill text can be found here.

Congressman Issa to Recommend Impeachment of Mayorkas: “But it is Joe Biden Who We Must Hold Accountable.”

On November 30, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) released the following statement:

“The collapse of America’s southern border is the national security crisis of our time. And it is the fault of Joe Biden – and Joe Biden alone.

“From the literal first day of his presidency, Biden reversed policies that were working, threw open our nation’s borders, compelled our frontline border patrol officers to stand down, and let in an unprecedented and unrelenting flow of illegal immigrants, trafficked women and children, and the deadly fentanyl that now claims the lives of 100,000 Americans every year. It is a record of purposeful policy failure unrivaled in our nation’s history.

“At the forefront of the Biden border crisis has stood Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As it relates to the border and illegal immigration, every mistake that has been made and every lie that has been told by this Administration has been either directly carried out or unapologetically enabled by Mayorkas himself. He should never have been appointed to his position, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, or served this long and this ineffectively.

“Mayorkas is the target of a robust impeachment investigation by the House, and it has yielded ample and damning facts that the Secretary has not even attempted to correct or contradict – because he can’t. I was very much looking forward to timely, comprehensive, and public impeachment hearings that are more than warranted. Unfortunately, that is not set to happen soon enough.

“For these reasons and others, I will vote to recommend Mayorkas be impeached.

“But make no mistake: This doesn’t end with a single vote or a single subordinate. It is Joe Biden himself who we must now hold accountable. It is now time to do just that.”

Issa Condemns Deadly Terror Attack in the Philippines

On December 4, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) issued the following statement in response to the terrorist attack during a church service in Marawi City, Philippines on Sunday:

“Yesterday’s deadly attack during a Catholic mass being held at the Mindanao State University represents a tragic reminder of the continued danger the free world faces from terror groups that will strike innocent people in any corner of the world at any time.

“Today we stand with the people of the Philippines as they mourn the victims of terror and pledge to them our continued support of the timeless values we share and the love of freedom that binds us together. The Philippines has no more loyal friend than the United States and this is a time for us to strengthen our vital alliance.”

Issa’s Jax Act Gains Unanimous Vote in House Veterans Committee

“This bill is about telling the truth and recognizing courage under fire”

On December 5, The Jax Act, sponsored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), passed unanimously through the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

The bill is named for Army combat veteran Jaclyn Scott – call sign “Jax” – one of the 310 Cultural Support Team members (CSTs) who were deployed alongside Special Operations Forces soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Jax Act will simply and accurately amend the military records of these female veterans and allow them the opportunity to have their medical claims reassessed at the VA. Currently, these women are being denied this designation, leading to the denial of rank, benefits, and critical health care services.

“These 310 women served in combat and in the same capacity as their male counterparts. But to this day, they’ve not received proper combat distinction. It’s time for the truth to be told,” said Rep. Issa. “The Jax Act is not a new entitlement. It is the overdue correction of an error that has denied hundreds of female combat veterans the recognition they are owed for their brave service to our country. We have an opportunity to make this right. I thank Chairman Bost and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and I look forward to passage by the full House of Representatives.”

ICYMI
Following Issa Meeting, Voice of America Alters Policy, Will Designate Hamas ”Terrorists”

On December 5, Following a personal meeting with Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), the Voice of America (VOA), the largest U.S.-funded international news network, has officially rescinded an internal policy that prohibited its journalists from referring to members of Hamas as terrorists. The news was first reported by the National Review.

Specifically, Rep. Issa asserted that the previous policy compromised VOA’s ability to perform its core function – to “present a comprehensible, reliable and unbiased description of events” – in a letter written to VOA Acting Director John Lippman on November 3, 2023.

Following the letter, Rep. Issa met with VOA leadership last week.

“The VOA’s directive not to label Hamas correctly as ‘terrorists’ was always a mistake. It was a refusal to call evil by its name and a misunderstanding of the central charter that Congress wrote when the VOA was formed,” said Rep. Issa. “Following my meeting last week with VOA leadership, the official reversal of this error is obviously welcome. But it does not set aside what we know are challenges at the VOA or the need for a productive reform conversation. Continued congressional oversight is necessary and moving forward at this time.”

Issa Authors Most Comprehensive Legislation in History to Transform Passport System, Prevent Backlog

Co-sponsored by Rep. Maria Salazar of Florida

On December 6, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) introduced H.R. 6610, the Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention Act, the most comprehensive legislation in history to modernize the passport issuance process. Congresswoman Maria Salazar (FL-27) is the bill’s co-sponsor.

H.R. 6610 deploys numerous tools to address the problems that create passport backlogs while bolstering the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs’ processing capabilities to streamline the application and processing experience for American travelers. The bill was highlighted in an exclusive report by Fox News.

“The collapse of the passport system represents a signature failure that upended and inconvenienced tens of millions of Americans who have the right to expect far more of their government,” said Rep. Issa. This transformative approach will not only address many of the problems that led to the backlog but also deliver modernizations that are overdue and will set the system right for decades to come.”

“Passport processing backlogs have been a nightmare for my constituents. It has been almost four years since the start of the pandemic,” said Rep. Salazar. “There is no excuse for forcing the American people to wait more than three months for a passport. Our legislation cleans up this mess at the State Department and puts this critical government service back on track.”

The Passport Issuance and Backlog Elimination Act will:

• Set a service standard of processing passport applications in 30 days after receipt of documents and creating a user-friendly experience
• Provide surge hiring authorities to solve current and future backlogs
• Mandate the expansion of the Online Passport Renewal system to accommodate first-time adult passport applications
• Mandate a text and email notification system for application status and passport applications
• Accelerate the passport renewal process by increasing use of software in passport adjudication
• Require a top-to-bottom review of the passport issuance system by the Government Accountability Office
• Accelerate the adoption of commercially available technology solutions by increasing the Bureau’s collaboration with the private sector
• Increase congressional oversight over State Department modernization efforts

The bill text can be found here.

Issa Joined by Local Law Enforcement, Legislative Leaders to Introduce National Legislation to Combat Fentanyl Crisis

On December 9, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), founding Chairman of the Congressional Fentanyl Caucus, was joined by Riverside County law enforcement officials, legislative leaders, and local families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning to announce the introduction of H.R. 6671 – Alexandra’s Law – legislation to significantly increase penalties for drug dealers of lethal fentanyl.

“The cascading flow of fentanyl through the porous southern border now kills more than 100,000 Americans every year and in every corner of our country,” said Rep. Issa. “Since current laws in California and elsewhere prevent us from cracking down on traffickers, we believe Alexandra’s Law is the federal solution we need to hold fentanyl dealers accountable and give law enforcement professionals the tools they need to turn the tide in a fight we must win.”

Alexandra’s Law will:

1. Require convicted fentanyl dealers to sign a sworn statement acknowledging that fentanyl is fatal and that if they deal again and it results in a death, they could face murder charges.
2. Make this statement admissible as evidence in both state and federal court.

Alexandra’s Law is cosponsored by Representatives Ken Calvert (CA-41), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), and Jay Obernolte (CA-23).

Speakers at the press conference included:

• Congressman Darrell Issa
• Matt Capelouto, Alexandra’s Father, Founder of DrugInducedHomicide
• Zak Schwank, Mayor, Temecula
• Mike Hestrin, District Attorney, Riverside County
• Don Sharp, Undersheriff, Riverside County
• Kelly Seyarto State Senator, District 32
• Brian Jones State Senator, District 40
• Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, State Senator, District 23

Alexandra’s Law is named for Alexandra Capelouto of Temecula, who died in 2019 at the age of 20 from fentanyl poisoning. Read Alexandra’s story here.

The bill text can be found here.

Issa Bill to Modernize Passport Process Earns Unanimous Support in Foreign Affairs Committee, Headed to House Floor for Final Passage

On December 13, the Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention Act (H.R.6610) authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), passed unanimously through the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

H.R. 6610 is the most comprehensive legislation in history to modernize the passport issuance process. The bill deploys numerous tools to address the problems that create passport backlogs while bolstering the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs’ processing capabilities to streamline the application and processing experience for American travelers. The bill was recently highlighted in an exclusive report by Fox News.

“The collapse of the passport system represents a signature failure that upended and inconvenienced tens of millions of Americans who have the right to expect far more of their government,” said Rep. Issa. “This transformative approach will not only address many of the problems that led to the backlog but also deliver modernizations that are overdue and will set the system right for decades to come.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Maria Salazar (FL-27) and also received the support of Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY-05), the committee’s top Democrat.

The Passport Issuance and Backlog Elimination Act will:

• Set a service standard of processing passport applications in 30 days after receipt of documents and creating a user-friendly experience
• Provide surge hiring authorities to solve current and future backlogs
• Mandate the expansion of the Online Passport Renewal system to accommodate first-time adult passport applications
• Mandate a text and email notification system for application status and passport applications
• Accelerate the passport renewal process by increasing use of software in passport adjudication
• Require a top-to-bottom review of the passport issuance system by the Government Accountability Office
• Accelerate the adoption of commercially available technology solutions by increasing the Bureau’s collaboration with the private sector
• Increase congressional oversight over State Department modernization efforts

The bill text can be found here.

Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, 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.