Issa Calls on Capitol Police to Drop All Charges Against Gold Star Parent

“Steve Nikoui did nothing wrong”

On March 19, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) sent a letter to U.S. Capitol Police, requesting that all charges be dropped against Gold Star father Steve Nikoui. Mr. Nikoui was arrested by Capitol Police after speaking out about his fallen son, LCpl Kareem M. Nikoui, during President Biden’s State of the Union Speech on March 7.

Nikoui’s outburst was in response to the lack of answers and accountability from the Biden Administration on the events and failures that led to the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan which claimed the lives of 13 American servicemembers. To this day, President Biden has not publicly stated the names of these fallen heroes.

An excerpt from the letter:

“Mr. Nikoui’s arrest for emotionally expressing his grief and seeking acknowledgment for his son’s sacrifice during the State of the Union – where he called out, “Abbey Gate! Kareem Nikoui! Second Battalion, First Marines!” – highlighted a profound disconnect between the sacrifices made by our service members and the recognition they deserve. Though he interrupted the event, what Mr. Nikoui voiced out loud was a cry for the acknowledgment of the loss endured by the families of the 13 who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”

The letter was featured in an exclusive piece from Townhall.

The full letter can be found here.

Issa, Costa, Salazar, and Williams Applaud House Passage of Legislation to Modernize the Passport System

On March 20, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6610, the Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention Act by voice vote. This bipartisan legislation is authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) and co-led by Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05).

H.R. 6610 is a comprehensive modernization of the passport issuance process from document submission through the processing of finished documents. The bill deploys numerous tools to address problems exposed by the post-COVID backlog, ensures that the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs’ processing capabilities avoid such backlogs in the future, and streamline the application and processing experience for American travelers.

“The Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention Act is the solution Americans deserve in the wake of a two-year-long passport backlog that impacted 50 million of our fellow citizens and still takes more than a month to process an application. With the House’s approval, we are now one step closer to transforming our flawed process, preventing future backlogs, and setting the system right for decades to come,” said Rep. Issa.

“American taxpayers shouldn’t have to face long delays to get their passport. It has impacted many of my constituents who have medical, work, and family obligations. This legislation takes a multi-approach towards tackling the backlog and modernizing our passport system.” said Rep Costa.

“We are now four years after the start of the pandemic and the State Department is still behind on processing passports for my constituents. Three months for a passport is way too long. The House of Representatives is addressing an important issue that all Americans are still being forced to deal with. Let’s clean the mess up at the State Department and bring this critical service back to order,” said Rep. Salazar.

Specifically, H.R. 6610:

• Enacts the first set of performance standards for the passport system.
• Requires the Bureau of Consular Affairs to set up a tool to allow congressional caseworkers to track the status of a passport through the passport process.
• Requires the Bureau to implement a system for text/email notifications to applicants for each stage of the issuance process and reminder notifications for renewal.
• Requires the Bureau to develop an app for submitting passport applications, receiving notifications, and any other communications with the State Department such as evacuation requests overseas.
• Requires the Bureau to expand the Online Passport Renewal (OPR) system to accept new passport applications, including online document submission.
• Implements rules-based software products to process routine renewal applications while maintaining the integrity of the U.S. passport.
• Requires the Bureau of Consular Affairs to set up a working group to liaise with private sector technology providers for the purpose of identifying commercial products that can further improve the passport system and encourages the Buruea to pilot at least three such technology solutions.
• Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive review of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ information technology infrastructure.

The bill has received the endorsement of the U.S. Travel Association. Read the endorsement letter here.

The bill text can be found here.

Issa, Gottheimer to State Department: Krahenbuhl Unfit to Lead International Red Cross

On March 26, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) led a bipartisan effort calling for the State Department and USAID to oppose the nomination of Pierre Krahenbuhl as Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Issa and Gottheimer were joined by 13 House colleagues in penning a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power requesting they use their positions to urge the ICRC to reverse this appointment, citing Mr. Krahenbuhl’s disastrous tenure as Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

An excerpt from the letter:

“Mr. Krahenbuhl’s tenure at UNRWA disqualifies him for this role, especially at a time when ICRC’s impartiality is under question for its posture toward the Israel-Hamas war. Mr. Krahenbuhl served as Commissioner General of UNRWA from March 2014 until his resignation in November 2019. UNRWA asserts that ‘neutrality is essential’ in executing its mandate to ‘assist and protect Palestine refugees.’ Under Mr. Krahenbuhl’s leadership, however, UNRWA employees displayed a clear bias against the State of Israel as he tolerated a climate of antisemitism and incitement.

“Mr. Krahenbuhl’s troubled tenure, however, extends far beyond antisemitism. In November 2019, he resigned as Commissioner General of UNRWA amidst allegations of ’sexual misconduct, nepotism, retaliation, discrimination, and other abuses of authority for personal gain’ according to an internal UNRWA report. Although the UN ultimately cleared Mr. Krahenbuhl of fraud or misappropriation of funds, it did find evidence of ’serious managerial issues,’ which prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to place Mr. Krahenbuhl on administrative leave.

Toby Dershowitz, Managing Director of FDD Action, offered this statement on Mr. Krahenbuhl’s appointment:

“The ICRC needs leaders with stellar records. Regrettably, Krahenbuhl’s tenure at UNRWA was filled with controversy, alleged corruption, antisemitism, and reported mismanagement of funds as well. On his watch, Hamas built terror tunnels underneath UNRWA facilities, and UNRWA used Hamas’s playbook in its curriculum. Palestinians did not flourish in ways they deserve to.

“Taxpayers have seen up close what misuse of funds can lead to. Congress is right to call out Mr. Krahenbuhl’s record and to urge that he not be permitted to take the helm of the ICRC, an important organization.”

The full letter can be found here.

Congressman Issa Announces 2024 Congressional Art Competition

On April 2, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) announced today that his office is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition, a contest for high school students in the 48th Congressional District to showcase the best of their artistic creations, which will also be displayed in the Capitol Building.

“Every year, I’m so impressed by the sheer scope of imagination and range of expression that these young artists in our community share with the world. This is their opportunity to present their best and allow us to ensure it is represented in the People’s House,” said Issa.

The winning selection will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside artwork from students from across the nation. The second-place winning piece will be displayed in the Office of Congressman Issa for the same time period.

Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches, up to 4 inches in depth, and cannot weigh more than 15 pounds. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must be framed by the entrant. Categories of artwork include:

• Paintings – including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
• Drawings – including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (The contest recommends that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed)
• Collages – must be two-dimensional
• Prints – including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
• Mixed Media – use of more than two mediums (pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.)
• Computer-generated art
• Photography

The first-place winner from the 48^th District will also receive an invitation to attend a reception with other winners in Washington, D.C. during the summer months.

To participate, please submit a high-resolution photo of your artwork (jpeg or png format) and the 2024 Student Release Form to Steven Farmer at Steven.Farmer@mail.house.gov by Noon, Friday, April 26, 2024

For additional details on the competition, please visit https://issa.house.gov/services/art-competition. With questions, please contact staff member Steven Farmer at Steven.Farmer@mail.house.gov or 760-304-7575.

Issa Bill to Preserve Jamul Tribal Land Passes House

The Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act (H.R.6443) authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), passed the House of Representatives On April 9.

H.R.6443 incorporates 172 acres of land in San Diego’s East County region into the Jamul Indian Village Reservation, placing the land into tribal trust and preserving it for generations to come. This area also includes a 100-year-old church and cemetery where their tribal lineage has rested for generations. The acreage is currently owned by the Jamul Indian Village and includes residential land for homes and council buildings, an ancestral cemetery, and the tribe’s only road for transportation.

“The Jamul Indian Village has endeavored for years to facilitate the best ways for tribal members to move onto reservation land in order to raise their families, preserve their native culture, and honor tribal customs and practices,” said Rep. Issa. “This fee-to-trust bill grants this historic tribe an opportunity to do just that. By placing Jamul’s land into trust, our legislation safeguards the reservation, its sacred sites, and Kumeyaay traditions so they will endure far into the future.”

“The Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will positively impact the local Jamul Indian village for generations. Through continuous partnerships with tribes this Congress, we have been able to consistently help promote economic development for tribes across America, and that work continues today with the passage of H.R. 6443. I want to commend Representative Issa for his efforts to pass this bill through the House and his passionate leadership in promoting solutions for issues so close to his local communities,” said House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-4).

Rep. Issa, Dr. Roberts Applaud Deepening U.S.-Japan Alliance

On April 11, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered an address to a joint meeting of Congress. Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), a senior Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, hosted Dr. Kevin Roberts, President of The Heritage Foundation, as his guest. Following the speech, Rep. Issa and Dr. Roberts made the following statements:

“Prime Minister Kishida’s speech marks the latest historic step on the road of an ever-closer partnership between the United States and Japan. The great alliance between our two countries remains the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. At a time when the Chinese Communist Party is intensifying its efforts to undermine our shared values and seize hegemony in the region, our partnership is more critical now than ever. I was pleased that Dr. Roberts was able to join me for the occasion as Heritage has a crucial role in ensuring that Washington develops the policy required to respond to this challenge,” Issa said. “I thank Dr. Roberts for his continued friendship and his exceptional leadership in the arena of ideas, the formation of policies that work, and the development of conservative solutions to the challenges of our nation and our world.”

“Over the last eight decades, Japan has transformed from one of America’s deadliest enemies to one of our greatest allies. As we confront our shared threat from the People’s Republic of China, Japan is actively bolstering its defenses—a move Heritage commends. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s address to Congress marks a pivotal moment in history, reaffirming the enduring friendship between our nations and underscoring Japan’s critical contribution to advancing our shared values of freedom, prosperity, and security,” Roberts said.
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.