The House Armed Services Committee began its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 (NDAA). But before things got started at the subcommittee level, the committee's chairman, Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), made an encouraging statement on the Laura Ingraham radio program.
A few weeks ago, we learned that House Leaders were devising a secret plan to insert Rep. Jeff Denham's ENLIST Act (an amnesty for certain illegal aliens who join the military) into the bill. Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) denied the charge, as did House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) earlier this week, but it was McKeon who did his best to assure the anti-amnesty crowd that there wouldn't be one in the Defense Authorization bill:
I'm in favor of a discussion of that policy, but not on putting it on our defense bill.
I don't think that's where it belongs.
-- Rep. Buck McKeon
Coincidently, McKeon's statement came the morning after NumbersUSA activists stuffed the fax machines of Armed Services committee members with more than 25,000 faxes!
As for Cantor's denial, Senate Gang of Eight leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) delivered a passionate speech on the Senate floor on Thursday afternoon in which he made it quite clear that not only was Cantor working on a plan to grant amnesty to young illegal aliens, but he was likely involved in the ongoing campaign to insert Denham's bill into the Defense Authorization bill.
Despite some good signs from the week, however, we're still on high alert as the Armed Services Committee continues its consideration of the NDAA. The full committee will markup the bill on Wednesday before heading to the House floor. Both instances are opportunities for House Members to propose adding the ENLIST Act or similar legislation to the NDAA, so please continue to be on the lookout for any action alerts.
PRIMARY SEASON HEATS UP
With the onset of May also comes a long list of key primaries for this year's mid-term elections. On Tuesday, three states go to the polls, including Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina.
For those of you who may have missed Roy's alert last night, North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District provides one of two significant races on Tuesday.
Two-term incumbent Renee Ellmers is being challenged by Frank Roche in the GOP primary. Ellmers is an outspoken proponent of the House GOP immigration principles that would grant amnesty and work permits to nearly all illegal aliens and provide massive increases to legal immigration. Roche, on the other hand, has completed the NumbersUSA immigration-reduction candidate survey and is rated as a "True Reformer", meaning his position is closely aligned with ours.
In the Buckeye state, the 14th Congressional District pits freshman Rep. David Joyce against state Rep. Matt Lynch. It's been reported that Joyce is close to Speaker Boehner, who would love nothing more than to pass immigration reform, while Lynch has also completed our survey and is rated as a "True Reformer". As a state legislator, Lynch often took the lead, introducing legislation to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining a driver's license or in-state tuition rates and to allow local police to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Again, NumbersUSA doesn't endorse candidates, and we know that voters make their decisions on a host of other issues aside from immigration. But our candidate comparisons do provide you with the best evaluation of where these candidates stand on the issues.
| CHRIS CHMIELENSKI |
| FRI, MAY 2nd |
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