America First AgendaThe America First Agenda ~ America deserves a better and brighter future. American citizens need policies that put them first instead of policies that stand in their way. AFPI now presents the America First Agenda... a plan for establishing policies that keep America First, Always.America First Policy InstituteAFPI_85cb2b90-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea00The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan research institute.AFPI LeadersThe Honorable Larry KudlowVice Chair of the Board and Chair, Center for American ProsperityGreg SindelarInterim President and Chief Executive OfficerThe Honorable Chad WolfExecutive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer & Chair of AFPI's Center for Homeland Security & ImmigrationBilly AtwellChief Communications and Marketing OfficerThe Honorable David BernhardtExecutive Vice President & Chair, Center For American FreedomAlexandra Caro CampanaChief Operating OfficerLaura CunliffeSenior Director of PolicyJohn FogartyChief Development OfficerMartin GillespieExecutive Vice PresidentAshley HayekExecutive Vice PresidentJenn PellegrinoChief Spokesperson & Senior Director of Media AffairsAdam W. SchindlerChief Digital OfficerJessica Hart SteinmannExecutive General Counsel and Vice Chair of the Center for LitigationStephanie WhittChief State Action and Engagement OfficerAFPI ChairsThe Honorable Larry KudlowVice Chair of the Board and Chair, Center for American ProsperityThe Honorable Chad WolfExecutive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer & Chair of AFPI's Center for Homeland Security & ImmigrationThe Honorable David BernhardtExecutive Vice President & Chair, Center For American FreedomThe Honorable J. Kenneth BlackwellChair, Center for Election IntegrityJack BrewerChair, Center for Opportunity Now and Vice Chair, Center for 1776Norm ChampChair, Financial Freedom InitiativeKellyanne ConwayChair, Center for the American ChildErika DonaldsChair of Education Opportunity and Chair of the AFPI-Florida State ChapterMichael John DonohueChair of AFPI-New JerseyThe Honorable Fred FleitzVice Chair, Center for American SecurityRiley GainesVice Chair, America First Athletes CoalitionMike GarciaChairman, America First CaliforniaHogan GidleyVice Chair, Center for Election Integrity & Senior Advisor for CommunicationsLou HoltzChair, Center for 1776The Honorable Bobby JindalChair, Center for a Healthy AmericaDr. Alveda KingChair, Center for the American DreamThe Honorable Robert LighthizerChair, Center for American TradeJondavid "JD" LongoChair, America First PennsylvaniaOliver McPherson-Smith, Ph.DVice Chair, Center for Energy & EnvironmentChristie MullinChair of Rural PolicyFrank D. MurphyChair, Athletes for America Coalition & Director of Community ImpactDr. Richard RogersVice Chair of the Center for American ValuesAmbassador Carla SandsVice Chair, Center for Energy & EnvironmentStacey SchieffelinChair, America First Women's Initiative and Senior Advisor, Center for the American WorkerMichael ShiresVice Chair of Education OpportunityJessica Hart SteinmannExecutive General Counsel and Vice Chair of the Center for LitigationKip TomVice Chair of Rural PolicyBob UnanueAFPI Board Member and Hispanic Leadership Coalition ChairPaula White-CainChair, Center for American ValuesThe Honorable Robert WilkieCo-Chair, Center for American SecurityRyan WilsonChair, America First MinnesotaAFPI AdvisorsDr. Ge BaiMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsDr. Richard Valentine BurkhauserMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsDr. Jeffrey CampbellMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsDr. Casey MulliganMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsDr. Lee OhanianMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsDr. Kiron K. SkinnerMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsAFPI StaffThe Honorable Larry KudlowVice Chair of the Board and Chair, Center for American ProsperityGreg SindelarInterim President and Chief Executive OfficerThe Honorable Chad WolfExecutive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer & Chair of AFPI's Center for Homeland Security & ImmigrationMadison AlexanderDirector of Donor CommunicationsJason AllenMichigan Policy Advisor, Center for Election IntegrityBilly AtwellChief Communications and Marketing OfficerDr. Ge BaiMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsT.C. BeckerDevelopment ManagerTate BennettDirector of Rural PolicyThe Honorable David BernhardtExecutive Vice President & Chair, Center For American FreedomThe Honorable J. Kenneth BlackwellChair, Center for Election IntegrityLauren BrasherProject Manager, America First Women's Initiative and Executive AssistantJack BrewerChair, Center for Opportunity Now and Vice Chair, Center for 1776James BroughelSenior Advisor, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisPeter J. BrownSenior Fellow for Western Hemisphere Security and Maritime AffairsGovernor Phil BryantSenior AdvisorSamuel BuchanSenior Fellow, Center for Energy & EnvironmentCaleb BurdettState Action Policy AnalystDr. Richard Valentine BurkhauserMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsAlexandra Caro CampanaChief Operating OfficerDr. Jeffrey CampbellMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsJack CasaliAssociate Attorney, Center for LitigationNorm ChampChair, Financial Freedom InitiativeTyler CochranAssociate Attorney, Center for LitigationKellyanne ConwayChair, Center for the American ChildLaura CunliffeSenior Director of PolicyJune CutterExecutive Director, America First CaliforniaKevin DanielsExecutive Director AFPI-North CarolinaJerry C. Davis, Ph.D.Senior Advisor, Center for 1776Kimmie DillonExecutive Director of AFPI-ArizonaErika DonaldsChair of Education Opportunity and Chair of the AFPI-Florida State ChapterMichael John DonohueChair of AFPI-New JerseyTim DraelosResearcher, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisCaity DurningDirector of OperationsGina D'AndreaDeputy General Counsel and Attorney, Center for LitigationJessie D'AngeloDirector of Media Affairs and Studio OperationsTed EllisDirector, Power AmericaThe Honorable Fred FleitzVice Chair, Center for American SecurityJohn FogartyChief Development OfficerDrake FranklinSoutheastern Development Director & Policy Analyst, Center for American ValuesZach FreimarkExecutive Director, America First MinnesotaSarah FreySenior Advisor for Rural PolicyRiley GainesVice Chair, America First Athletes CoalitionMike GarciaChairman, America First CaliforniaHogan GidleyVice Chair, Center for Election Integrity & Senior Advisor for CommunicationsMartin GillespieExecutive Vice PresidentEmilio GonzalezSenior Fellow, Homeland Security and ImmigrationGarrett GreeneAttorney, Center for LitigationMary Clare HamiltonDirector of EventsBlake HammondProgram Assistant, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisAshley HayekExecutive Vice PresidentJason HayesDirector, Center for Energy and EnvironmentSarah HeathSenior Attorney, Center for LitigationMatthew HendersonInterim Chief Government Affairs OfficerVictor L. HernandezDevelopment OfficerLou HoltzChair, Center for 1776Jill HomanDeputy Director, Trade & Economy Policy, and Campaign DirectorTaylor HoodExecutive AssistantRoyce HoodPolicy Analyst, China Policy InitiativeKaleigh HughesEvent CoordinatorMatthew JensenDirector, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisThe Honorable Bobby JindalChair, Center for a Healthy AmericaCharlie KatebiDeputy Director, Center for a Healthy AmericaJames KimmeyDirector, Senate Working GroupDr. Alveda KingChair, Center for the American DreamJoe KirkpatrickDeputy Director of Development OperationsAlexandra KirschbaumDirector of Development OperationsJordan KittlesonSenior Advisor, Center for Election IntegrityMax KossekResearcher, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisKayleigh KozakFamily First Campaign DirectorThomas LaneAmerican Justice Campaign DirectorDr. Chris LeaderChief Advisor, Center for the American DreamNatalie LeamanCreative DirectorJason LeeResearch AnalystThe Honorable Robert LighthizerChair, Center for American TradeMatthew LobelPolicy Analyst, Higher Education Reform InitiativeJondavid "JD" LongoChair, America First PennsylvaniaRichard MaherDirector of State ResearchJennifer MakarDirector of Faith OutreachMelissa Ford MaldonadoDirector of the Western Hemisphere InitiativeJorge MartinezNational Director of Hispanic Outreach & Director of Special ProjectsRyann McEnanyDigital Marketing and Brand Communications Strategist and Engagement OfficerOliver McPherson-Smith, Ph.DVice Chair, Center for Energy & EnvironmentSydney MeadowcroftVIP Relations CoordinatorSimon MillerOffice ManagerKat MillerPolicy Analyst, Election IntegrityRyan MontgomeryProgram Assistant, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisSteve MooreSenior FellowScott MooreDevelopment WriterEmily MorenoExecutive Director, America First OhioDr. Casey MulliganMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsChristie MullinChair of Rural PolicyFrank D. MurphyChair, Athletes for America Coalition & Director of Community ImpactRyan NanartowiczPolicy Analyst, Center for American SecurityPatricia NationAttorney, Center for LitigationKatie Grace NemurasExecutive Assistant and Internship CoordinatorMargo NicholasSenior Policy Analyst, Center for American ValuesFaith NovakDigital Marketing ManagerLeigh Ann O'NeillChief of Staff for the Center for Litigation & Senior Legal Strategy AttorneyDr. Lee OhanianMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsJacob Olidort, Ph.D.Director, Center for American SecurityRob PacienzaSenior Fellow, Center for the American DreamJenn PellegrinoChief Spokesperson & Senior Director of Media AffairsMatias PerttulaFellow, Center for American ValuesDavid PetersonEngineer, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisMeghan PettyCommunications AssociateTony H. Pham, Esq.Senior Fellow, Center for Homeland Security and ImmigrationAnna PingelElections Campaign Manager, Center for Election IntegrityClay PryorEngineer, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisZach RisherSenior Technology Advisor, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisDr. Richard RogersVice Chair of the Center for American ValuesBob RommelExecutive Director, AFPI FloridaMatthew T. RooneyExecutive Director of AFPI-New JerseyMadison RosaEngagement Officer for the America First Women's InitiativeAmbassador Carla SandsVice Chair, Center for Energy & EnvironmentAdam SavitDirector, China Policy InitiativeStacey SchieffelinChair, America First Women's Initiative and Senior Advisor, Center for the American WorkerAdam W. SchindlerChief Digital OfficerMatthew SchmidHealth and Harvest Campaign DirectorChristopher Schorr, Ph.D.Director of the Higher Education Reform InitiativeNathan SchweizerResearcher, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisKassidy ScottPolicy Analyst, Homeland Security and ImmigrationMichael ShiresVice Chair of Education OpportunityTravis ShirkmanDirector of Donor RelationsAllen SilkinDirector of DigitalScott SingerFellow, Center for Economy and TradeDr. Kiron K. SkinnerMember, Board of Academic AdvisorsCooper SmithDirector of Communications and Advisor to the Center for Homeland Security and ImmigrationJessica Hart SteinmannExecutive General Counsel and Vice Chair of the Center for LitigationMary StifflerExecutive Director, America First PennsylvaniaEthan TanPolicy AnalystShea ThrockmortonPeace Through Strength Campaign DirectorKen TimmermanSenior Fellow, Center for American SecurityKip TomVice Chair of Rural PolicyPriya TranProject Manager & Assistant to the Vice Chair, Center for American ValuesJoshua TreviñoSenior Fellow for the Western Hemisphere InitiativeRachel TrippSenior Director of CommunicationsSam TrippieDevelopment ManagerMike VallanteDirector, Center for Election IntegrityDavid VasquezSenior Policy Analyst for the Center for American Prosperity, the Center for Energy & EnvironmentJeremiah WallaceStrategic Initiatives and Development ManagerNicholas WanicAssociate Attorney, Center for LitigationSamantha WebberEngineer, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisPaula White-CainChair, Center for American ValuesStephanie WhittChief State Action and Engagement OfficerThe Honorable Robert WilkieCo-Chair, Center for American SecurityRyan WilsonChair, America First MinnesotaRebecca YardleyExecutive Director, America First GeorgiaWeifeng ZhongSenior Advisor, Office for Fiscal and Regulatory AnalysisKristen ZiccarelliDirector of Global Coalitions and Senior Policy Analyst for Homeland Security & ImmigrationAndrew ZimmittiSenior Counsel, Center for LitigationAmerican WorkersAmerican FamiliesAmerican CommunitiesA better and brighter future for America_85cb3018-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea00To advance policies that put the American people first._85cb3360-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea00PrinciplesOur guiding principles are liberty, free enterprise, national greatness, American military superiority, foreign-policy engagement in the American interest, and the primacy of American workers, families, and communities in all we do.EconomyMake The Greatest Economy in the World Work for All Americans_85cb33b0-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea00Pillar 1A free and flourishing economy is necessary for any nation’s citizens to prosper. From 2017 to 2019, the U.S. built a thriving economy that was a model for the rest of the world. As a result of pro-growth policies such as tax reform, Opportunity Zones, and streamlined regulations, we began to see renewal and economic revival in traditionally underserved communities. Our Nation’s economy experienced unprecedented growth, and many American communities who were the most in need benefitted from their lowest-ever unemployment levels. ^^ In the three years before the pandemic began, the U.S. experienced increases in real wages and household wealth and record-low levels of poverty. Job growth exceeded expert projections by five million during this period, and real growth in the gross domestic product was more than double the average of the other countries in the Group of Seven (G7). Additionally, women, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans all had their highest rates of employment in 50 years. ^^ Today, our goal is to rebuild this Great American Economy and restore hope and prosperity for all Americans. To accomplish this objective, we must end historic out-of- control inflation, fight for the American worker and their wages, and make the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent to lay the foundation for additional reforms. We must also negotiate trade deals that protect American workers and consumers, build supply chains that rely only on American workers and our allies, and build the world’s greatest infrastructure system. Additionally, by enhancing Opportunity Zones, we can help lift millions of Americans out of poverty. ^^ Our efforts to rebuild America begins with promoting policies that support and benefit all Americans. By focusing on these actions and always putting Americans first, we can restore the greatest economy in the world and lift communities across the country.InflationEnd Historic Out-Of-Control Inflation_85cb34a0-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea001.1Ask Americans across the country about their greatest economic concern, and the answer is immediate: inflation. Their concerns are warranted. Price increases are everywhere. Inflation is running at 40-year highs and showing no sign of a quick return to normalcy. The average worker has lost more than four percent of his or her purchasing power even after considering wage gains, resulting in a substantial inflation tax that falls most heavily on vulnerable Americans -- especially seniors living on fixed incomes. It is thus little surprise that consumer confidence has reached historic lows. ^^ Just last year, the current administration was discounting inflation as a fleeting force that was confined to only a few sectors. When reality refused to comply with the narrative as inflation proved widespread and persistent, the administration pivoted to distracting Americans with catchy slogans like the "Putin price hike" and blaming "greedy" businesses. But the data tells a different story. ^^ Before the passage of the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), inflation was running below two percent. However, just three months after the passage of ARPA, inflation surpassed five percent and continued climbing to well over nine percent -- the highest reading in four decades. Many progressives would have people believe the timing is a coincidence -- that companies suddenly became greedy and that the large run-up in gas prices several months before Putin's invasion of Ukraine had nothing to do with the Left's war on energy. Common sense and research say otherwise, with vast federal overspending contributing significantly to inflation. ^^ The current administration's approach to taming inflation has been all over the board, vacillating from punting the ball entirely to the Federal Reserve to, more recently, passing an Orwellian-named "Inflation Reduction Act." This act makes the Federal Reserve's job more difficult by adding even more artificial stimulus to the economy while taking production offline through supply-crimping tax hikes. As a result, Americans are now suffering from rapidly rising borrowing costs as the Federal Reserve exacts painful rate hikes to curb inflation in the face of vast fiscal excess. ^^ The America First solution relies on two pillars. First, the federal government must stop overstimulating demand, which it can do with a return to fiscal responsibility and restrained federal spending. Second, pro-growth policies can increase economic supply. If inflation is too much money chasing too few goods, one way to provide relief without risking recession is to encourage more production of goods and services. Doing so will require reversing the current regulatory onslaught on energy and implementing pro-work policies -- such as making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent -- to bring workers back off the sidelines after the federal government spent the past year and a half restricting people’s incentive and ability to work. ^^ Together, promoting greater economic supply and ending the overstimulation of demand can help bring inflation back under control, allowing America to return to the prosperous years of low inflation and strong growth it enjoyed just a few years ago. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Inflation reached a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022 and is still well over 8%. Before the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, inflation was below 2%. Gas prices in October 2022 are $1.39 higher than they were in January 2021 and are near the same level they were at in February 2022 before Putin invaded Ukraine. ^^ * The average American worker has seen a 4.1% decline in purchasing power, and seniors living on fixed incomes are even more affected. ^^ * The Congressional Budget Office projects a 10% increase in 2022 and 2023 in the share of Social Security benefits subject to taxation as a result of a lack of inflation indexation ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ * Restrain federal spending and move gradually toward a balanced budget. ^^ * Pursue pro-work tax policies, such as making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent. ^^ * Remove unnecessary regulations unrelated to genuine health and safety concerns that restrict people’s ability to work. ^^ * Prioritize paychecks over government checks by combatting fraud in government transfer programs and ensuring that government assistance is not more lucrative than a job. ^^ * Ensure work requirements for able-bodied Americans receiving federal assistance. ^^ * Reverse the current administration's war on fossil fuels and the regulatory onslaught against American energy, making it easier -- not harder -- to get timely permits for drilling and refining. ^^ * Reinforce the primacy of price stability in the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate. ^^ * Resist attempts at mission creep in the Federal Reserve that would distract from the monetary tightening needed to stamp out high inflation. Issues unrelated to monetary policy, including climate and equity, should not fall under the Federal Reserve’s purview.Workers & WagesFight for the American Worker and Their Wages_85cb35b8-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea001.2American WorkersAmerican workers are the heart and soul of our Nation's greatness, and they put the U.S. at the forefront of innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry. ^^ From 2017 to 2019, the American workforce helped create one of the most robust economies in U.S. history. In that period, America gained seven million jobs -- more than three times what experts projected -- and enjoyed the lowest unemployment rate in half a century. Middle-class family income rose by nearly $5,000 -- with low-income and blue-collar workers experiencing the largest gains. Income inequality fell for two straight years, and the bottom half of households saw their net worth jump by 40%. ^^ Juxtapose these accomplishments with the problems our country is now facing. With inflation at 40-year highs and GDP shrinking in the first and second quarters of 2022, workers are losing purchasing power and staring down the barrel of another recession. Yet the current administration presses on with the same radical ideological agenda -- as enshrined both in its American Rescue Plan Act and the "Inflation Reduction Act" -- of dismantling the value of work in favor of a cradle-to-grave entitlement state that puts government at the center of a weakened economy. ^^ The path to rebuilding the economic prosperity that prevailed from 2017 to 2019 relies on prioritizing the interests of American workers and tackling the headwinds that they face. These adverse forces range from artificial regulatory barriers that impede workers' choice of where to live and how to make a living to taxes that remain too high and drain resources from workers that they could otherwise use to direct their lives and invest in career-preparedness. ^^ At a time of rapid technological and global economic change, adaptability and resilience will prove key to keeping workers attached to the labor force and able to access ladders of opportunity after episodes of disruption. Gone are the days when workers can count on spending their entire careers in the same industry or occupation. And gone must be the days when workers knocked off their feet by winds of change are left to wither on the sidelines in a perpetual state of government dependence and lack of economic purpose. ^^ The America First vision recognizes that, even if a worker's current skills become obsolete, their dignity and ability to make valuable economic contributions never become obsolete. Traditional workforce development policies fail by being reactive and backward-looking -- responding to the economy of yesterday and only engaging workers once already in crisis. What is needed is a modernized approach to workforce development that prepares workers in advance for a continuously evolving economy, allowing them to be ready for disruption before it arrives. ^^ Central to this approach is tearing down barriers to economic mobility such as inflated education requirements and unjustified occupational licensing rules not related to health and safety. These barriers are often little more than an attempt by professional cartels to limit competition and restrict entry to certain professions. With a workforce training landscape modernized based on a vision of lifelong learning and resilience, American workers will be equipped with the adaptability and freedom to thrive. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Workers saw record-high median income gains, 50-year lows for unemployment, and record low poverty for all demographic groups during the previous administration before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. ^^ * Under the current administration, the average American worker has lost 4.1% of his purchasing power and paid an inflation tax of more than $2,000 since inflation began taking off in 2021. ^^ * Labor force participation is a percentage point below its pre-COVID-19 rate for all workers and 0.2 percentage points down for prime-age (25-54-year-old) workers. ^^ * The share of jobs with government occupational license ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Prevent federal agencies and contractors from imposing inflated education credentialing requirements that filter out workers with the requisite skills and experience. ^^ * Destigmatize vocational education and level the playing field by diversifying higher education and job training funding. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Reorient higher education and job training funding to include vocational education and other alternative pathways. ^^ * Enact occupational licensing reforms that lower barriers to entry and competition while also advancing bona fide health and safety protections. ^^ * Facilitate access to reskilling opportunities that enable lifelong learning and prepare workers to better weather disruption from a continuously evolving economy. ^^ * Forge close private-public partnerships to ensure that government education and training programs provide workers with marketable skills.TradeNegotiate Trade Deals that Protect American Workers and Consumers, and Protect Our National Security_85cb35f4-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea001.3American WorkersAmerican ConsumersStarting in 2017, the United States undertook a paradigm shift in trade policy to embark on a new commitment to putting American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses first and no longer allowing other nations to take advantage of the international trade system. Prior to this shift, our leaders consistently failed to protect American interests and allowed the U.S. to be placed at a strategic disadvantage, standing idly by as key American jobs and industries were hollowed out and economic opportunities were shifted abroad. ^^ An America First approach to trade means pursuing and enforcing policies that result in a level playing field for American businesses and workers to compete on the world stage. This vision recognizes that free, fair, reciprocal, and balanced trade is a fundamental pillar of a pro-growth economic policy agenda as well as a requirement for American strength and economic security. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical uncertainty, now is the time for the U.S. to double down on this vision with the aim of increasing manufacturing capacity and investment in North America. ^^ The Trump Administration put this trade vision into action by working to renegotiate and rebalance trade relationships to better benefit the American people. Doing so meant holding other nations accountable by aggressively enforcing trade laws and addressing unfair trade practices, and by reevaluating international institutions to ensure that they are serving their intended purpose and are not being manipulated at America’s expense. ^^ An America First approach to free, fair, and balanced trade negotiations resulted in groundbreaking, modernized trade agreements, including the United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the China Phase One Agreement, the U.S.-Japan Trade and Digital Trade Agreements, and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Each of these agreements aggressively pushed for American interests such as increased market access. The historic economic prosperity and blue-collar boom that swept through the country in their wake are a testament to the positive impact of this America First approach. ^^ The USMCA addressed the failures of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) through critical provisions for automobile manufacturing, better market access for agricultural products, and huge advancements in labor protections, digital trade provisions, and a first-of- its-kind environmental chapter. This was the first significant trade agreement to pass the United States Congress with an overwhelming majority from both parties. ^^ The Phase One trade agreement with China also represented a critical advancement in the approach of the U.S. to international trade. This agreement confronted China’s longstanding unfair trade practices by requiring real structural changes regarding intellectual property protection, technology transfer, agricultural standards, financial services, and currency. At the same time, the U.S. maintained leverage by keeping significant tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in imports. ^^ Strong, modernized agreements are a crucial step for American trade policy, but they mean little if they are not both enforceable and enforced. The Trump Administration took a strong enforcement stance by using all tools at its disposal -- including tariffs where appropriate to combat abuses -- instead of just relying on litigation at institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) that have failed to fully address violations and protect American interests. ^^ Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. also expanded the use of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to investigate and take action to protect U.S. rights under trade agreements and respond to certain foreign trade practices. The Administration also used Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act specifically to address national security threats. No case of failures and manipulation of the international trade system is more obvious than that of China. China has consistently engaged in flagrant trade violations, which range from forced technology transfer to its widespread state-led market distortions that harm American industries and workers, all while enjoying the benefits of membership in the World Trade Organization. ^^ Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. acted on longstanding failures to address China’s bad behavior through investigations under Section 301 and Section 232 -- the first administration to use these provisions to massively confront China’s unfair trade practices -- as well as through pursuing a modernized and enforceable agreement. The Trump Administration was also the first to pursue an environmental enforcement case under our free trade agreements. ^^ It has also become clear that, beyond enforcement of trade laws and development of enforceable agreements, the U.S. must continue to reevaluate its role in international organizations. Our Nation must ensure that these organizations are used for their intended purposes and are not manipulated to the advantage of our adversaries and to the detriment of our workers and businesses. ^^ The Trump Administration made working with our partners to address longstanding concerns about the WTO a key trade priority. This included the first comprehensive study of the Appellate Body, which detailed several failures, including overreach of the body at the expense of the U.S. and other member states, erroneous interpretations of members’ rights and obligations under WTO agreements, and failure of the dispute system to adequately address challenges. The report also included efforts to increase transparency, address chronic non-compliance, and update designations so the WTO can reflect current economic realities. This is a step in the right direction to ensure that U.S. support of and participation in international institutions align with America’s interests, and more broadly, with free- and fair-trade principles. ^^ Going forward, we cannot afford to move away from the America First trade approach and return to the old status quo. Americans deserve a trade policy in which the U.S. fights for them, ensuring the rules are transparent and enforced, and allowing Americans the opportunity to compete and prosper in the world arena. American leaders must put Americans first in creating a future of free, fair, and reciprocal trade. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The U.S. trade deficit with the world grew to more than $1 trillion in 2021, more than doubling on an annual basis over the past two decades. This decades-long trend of increasing deficits cumulatively represents a transfer of trillions of dollars of American wealth to other countries, with a large share going to China. ^^ * More than 60,000 American factories were shut down in the decades following the implementation of NAFTA in 1994 and China’s accession to the WTO in 2001. At the same time, America lost one in four manufacturing jobs, with research finding a strong link between these losses and the normalization of trade relations with China. ^^ * China's intellectual property theft is estimated to cost America anywhere from $225 to $600 billion annually in counterfeit goods, pirated software, and stolen trade secrets. ^^ * 15,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in 2016, while the American economy gained nearly 500,000 of such jobs from 2017 to 2020. ^^ * The USMCA is projected to create 176,000 American jobs, increase U.S. GDP by approximately $70 billion, and boost agricultural exports by $2.2 billion by 2026. ^^ * Under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement and the U.S.- Japan Digital Trade Agreement, more than 90% of U.S. food and agricultural products imported into Japan will either be duty-free or receive preferential tariff access, and new digital trade rules cover $40 billion in trade. ^^ * During the Trump Administration, a pledge from the EU to eliminate tariffs on American lobster was the first U.S.- EU negotiated tariff reduction in more than 20 years. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Impose tariffs where appropriate to support American workers and counter unfair practices that lead to distorted and unbalanced trade. ^^ * Use the full range of trade tools available and aggressively enforce existing trade laws and deals, ensuring that our trade partners play by the rules. This includes the potential use of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as well as other authorities for trade enforcement. ^^ * Ensure that the Phase One trade agreement with China is fully enforced, and maintain elevated tariffs on Chinese goods. ^^ * Support American industries, including agriculture, with a clear and resounding policy when other nations unfairly retaliate against them. ^^ * Reject misguided trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership that ignore the lessons of the last three decades by failing to boost U.S. exports, encouraging offshoring of American jobs, weakening our supply chains, and doing nothing to improve U.S. security. ^^ * Strategically pursue balanced, modernized, and worker- oriented agreements such as the USMCA that benefit all Americans. Ensure that economic and national security considerations are taken into account when selecting partners for future agreements, and build on key innovations such as enforceable environmental and labor chapters and modernized digital provisions. ^^ * Reevaluate the role of the U.S. in international institutions and challenge the status quo when it is not in our Nation’s interests. ^^ * At the WTO, this means changing an outdated tariff framework that no longer reflects deliberate policy choices and fails American workers, as well as closely scrutinizing the WTO’s budget to ensure accountability.Taxes & JobsMake the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Permanent_85cb36b2-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea001.4The American people are known for their incredible talent and work ethic, but high taxes can stifle their industrious spirit and make it difficult for them to support their families and their communities. The antidote is to lower taxes and enable individuals to lift up themselves, their families, and their neighbors as they pursue their unique version of the American Dream. ^^ The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017 was a key driver of a much-needed American economic renaissance. This achievement came after several years of slow growth and malaise that characterized the anemic recovery from the 2007-09 Great Recession. From 2017 to 2019, the economy responded to this pro-growth tax reform package by delivering historic income gains and poverty reduction. These results touched every corner of the economy, bringing opportunity to more regions and to people who were previously left on the sidelines. ^^ The adoption of the TCJA achieved long-overdue reforms to make American businesses more globally competitive by reducing the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. It also provided long-overdue relief to families and small businesses by reducing marginal individual income tax rates. Additionally, the TCJA implemented a fiscally responsible $10,000 limit on the state and local tax deduction that previously acted as a major federal subsidy to high-income individuals living in spendthrift states and localities. ^^ These substantive changes in corporate and individual tax policies helped reorient our economy to incentivize business capital investment and accelerate real GDP growth. The resulting increase in productivity growth led to durable, non-inflationary economic prosperity. ^^ A historic blue-collar boom lifted 6.6 million people out of poverty between 2017 and 2019, the largest three-year reduction to start any presidency in more than 50 years. And the poverty rate fell to an all-time low of 10.5% in 2019, including significant declines for minority populations. ^^ A handful of TCJA's provisions are slated to expire under current law, while others have been targeted by the Left for repeal, as evidenced by the minimum book tax in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act. Making TCJA permanent would aid America’s economic recovery by reducing business uncertainty, boosting investment, and helping the American worker. ^^ Unfortunately, rather than pushing to make TCJA permanent and continuing this proven blueprint for economic success, the Left is crippling the post-COVID recovery and hurting American families, workers, and businesses. The American Rescue Plan Act passed in March 2021 cost $1.9 trillion, flooded the economy with deficit- financed cash, and helped spark the worst bout of inflation in 40 years. By June 2022, the inflation rate surpassed 9% and remains well above 8%. In comparison, the year-over-year inflation rate was less than 2% prior to its passage. ^^ Furthermore, the administration's budget proposal for fiscal year 2023 would undo elements of the TCJA and raise taxes by $2.5 trillion over the next decade. This would erase the 10-year tax cut provided by the TCJA and then some, thereby weakening America’s prospects for recovery and growth. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: ^^ * Unemployment fell to a 50-year low of 3.5% in February 2020, and more jobs were available than individuals unemployed. ^^ * The female unemployment rate hit its lowest rate in nearly 70 years before the pandemic. ^^ * Incomes soared by $5,000 between 2017 and 2019, with income growth setting an all-time record in 2019. ^^ * American households in the bottom 50% of the socioeconomic scale saw a 40% increase in their real net worth, while wages grew fastest for low-income and blue-collar workers. ^^ * The U.S. experienced fast, non-inflationary growth, with inflation rising less than 2% in 2019, defying many forecasters’ expectations. ^^ After 21 months of the current administration's economic policies: ^^ * GDP contracted at an annual rate of 1.6% in the first quarter of 2022 and 0.6% in the second quarter, putting the U.S. economy on the precipice of a recession. Inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022. ^^ * Americans are now paying record prices for gas and other necessities. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Make TCJA permanent through congressional action. ^^ * Lower corporate tax rates and reduce tax rates on Americans’ paychecks and small business income to incentivize work and investment. ^^ * Oppose ongoing efforts to hike taxes, surrender America’s economic sovereignty to multilateral institutions through tax "harmonization," and implement universal basic income style schemes.Supply ChainsBuild Supply Chains that Rely Only on American Workers and our Allies_85cb37c0-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea001.5American WorkersAmerica's AlliesGlobal supply chains can lower costs for consumers, but they also open up the U.S. to substantial risks if those supply chains are not resilient in the face of natural disasters, economic shocks, and geopolitical turmoil. These risks become especially salient if America's supply chains are concentrated in foreign countries with hostile or unreliable governments. The ongoing semiconductor shortage is just one manifestation of the problem of having concentrated foreign supply chains that are not nimble enough to adapt quickly to sudden changes in circumstances. ^^ More broadly, the backlogs plaguing the economy since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic blackmail perpetrated by Russia as it seeks to block Ukrainian agricultural exports reveal that America’s supply chains are vulnerable and in need of strengthening. Now more than ever, the U.S. must build supply chains that rely solely on our Nation’s workers and our allies. ^^ When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived on American shores in 2020, it exposed the urgency of our supply chain vulnerabilities, which are traced in part to a dangerous dependence on unfriendly governments. China—one of America’s leading foreign suppliers of medical equipment— announced export restrictions on such equipment during the pandemic at precisely the time it was most in demand. ^^ Labor shortages and adverse weather events have also fueled supply chain problems, such as in the case of lumber. Coronavirus-related mill closures helped fuel record lumber price increases in the face of unanticipated high demand, which were then exacerbated by massive flooding in Canada—one of our leading suppliers of lumber. These events reveal the importance of supply chain diversification. ^^ Our government's policies are now aggravating this already challenging situation by straining supply chains from both sides. Most prominently, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act overstimulated the demand for goods while simultaneously crimping supply by disincentivizing work. It did so through providing excessively generous unemployment benefits and a Child Tax Credit stripped of longstanding bipartisan work requirements. COVID-19 mandates further complicated the labor shortage issues behind supply chain disruptions. ^^ It is not too late for our country to turn things around and secure our supply chains. By making permanent the pro-growth tax reforms that unleashed record prosperity from 2017 until the pandemic began, encouraging more Americans to join the labor force, reducing the regulatory burden on producers -- especially in the area of energy -- and making strategic investments in hard infrastructure, we can ensure that we are not dependent on other countries for our most important goods. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Approximately 70% of S&P 500 companies cited the supply chain as a negative factor in their third quarter earnings reports last year. ^^ * 40% of all U.S. seaborne imports flow through ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. Both ports are experiencing unprecedented traffic volume and extended delays. ^^ * Heightened goods consumption arising during the pandemic resulted in the U.S. trade deficit for goods surpassing $1 trillion for the first time in 2021—an increase of 21% over 2020. This increased the reliance of our supply chain on overseas producers. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Permanently allow immediate expensing of investment and keep the corporate income tax rate at a low, globally competitive level. ^^ * Hasten approval of new oil and gas drilling permits on federal land, and open additional areas of federal land to drilling leases. ^^ * Build the Keystone Pipeline. ^^ * Repeal laws and regulations that restrict the use of waterways for transporting goods domestically. ^^ * Expedite the modernization of America’s ports and the creation of liquefied natural gas terminals. ^^ * Reorient trade policies to encourage domestic manufacturing and enhance reshoring and near-shoring. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Facilitate greater labor mobility by outlawing noncompete agreements for most workers and recognizing out-of-state professional licenses.InfrastructureBuild the World's Greatest Infrastructure System_85cb3806-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea001.6America's infrastructure is the lifeblood that keeps our Nation’s industry and commerce running. Infrastructure quite literally paves the way for economic opportunity and connectivity throughout the country. ^^ One effective effort to improve American infrastructure involved regulatory reforms to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) in 2017. These modernizations were designed to lower the timeline of approvals under NEPA from more than four years to just two, leading to an estimated $739 billion in benefits from infrastructure projects over a 10-year horizon, according to the Council of Economic Advisers. ^^ Unfortunately, the current administration repealed the "One Federal Decision" Executive Order 13807, ending this streamlined policy environment that aided in the rebuilding of America's aging infrastructure. As a result of reversing these NEPA modernizations, America has now returned to the policy regime that prevailed as it became one of the most expensive places in the world to build infrastructure. ^^ Additionally, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) activism residing at the nexus of big government and woke corporations is further entangling American infrastructure in special interests. The SEC's proposed rule to mandate new environmental disclosures would entrench the Left’s "build-nothing" philosophy and threaten to stop infrastructure development in its tracks. ^^ In contrast to the recent return to outdated policies, private businesses have stepped into the void to pioneer innovative ways to bring American infrastructure into the 21st century. For example, proposed hyperloop projects would dramatically reduce ground transit times by more than a factor of 10, but with new technology comes the need to rethink outdated regulatory frameworks. Just as the advent of flight technology and drones raised the need to define property rights vertically into the air, high-speed private transit that relies on deep subterranean tunnelling will require America to define property rights vertically into the ground as they would for utility lines. ^^ The technology and innovation chasm between the federal government and the private sector also points to the crucial role of public-private partnerships in advancing American infrastructure. To harness the greatest taxpayer benefit and avoid crony capitalism, the contracting process must be transparent and competitive. For example, with 5G, the federal government began in 2019 organizing auctions for commercial licenses to the electromagnetic spectrum. ^^ America also needs modernization of its ports -- sea, air, and space. For seaports, deep channels and round-the- clock automated cargo handling enable near frictionless trade, which is especially important to alleviate supply chain pressures. In the case of space, America has after years of stagnation once again moved to the technological frontier. This move has been buoyed by regulatory changes that provided greater clarity regarding property rights in space and by a willingness to engage in public-private partnerships instead of relying on NASA going it alone. ^^ By modernizing regulatory frameworks, establishing property rights necessary for emergent technologies, and harnessing innovative public-private partnerships, America can revitalize its infrastructure for the 21st century. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 12% of the 617,000 bridges in the U.S. are at least 80 years old. ^^ * 36% of U.S. bridges need major repair work or should be replaced. ^^ * At the current administration's pace, it would take 30 years to repair all of these bridges. ^^ * The inflation-adjusted cost per mile of interstate construction is more than three times now what it was in the 1960s, causing each infrastructure dollar to not go as far. ^^ * As of 2018, five of the 50 busiest seaports in the world were located in the U.S., compared to 16 in China, 10 of which were busier than the busiest port in America (Los Angeles). ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Return decision-making to the state and local owners of infrastructure, allowing them to make choices based upon the individual needs of their communities. ^^ * Reinstate the NEPA reforms and apply the same approach to streamlining other regulations that unnecessarily impede permitting or add to project costs. ^^ * Establish well-defined property rights for the new domains that emergent technologies will rely upon. ^^ * Ensure that federal infrastructure dollars go toward fixing and building genuine "hard" infrastructure. These dollars should not be diluted by going toward welfare and entitlement spending that some on the Left have misleadingly labeled as "social" infrastructure. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Encourage partnerships between public and private organizations to allow market forces to drive efficiencies to advance American infrastructure into the 21st century. ^^ * Ensure that funding priorities align with transparent cost- benefit analyses. ^^ * Where appropriate, explore options to ensure that heavy users of infrastructure shoulder their share of maintenance costs.Opportunity ZonesEnhance Opportunity Zones to Strengthen America's Forgotten Communities_85cb38c4-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea001.7America's Forgotten CommunitiesFor decades, too many Americans have seen their jobs shipped away, their businesses leave, and their communities fall into a state of steady decline. To solve these problems, our Nation’s policies must provide new opportunities and lift people out of poverty. A renewed focus on new investment that includes powerful tax incentives has the power to drive revitalization in America’s forgotten communities. ^^ The Opportunity Zones (OZs) program does just that. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established the OZs program to unleash investment, economic development, and job creation in distressed areas. This law empowered governors to select eligible low-income census tracts within their states where reinvestment of capital gains would receive favorable tax treatment to facilitate access to capital for local businesses and entrepreneurs. In total, 8,800 tracts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico were designated as OZs. ^^ The previous administration also established the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council to advance many critical initiatives for underserved communities. This Council included 17 federal agencies tasked with supporting the administration’s pledge to encourage public and private investment in urban and economically distressed areas, including those designated as OZs. This bold step demonstrated a focused commitment to lift our fellow Americans by harnessing federal resources and interagency cooperation at the highest levels. ^^ Unfortunately, the current administration has taken little to no action to strengthen the positive momentum of the OZs initiative. In fact, it is possible that the proposed capital gains tax hikes could stall the initiative entirely. By raising the capital gains tax rate, funds invested into OZs could be pulled out early to avoid this tax increase. Our government must abandon this folly and embrace the pro-growth policies that have proven to be successful. The OZs program creates three tax benefits. First, the incentives include a tiered federal capital gains tax deferral on investments made in these areas through what are known as Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds (QOFs). QOFs are an investment vehicle, like a partnership, that holds 90% or more of its assets in OZ property. Through QOFs, investors can delay or reduce their capital gains tax liability over time. ^^ Second, OZs created a step-up in basis, which reduces the overall tax burden through increased eligible deductions for investments held in QOFs for at least five years. And third, OZ incentives include eliminating capital gains tax on investments maintained for at least 10 years. ^^ By embracing the power of the OZs program, the government can lift up many forgotten Americans and help put our country back on a path to economic success. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 32 million Americans live in the 8,829 economically distressed areas designated as OZs. ^^ * 28.9% of the population in economically disadvantaged OZs lives in poverty. This is more than double the 13.8% average poverty rate in non-OZ areas from 2012 to 2016. ^^ * Areas receiving an OZ designation were in worse states of decline from 2000 to 2016. These areas experienced an 11% drop in real median household income compared to only 6% for places not designated as OZs. ^^ * Homeowners in OZs are expected to gain $11 billion in new wealth through increased property values because of the OZ designation. ^^ * An estimated one million people could be lifted out of poverty through investment brought by the OZ incentives. ^^ * More than 1.2 million jobs are expected to be created because of the OZ designation. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Expand the OZs program to allow American taxpayers to receive favorable tax treatment when they invest some of their paycheck income in QOFs. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Create complementary state-level OZ incentives that boost the pro-growth, poverty-alleviation incentives of the federal OZ program. ^^ * Remove unnecessary, cumbersome, and duplicative policies that hinder economic development, such as excessive occupational licensing policies, hefty tax incentives, and excessive environmental, business, and development regulations. ^^ * Release "how-to" manuals for mass distribution to guide potential investors through the opaque process of investing in QOFs, which ultimately translates into OZ growth and development.HealthcarePut Patients and Doctors Back in Charge of Healthcare_85cb39dc-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea00Pillar 2PatientsDoctorsOur country's healthcare system exposes serial and chronic policy failures like almost no other area of governance. This is largely because its incentives are all wrong. Rather than improving healthcare and health outcomes for Americans, the system largely benefits well- connected firms, special interests, and big government. ^^ The U.S. leads the world in medical and scientific innovation, but unfortunately, our healthcare system is fractured. Today, the high costs, limited choices, and variable quality of healthcare in the country are significant concerns for Americans. ^^ During the past five decades, healthcare spending as a percentage of the U.S. GDP has increased significantly, from 6.9% in 1970 to 19.7% in 2020. Despite this increase, Americans’ choices of care and coverage have decreased as healthcare markets have consolidated. Furthermore, from 2011 to 2021, the average premium for family coverage increased 47% from $15,073 to $22,221. More than a decade after the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the persistently high cost of healthcare in the U.S. remains a serious issue. ^^ Efforts to improve our healthcare system at both the federal and state level must focus on increasing access to appropriate care when and where it is needed. Our system must protect those who are most vulnerable, including seniors and people with preexisting conditions, and improve affordability of health coverage. Additionally, it must promote individual control, have lower prescription drug costs, and promote transparent, upfront pricing. ^^ Above all, our healthcare system should return to its primary mission of improving the health and health outcomes of Americans. Our Nation has the potential to provide quality care for all Americans. To do so, we must put healthcare back into the hands of the American people and prevent politicians and bureaucrats from deciding how and where care occurs.Doctors & CareEnhance Access to Trusted Doctors and Appropriate Care When and Where They are Needed_85cb3a2c-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea002.1As more and more Americans experience serious health problems, it is vital that they have access to trusted doctors and appropriate care when and where they are needed. Sixty percent of Americans have at least one chronic condition, and 42% have multiple chronic conditions. The percentage of those with multiple chronic conditions is 81% amongst people ages 65 and older. Unfortunately, only half of Americans receive recommended care, and the quality of care varies across conditions, demographic groups, and communities. ^^ If new solutions are not implemented, the United States can anticipate a continued increase in the burden of chronic diseases on the physical and economic health of our citizens. Currently, we simultaneously have underutilization of preventive care and an overutilization of medical care. Just 6.9% of American adults ages 35 and older received all recommended high-priority, appropriate preventive services in 2018, according to the most recent data available from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. And in 2017, physicians reported that 21% of medical care was unnecessary. ^^ To enhance access to care, it is critical for the United States to comprehensively shift away from a healthcare system that is incentivized to treat illness, and toward a system that is oriented around delivering improved individual and societal health outcomes. To do so requires innovative solutions that recognize and engage the complex interplay of economic, behavioral, social, and biological factors that contribute to overall health. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration’s agenda of broader one-size-fits-all government involvement in healthcare doubles down on the policies of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has failed to solve these problems. ^^ Enrollees in ACA plans have less ability to choose their doctor as covered provider networks for ACA plans shrink. In 2020, health plans on the individual market with more restrictive networks consisted of 78% of the plan offerings in the exchange market. For comparison, plans with more restrictive networks represented 54% of the exchange market in 2015. While narrow network designs can help keep premium costs lower for enrollees, it may mean that preferred doctors and healthcare facilities are not covered by a chosen insurance plan. This is very problematic because the foundational relationship between doctors and patients -- and the ability to receive appropriate care -- are essential elements of improving the health of Americans. This highlights Obama’s infamous broken ACA promise: "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor." ^^ One way to enhance access to trusted doctors is through direct primary care (DPC). In this model, patients pay a monthly membership fee (typically ranging from $40 to $85 per person) to a clinical practice and receive access to a defined set of services, usually consisting of primary care and preventive services. In general, DPC doctors do not contract with insurers or government payers, but they may contract with self-funded employers. They typically have smaller patient panels, which results in expanded access to clinicians, including longer office visits and same-day or next-day appointments. ^^ Many DPC practices can also provide laboratory tests and dispense common medications at discounted rates. Patients benefit from expanded access in this model. One case study found that DPC was associated with 30% lower out-of-pocket costs and 20% lower employee premiums. Another case study found a 40% reduction in emergency department utilization. Increased access to direct patient care models would benefit patients. ^^ Additional policy priorities should provide better care for Americans by removing barriers to competition and promoting free-market solutions. These include maximizing the supply of clinicians and appropriate facilities by removing barriers to entry and addressing misaligned incentives. Doing so would increase access to care for those who need it most. ^^ The federal government can implement site-neutral payment policies in Medicare to ensure the same rate is paid for the same clinical care provided at different facilities. This policy change could reduce Medicare spending, reduce premiums and cost-sharing for Medicare facilities, and result in significant private sector savings through spillover effects. Importantly, it would remove misaligned incentives to provide care in higher-cost facilities, which limit patients’ access and choice. ^^ State regulations and licensing requirements should promote increased supply in the market. This includes allowing clinicians to practice at the top of their licenses and join medical licensure compacts. The latter would allow doctors to practice medicine across state lines and allow patients to maintain continuity of care. This would increase patient access to necessary care, including from highly trained clinicians at specialty centers such as MD Anderson Cancer Center and Mayo Clinic. It also involves removing bureaucratic processes regarding the development of necessary healthcare facilities through certificate of need requirements. ^^ Additionally, patients should be able to receive care at the location that best meets their needs. Payment differentials that encourage care in higher-cost settings should therefore be equalized, and expanded access to telehealth services should be maintained in a manner that maximizes the benefit to patients and doctors. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Direct primary care has been associated with 20% lower employee premiums, 30% lower out-of-pocket costs, and a 40% reduction in emergency department utilization. ^^ * Approximately 90% of the $4.1 trillion in annual health expenditures are used to treat people with chronic and mental health conditions. ^^ * Sixty percent of Americans have at least one chronic condition, and 42% have multiple chronic conditions. ^^ * Five percent of the population accounts for 50% of the healthcare expenditures, and 50% of the population accounts for 97% of expenditures. ^^ * Only 7% of United States adults ages 35 and older received all the high-priority, appropriate clinical preventive services in 2018, according to the most recent data available. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Allow Medicare and Medicaid to reimburse and contract with direct patient care providers. ^^ * Make Medicare site-neutrality policies permanent and expand as appropriate. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Define direct primary care as a medical service outside of state insurance regulation. ^^ * Ensure state participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and other health professional licensing compacts. ^^ * Eliminate certificate of need requirements as appropriate. ^^ * Allow telehealth licensing registration to facilitate the ability of out-of-state providers to care for in-state patients. ^^ * Allow clinicians to practice at the top of their licenses.Vulnerable PeopleProtect the Most Vulnerable, Including Seniors and People with Preexisting Conditions_85cb3af4-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea002.2Vulnerable PeopleSeniorsPeople with Preexisting ConditionsAs the prevalence of chronic conditions in the United States continues to rise, innovative solutions to improve care for vulnerable populations should be a top priority. Vulnerable populations encompass individuals who are not able to receive necessary care or preventive measures due to barriers and may include seniors and people with preexisting conditions. Eighty-one percent of Americans aged 65 years and older have multiple chronic conditions, but the government’s Medicare program faces considerable challenges in meeting the future needs of seniors. ^^ The United States Census Bureau expects the number of adults aged 65 years and older to increase from approximately 49 million in 2016 to nearly 95 million in 2060. Our Nation must be prepared to provide quality healthcare for all of our seniors by focusing on removing barriers to competition and promoting free-market solutions. ^^ Unfortunately, our current system is not prepared to meet the challenges of today -- or tomorrow. The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, which pays hospitals and post-acute service providers under Medicare Part A, will become insolvent in 2028. When this occurs, revenues will be insufficient to cover program costs by a projected 10%, leading to a reduction in payments, which trustees warn could result in a rapid curtailing of access to healthcare. ^^ Liberal lawmakers have nonetheless supported a fiscally unsustainable expansion of the Medicare program by proposing to add new benefits and lower the eligibility age from 65 to 60, further undermining the solvency of the existing program. Instead, we need to ensure seniors are protected. These policies would make Medicare’s impending financial insolvency worse, which threatens access to care. Moreover, adding new dental, vision, and hearing benefits will likely put upward pressure on premiums. Seniors have access to these benefits now through supplemental plans or Medicare Advantage plans and should maintain the option to choose the additional coverage that best meets their needs. ^^ Moreover, lowering the Medicare eligibility age would cost a projected $155 billion and provide new access to coverage for only approximately 400,000 people. In reality, much of the money would go toward shifting millions of those ages 60 to 64 years from private coverage into a taxpayer-financed, government-run system. For example, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposal could shift 3.2 million people with employer coverage and 2.0 million with non-group coverage into Medicare. ^^ Liberal lawmakers have also proposed creating a new federal Medicaid program in states that did not undertake Obamacare expansion. A new federal program would undercut the long-standing state-federal partnership in Medicaid and could have unintended consequences for those the program intends to serve—those with disabilities and pregnant women, parents, and children from low-income families. This program was proposed despite evidence that previous Medicaid expansion in other states had higher enrollment and costs than projected, which impacted state budgets without a clear benefit for population health outcomes. States already spend 17.1 cents of every state- generated dollar on providing Medicaid coverage. And states that expanded Medicaid enrolled twice as many able-bodied adults as estimated, with per-person costs exceeding original estimates by 76%, leading to a combined cost overrun of 157% on average. ^^ A better way forward is to implement policies that target improving care for vulnerable populations, rather than broad expansions of government-run programs. ^^ Increased access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of a targeted solution. During this public health emergency, millions of seniors gained access to telehealth services, and the technological revolution of healthcare delivery accelerated seemingly overnight. Regulatory flexibilities in Medicare, including waivers for originating site and geographic location restrictions, allowed seniors in any part of the country, rural and urban, to immediately gain access to available telehealth services from any location, including their homes. ^^ A December 2021 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report found that the number of Medicare telehealth visits increased from approximately 840,000 in 2019 to 52.7 million in 2020, and 92% of beneficiaries received telehealth visits from their homes. While CMS permanently expanded the number of telehealth services through regulatory authority in December 2020, certain critical flexibilities in telehealth delivery would require Congress to remove existing Medicare statutory restrictions, specifically on originating site and geographic location restrictions. ^^ Another free-market solution to benefit seniors is to provide more choices through Medicare Advantage, the private health insurance plans that comprise one-third of Medicare’s total enrollment. This was a key focus of the October 2019 “Executive Order on Protecting and Improving Medicare for Our Nation's Seniors." A systematic review found that Medicare Advantage outperformed traditional Medicare in several key metrics. The use of Medicare Advantage resulted in more preventive care services, fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits, shorter hospital and skilled nursing facility lengths-of-stay, and lower healthcare spending. ^^ Care for the most vulnerable can also be improved by providing new flexibilities to pay for necessary medical services. In 2019, federal agencies expanded the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to cover healthcare services for a range of Americans with chronic conditions enrolled in high deductible health plans (HDHPs). HDHPs are not required to have a deductible for preventive care, and patients with HSAs can now pay for preventive care of chronic conditions before meeting a minimum deductible. This gives individuals more options in managing their health, and the approach could be broadened to allow insurance companies to offer condition- specific health insurance plans for the most common chronic conditions. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, which pays hospitals and post-acute services providers under Medicare Part A, will become insolvent in 2028. ^^ * States that expanded Medicaid enrolled twice as many able-bodied adults as estimated, with per-person costs exceeding original estimates by 76%, leading to a combined cost overrun of 157%. ^^ * Medicare Advantage outperforms traditional Medicare, including more preventive care services, fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits, shorter hospital and skilled nursing facility lengths-of-stay, and lower healthcare spending. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Permanently remove originating site and geographic location restrictions for telehealth services in Medicare if evidence continues to support benefits for patients and appropriate utilization. ^^ * Allow Medicare to auto-enroll new beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage instead of traditional Medicare, with clear information on both options for all new enrollees. ^^ * Permanently expand the list of preventive care benefits for a range of chronic conditions that may be provided by a high deductible health plan. ^^ * Allow insurance companies to offer condition-specific health insurance plans for the most common chronic conditions. ^^ * Allow states to implement work requirements for Medicaid to align with other social safety net programs and create opportunities for tiered support as job wages increase. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Authorize states to apply for a Medicaid waiver to implement flexibility to the maximum extent of federal law. Develop a plan to submit federal waivers in coordination with their state Medicaid directors.Health PlansIncrease Affordable Health Plans and Alternative Forms of Coverage_85cb3c16-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea002.3The passage of Obamacare in 2010 established coverage mandates and new requirements for qualified health plans that led to higher costs and decreased choices. From 2011 to 2021, the average premium for family coverage increased 47%, from $15,073 to $22,221, while overall inflation was only a cumulative 20.5%. In that same period, the average general deductible for single coverage increased 92%, from $747 to $1,434. And in the individual health insurance market, premiums more than doubled between 2013 and 2017 and increased by another 27% in 2018. ^^ As costs have risen, Americans' choices in care and coverage have decreased with the consolidation of healthcare insurance markets. High concentration leads to less competitive markets, and nearly three-quarters of markets are now highly concentrated. In 2020, a single insurer’s share was at least 50% in nearly half of the markets. ^^ The individual market has also been affected. Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2013, 395 insurers sold plans in the individual market in the United States. But by 2022, only 294 insurers offered plans. This 26% reduction shows that consumers do not benefit from as much competition as they did before the ACA was enacted. This means fewer coverage choices, which often results in limited access to preferred providers, premiums above competitive markets, and healthcare provider payments below competitive markets. ^^ The previous administration countered these negative effects with policies to increase choice and competition in America's healthcare system and remove financial penalties for people who choose to opt-out of receiving traditional coverage. In December 2017, the administration eliminated the impact of the individual mandate for Americans by decreasing the individual mandate penalty to $0. New federal regulations in 2018 and 2019 made options for alternative health benefits coverage widely available, primarily through association health plans and short-term, limited-duration plans (though these rules are in litigation). ^^ Association health plans allow small employers to join together to purchase health insurance and gain the benefits of the large-group market. Access to these plans was increased by creating a new pathway for small businesses, working owners, and sole proprietors. Short-term, limited-duration insurance plans are temporary insurance plans sold by insurance companies that are in effect for a predetermined amount of time. They were made more available by expanding the allowable duration from three months to 12 months with the option for renewal up to three years. ^^ The Trump Administration also allowed states to create a more free and open healthcare market with increased flexibility by issuing guidance for Section 1332 ACA waivers. Fourteen states enacted this approach from 2017 to December 2020, and, as a result, premiums in ACA plans declined in six states. These policies gave flexibility to states and created awareness of additional health benefit options that empower consumers to choose the coverage most appropriate for their individual health needs. ^^ Unfortunately, many of the current administration’s policies will lead to fewer choices for Americans through its systematic efforts to expand the role of government. This effort includes rolling back the previous administration’s policies that expanded healthcare options to increase access and affordability. One of the first executive orders President Biden signed after taking office, the "Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act," revoked two key executive orders focused on minimizing the economic burden of ACA and promoting choice and competition. ^^ This action illustrated the stark contrast between the two potential healthcare directions in the United States. The Biden Administration’s healthcare agenda clearly seems to be more focused on increasing government control and bureaucracy than on improving patient access, affordability, and health outcomes. ^^ Federal policies should focus on increasing choice and competition to provide Americans with more affordable health plan options and alternative forms of coverage. One way to accomplish this is to make the Trump Administration’s regulations permanent in federal statutes. The federal government can also empower states to determine which insurance products can be sold. State insurance commissioners can then make locally informed decisions in the best interests of their citizens with a precision that cannot be done with an expansive federal government policy. This would include applying knowledge about local and state demographics and disease burdens to facilitate condition-specific disease coverage options for the most prevalent conditions, such as diabetes, to ensure state residents can access the best care for their healthcare needs. ^^ States also have additional options outside of the ACA’s one-size-fits-all approach. Because states are the primary regulators of health insurance, they can determine which health benefits constitute health insurance, creating pathways to offer coverage outside of the ACA's strict regulatory framework. Farm Bureaus are an example of member-based, nonprofit organizations that can offer alternative health benefits to members in states that have provided exemptions from state insurance regulations. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Average family premiums increased 47%, from $15,073 in 2011 to $22,221 in 2021, after the passage of the ACA. ^^ * In that same period, average general deductibles for single coverage increased by 92%, from $747 to $1,434. ^^ * Three-quarters of United States health insurance markets are highly concentrated. ^^ * Premiums for small businesses nearly doubled from 2003 to 2018, from a total cost of $9,321 for family coverage per worker to $18,296. From 2003 to 2018, 31% fewer small businesses offered coverage. ^^ * Short-term, limited-duration plan premiums typically cost significantly less than premiums for individual plans bought on the Obamacare exchanges—sometimes almost half the cost. ^^ * The Tennessee Farm Bureau has offered affordable benefits outside of insurance regulated by the state for more than 30 years. Plan premiums are up to 77% lower than other insurance options. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas have authorized similar options. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Allow Americans to purchase any health plan approved by their state insurance commissioners, including catastrophic only. ^^ * Make permanent the Trump Administration's 2018 "Definition of 'Employer' Under Section 3(5) of ERISA- Association Health Plans" regulation that broadened criteria for determinations of when employers may join in a group or association to access the benefits of the large- group insurance markets. ^^ * Make permanent the Trump Administration’s "Short- Term, Limited-Duration Insurance" rule to extend these plans for up to 12-month terms and allow renewal up to three years. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Remove restrictions on the availability or flexibility of short-term, limited-duration insurance plans that limit this option for consumers. ^^ * Broaden association health plan availability to the extent allowed by federal law, and remove any state-level legal barriers. ^^ * Allow member-based, nonprofit organizations such as Farm Bureaus to offer alternative health benefits to members that are exempted from state insurance regulations.Individual ControlPromote Individual Control of Healthcare_85cb3c70-5b7d-11f0-8c57-c1e02183ea002.4The country's decades-long debate on healthcare has too frequently maintained the status quo of greater centralized control, rather than promoting policies that put American individuals and families first. As a result, Americans have seen their agency and control stripped away and replaced with onerous government mandates that have led to fewer choices and higher costs. ^^ The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Obama's signature healthcare plan, implemented two health coverage mandates -- one requiring individuals to obtain health insurance, and one requiring employers with 50 or more full-time employees to provide health insurance. These mandates forfeited individual control of healthcare and forced individuals and employers to make hard choices. ^^ Some individuals chose to pay the penalty rather than obtain health coverage. For tax years 2014 through 2017, a total of 24.4 million tax returns reported penalties for a cumulative amount of $11.97 billion. In tax year 2017, the average reported penalty per return was $774. As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that was signed into law by President Trump, the individual mandate penalty was reduced to $0, effectively repealing the policy. ^^ However, the employer mandate remains in effect today. Employers, particularly small businesses, still face decisions of whether to add costly new expenses or downsize their workforces. The employer mandate is a greater burden for smaller firms, as costs are approximately one-third more per worker than the costs for firms with more than 10,000 workers. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that between 28,000 and 50,000 businesses nationwide eliminated an estimated 250,000 positions to avoid being subject to the employer mandate. This mandate causes employers to lose agency in their business operations and likely leads to the shifting of health insurance costs to employees through wage reduction or a decrease in workforce size. Either scenario strips individual employees of the ability to steward their own resources and control their health coverage options. ^^ Penalty enforcement is burdensome. It requires 114 full-time Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees and has significantly underperformed expectations. Despite projections of $13 billion in net revenue from employer penalty payments, the IRS had assessed just $264 million in penalties and collected only $66 million as of June 2020. ^^ The far-left Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, passed earlier this year, doubled down on ACA policies and included an inflationary subsidy structure for individual market coverage that largely benefits insurance companies. A previous estimate of the effect of these policies projected 1.6 million people would lose their employer-sponsored health insurance and be forcibly transitioned to government- subsidized coverage in the individual market. This policy will likely lead to a continued increase in United States healthcare spending while Americans will continue to see fewer choices and less flexibility in obtaining health coverage. ^^ Instead of this approach, two policies that promote individual control of healthcare dollars should be expanded to give Americans more control. The expansion of health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) would help address Americans’ lack of individual control over how their money is spent. ^^ Health savings accounts are tax-advantaged accounts that can be used to pay and save for unreimbursed medical expenses. They were first authorized in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and are associated with enrollment in high deductible health insurance plans. In 2021, 40% of covered employees in firms with 50 or more employees were enrolled in high deductible consumer-directed health plans. ^^ Yet HSA contributions are limited by the Internal Revenue Service. In 2022, these limits are $3,650 for individuals and $7,300 for families. These funds can be used to pay for medical expenses or can be invested, which can create another avenue to grow wealth over time. Currently, 31 million Americans have HSAs. However, of the $1 trillion in employer-sponsored health insurance premiums in 2021, only a small portion of that amount -- $39 billion, or 4%,-- was contributed to HSAs. ^^ Health reimbursement arrangements allow employer contributions to reimburse employee health expenses through an account-based group health plan. These come with a tax advantage to employees. In 2019, the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services finalized a regulation that expanded HRAs. This adjustment provided greater flexibility for employers who want to reimburse employee health expenses through integration with individual health insurance coverage and still maintain the tax-advantaged status of the contributions. It also benefits employees by creating a portable health insurance option for Americans that allows them to keep the same policy when moving between jobs. ^^ The Trump Administration’s HRA rule is projected to be used by 800,000 employers and decrease the number of uninsured individuals by 800,000 by 2029. It is also expected to increase insurance coverage for low- and moderate-wage workers and to make it easier for individuals to retain coverage when changing jobs. A distinguishing factor between this policy and the Inflation Reduction Act is that the intent of the HRA rule is to give employers and employees more coverage options, rather than to abandon employer-sponsored insurance and shift costs to the taxpayer through government-subsidized coverage. ^^ Importantly, this policy creates a new mechanism for offering health benefits for small employers who may otherwise be unable to do so. It also effectively equalizes the preferred tax treatment of traditional employer group coverage. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The ACA created a tax penalty for Americans without health insurance. From tax years 2014 through 2017, 24.4 million tax returns showed individual mandate penalties amounting to $11.97 billion. ^^ * The ACA's employer mandate is a greater burden to smaller firms, as costs are approximately one-third more per worker than the costs for firms with more than 10,000 workers. ^^ * Approximately 250,000 jobs were eliminated by businesses nationwide to avoid being subject to the ACA's employer mandate. ^^ * In 2021, 40% of covered employees in large firms were enrolled in high deductible health plans that are eligible for health savings accounts (HSAs). ^^ * 31 million Americans currently have HSAs. Of the $1 trillion in employer-sponsored health insurance premiums in 2021, only a small portion of that amount -- $39 billion, or 4% -- was contributed to HSAs. ^^ * The Trump Administration's health reimbursement arrangement rule is projected to be used by 800,000 employers, and to decrease the number of uninsured individuals by 800,000 by 2029. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Nullify the employer insurance mandate in the Affordable Care Act, as was done for the individual mandate. ^^ * Remove unnecessary restrictions on health savings accounts: ^^ * Increase individual and employer contribution limits; ^^ * Remove the required association with high deductible health plans; and ^^ * Allow individuals to purchase any health plan and direct care services with funds from health savings accounts. ^^ * Make the Trump Administration s health reimbursement arrangements rule from 2019 permanent to provide more health coverage flexibility for employers and employees. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Utilize health reimbursement arrangements in state employee health plan benefits to allow employees to choose their own coverage and have portability between jobs.Drug PricesLower Prescription Drug Prices_bfc196ae-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea002.5Too many Americans have trouble affording prescription drugs. Ninety-four percent of Americans think the cost of prescription drugs in America is higher than it should be, and 84% expect costs to increase during the next year. Nearly one in five adults report that they or someone in their household skipped prescribed medications in the past year to save money, and 30% are concerned they will not be able to pay for needed medications in the next 12 months. High prescription drug prices are hurting Americans and must be lowered—without increasing government control and sacrificing innovation. ^^ Even though prescription drugs are expensive, there has been some limited relief in recent years. The percent year-to-year change of prescription drugs, according to the Consumer Price Index, decreased from a high of 6.2% from 2015 to 2016, to -2.4% from 2019 to 2020. However, out-of- pocket costs and certain high-cost medications can make prescription drug costs prohibitive for patients in some cases. ^^ According to 2018-2019 data, out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs exceeds $500 for more than one in five seniors with Medicare and nearly one in 16 adults with private coverage from 2018 to 2019. Of the total spending on prescription drugs, $46.5 billion was out-of-pocket, and $297.6 billion was paid for by health insurance. ^^ Generic medications are one way to reduce cost exposure for patients. They are usually more affordable for patients than branded alternatives. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 90% of filled prescriptions are for generic medications, yet generics account for only 18% of prescription drug spending. The average generic copay is $6.61, while the average brand-name copay is $55.82. ^^ Payer spending on prescription drugs is highly concentrated, with a disproportionate share of spending on high-cost drugs that lack significant generic competition. For example, in 2019, the top 50 drugs in Medicare Part B and top 250 drugs in Medicare Part D (by top spending with one manufacturer and no generic or biosimilar competitors) accounted for 80% and 60% of total Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D spending, respectively. ^^ Additionally, spending growth has varied by payer. Medicare Part B drug spending per enrollee grew by 8.1% from 2006 to 2017, compared to per capita growth of only 3.4% for Medicare Part D and 2.9% for overall retail prescription drugs. ^^ The international context of prescription drug prices is critical to understanding this trend. It is well-known that Americans unfairly subsidize biopharmaceutical innovation for the world, with the United States paying significantly more for the same medications than other developed nations that have government-run health systems. The White House Council of Economic Advisers found evidence of increased foreign "free-riding" over the past 15 years: “The prices of many high-sales volume pharmaceutical drugs in European countries have decreased from costing on average 51% of United States prices in 2003 to approximately 32% of United States prices in 2017.” This is largely due to price controls in foreign countries, which require pharmaceutical products to be sold below fair market value, leaving Americans to pay a greater share of research and development costs. ^^ During the past several years, lawmakers have proposed an array of policies in an effort to lower prescription drug costs, which is a top priority of Americans. Liberal policy proposals tend to have top-down government involvement and interfere with plans in the private market. These policies can have harmful unintended consequences, such as compromising access to lower-cost generic medicines, which would be counterproductive to lowering drug costs. ^^ America First policies should address persistent market failures and increase competition while supporting the innovation that leads to improved health outcomes. The Trump Administration demonstrated a commitment to addressing Americans' concerns with prescription drug costs by implementing this approach. From 2017 to 2019, the Trump Administration's FDA issued a record-breaking number of generic drug approvals that saved patients an estimated $26 billion in 2017 and 2018. This contributed to the 2.4% annual price decrease in 2019 and marked the largest annual price decrease in nearly 50 years. ^^ Other policies enacted between 2017 and 2021 sought to end "free-riding" in the global market and provide discounted access to lifesaving drugs such as insulin and epinephrine to uninsured patients. Additional policies sought to end kickbacks to middlemen to ensure patients directly receive the benefit of discounts, allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada to lower costs, and end gag clauses, thus allowing pharmacists to inform patients of the best prices for needed medications. Not all of the policies were implemented, due to court proceedings and the different approaches of the Biden Administration. Nonetheless, creating and implementing America First policies should remain a priority. ^^ At the federal level, the Medicare Part B program currently incentivizes providers to choose more expensive medications by reimbursing at 106% of the average sales price of a drug, while Medicare Part D allows for private plan negotiation. Thus, transitioning the highest-cost Medicare Part B drugs to the Medicare Part D program would address the current market distortions. ^^ The problem of foreign "free-riding" by other developed countries also requires serious attention. Our country should develop a new trade policy that would create economic disincentives for specific developed countries to pay less than market value for prescription drugs. The FDA can also implement innovative policies to appropriately switch prescription-only medications to available over-the- counter drugs to increase access and lower costs for patients. ^^ States can also work to address high prescription drug costs by implementing policies for greater transparency into the practices of manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurers. Since 2016, 14 states have passed prescription drug price transparency legislation. States can also provide savings for uninsured individuals by allowing them to buy prescription drugs at post-rebate prices plus an administrative fee. Texas passed a law creating this type of savings program in 2021. Further, states can evaluate establishing a prescription drug importation program. Florida has developed a program that is awaiting FDA approval and expects to save $150 million in the first year alone. ^^ Additionally, states can implement policies that give patients greater control of their prescriptions by requiring pharmacies to transfer the prescription when requested by the patient. This policy would build on the Trump Administration's 2020 rule to increase medical record interoperability and facilitate consumer shopping. States can also remove restrictions on physician dispensing of prescription drugs in settings such as direct care practices. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 94% of Americans think the cost of prescription drugs in America is higher than it should be, and 84% expect costs to increase during the next year. ^^ * Nearly one in five adults report they or someone in their household skipped prescribed medicine in the past year to save money, and 30% are concerned they will not be able to pay for needed medicines in the next 12 months. 90% of filled prescriptions are for generic drugs, which are generally cheaper. ^^ * Generics account for only 18% of prescription drug spending. ^^ * In 2019, the top 50 drugs in Medicare Part B and top 250 drugs in Medicare Part D accounted for 80% and 60% of total Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D spending. ^^ * As evidence of increased foreign "free-riding," European countries paid 32% of United States prices in 2017, compared to 51% of United States prices in 2003 for many high-sales volume pharmaceutical drugs. ^^ * From 2017 to 2019, the FDA approved record-breaking numbers of generic drugs that contributed to the 2.4% annual price decrease in 2019—the largest in nearly 50 years. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Transition the highest-cost Medicare Part B drugs to Medicare Part D. ^^ * Implement a new trade policy to address foreign “free- riding” for prescription drugs and create economic disincentives for specific developed countries to pay less than market value for prescription drugs. ^^ * Make more prescription-only medications available to patients over-the-counter. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Create transparency in prescription drug pricing for manufacturers, pharmacy benefit manufacturers, and insurers. ^^ * Establish a prescription drug savings plan for uninsured state residents by allowing them to buy drugs at post- rebate prices, plus an administration fee, through a partnership with a pharmacy benefit manager and the creation of a specific state fund. ^^ * Evaluate the merits of establishing a prescription drug importation program. ^^ * Require healthcare providers to electronically transfer a patient prescription and current medication history to pharmacies not owned by the same company when requested by the patient. ^^ * Permit physicians to dispense medications directly to patients in appropriate clinical contexts and settings.PricingPromote Transparent, Upfront Pricing_bfc19ea6-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea002.6Two-thirds of Americans worry about being able to afford unexpected medical bills. This concern, along with being able to afford health insurance deductibles and prescription drug costs, account for three of the top four concerns among general household needs. These rank ahead of paying for rent or a mortgage, monthly utilities, and food. The high cost of healthcare in the U.S. affects the health and financial well-being of millions of Americans, and uncertainty about costs can create real stress. ^^ Patients generally do not know the cost of their care until they receive a bill. This puts patients at risk of suffering financial hardship that may have been preventable if they were able to make an informed choice when seeking care. It also insulates large medical providers from competition when setting prices. Healthcare price transparency is an essential policy reform that can address these shortcomings. ^^ Policies that remove uncertainty about the cost of medical care and increase competition enhance the ability of families to plan and pay for future healthcare expenses as they make comparisons across providers. Doing so may lead to fewer people delaying necessary care, which could result in better outcomes regarding disease prevention and treatment, as well as overall health nationwide. ^^ Fully 87% of surveyed voters support healthcare price transparency as a way to help control costs and increase access for their families, according to a September 2020 poll by the Foundation for Government Accountability. Last year, 51% of adults surveyed reported that they had delayed or gone without certain medical care during the past year due to cost. Higher out-of-pocket costs are a particular concern, with 46% of adults reporting difficulty affording costs not covered by their insurance. ^^ Prices for the same medical service can vary significantly by hospital. For example, routine colonoscopies can range from $148 to $15,789 in just the Dallas area. Some consumers may feel that lower-cost care may not be quality care. However, the price of care does not always directly correlate to quality, so consumers should use available price and quality tools to inform decisions about where to receive care. Price transparency will enable consumers to see prices, compare them from provider to provider, and shop for the best rates. Notably, previous price transparency efforts in cohorts of employees have resulted in lower costs. ^^ Federal hospital price transparency requirements have been supported by the Trump and Biden Administrations. On November 15, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule effective January 1, 2021, requiring hospitals operating in the U.S. to provide clear, accessible pricing information online for a wide range of procedures. ^^ However, hospital compliance with this rule has been subpar since it took effect. Last year, only 53% of hospitals in the U.S. disclosed any prices, and just 16% were in full compliance as of August 2022. This hinders consumers from thoroughly comparing prices for services in their area. ^^ In November 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule to increase the financial penalties for noncompliance with the Trump Administration rule. Hospitals in violation of the rule will now be fined a minimum of $109,500 to upwards of $2 million for a full year of noncompliance. The increased penalties took effect on January 1, 2022. CMS issued the first two financial penalties for noncompliance in June 2022, and had issued more than 350 warning letters to hospitals by that time. ^^ Hospital price transparency, if successfully implemented, is one policy solution with the potential to give patients more control over their health and finances while also putting pressure on providers to create greater value for patients. Research on the impact of the federal hospital price transparency requirements found that hospitals are more likely to disclose their prices if others in the area do so as well. This compliance effect will benefit consumers who take advantage of available pricing information to shop for services. Research also shows that prices vary within hospitals based on the form of payment. Cash prices, one of the standard charges required by the CMS rule, are often lower than commercial insurance prices for specific services. Transparency regarding these price dynamics can help consumers determine the best method to pay for services. ^^ Federal and state policies should encourage full implementation and enforcement of hospital price transparency rules. This will give patients more control as they plan for and consume medical care and services, which can potentially contribute to increased competition, lower healthcare costs, and improved health outcomes for Americans. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 87% of voters support price transparency to help control costs. ^^ * Two-thirds of Americans worry about being able to afford unexpected medical bills. ^^ * In 2021, 51% of adults reported that they delayed or went without certain medical care during the past year due to costs. ^^ * Prices for the same medical service can vary greatly by hospital. For example, routine colonoscopies can range from $148 to $15,789 in just the Dallas area. ^^ * Only 53% of hospitals in the United States disclosed any prices last year, and just 16% were in full compliance with the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule this August. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Make permanent the federal hospital price transparency requirements. ^^ * Ensure enforcement of the federal hospital price transparency requirements to the extent allowed by federal law. ^^ * Make compliance a condition of participation in Medicare and Medicaid if hospital compliance with the price transparency requirements remains subpar after enforcement. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Bolster state hospital compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements by aligning state and federal policies. ^^ * Policy options include additional financial and administrative penalties for noncompliance beyond the current federal civil monetary penalties, including conditioning hospital licensure on compliance, and additional consumer protections. Freedom, Equality & Self-GovernanceRestore America's Historic Commitment to Freedom, Equality, and Self-Governance_bfc1a4be-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea00Pillar 3The Declaration of Independence states that the core of American government is to secure the God-given rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Today, a multitude of ideas and influences run counter to foundational American values and threaten our inalienable rights and our democratic republic system of government. ^^ Big Tech has infringed on Americans' rights of free speech and made concerted efforts to silence or diminish views that do not align with its agenda. By canceling thousands of Americans on social media platforms, these organizations have asserted their power in an attempt to control what citizens say and think. ^^ At the same time, progressives are also attacking the right to life itself. Progressive activists and politicians have continued to advocate for unrestricted abortions, even as a large majority of Americans remain opposed to most or all abortions during the last trimester. ^^ To protect our God-given rights and American values, we must celebrate and defend America’s founding ideals, defend religious liberty and other constitutional rights, and honor the sanctity of every innocent human life. We also must stop Big Tech from encroaching on our free speech and defend female athletes and preserve fairness in women’s sports. ^^ Through these actions and others, we will protect the American values that have made our Nation great, honor every innocent human life, and provide hope for more families and communities.Religious LibertyDefend Our Constitutional Right of Religious Liberty_bfc1ab08-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea003.1The Constitution of the United States grants all American citizens the right of religious liberty. It specifically mentions freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Inherent to every American is the free exercise of religion without retribution, restriction, or restraint. No cultural movement or government officials should be able to coerce compliance when it goes against personal religious conscience and freedom. ^^ In the past few years, religious beliefs, expressions, and convictions have been under a constant barrage and are quickly being outlawed and erased. Government agencies, universities, businesses, and other entities have targeted the precious freedoms that millions of Americans hold dear. Look no further than the Supreme Court case involving Coach Joe Kennedy, a high school football coach who was fired for post-game silent prayers on the 50-yard line. Thankfully, the Supreme Court overruled the lower court’s decision to uphold the denial of Coach Kennedy’s religious freedom. But more cases regarding religious freedom are likely to come up in the near future. ^^ The radical Left has created a culture in which it is deemed permissible to infringe on religious freedom. As a result, prayers are no longer welcome at school or on sports fields. Senior citizens and college students have been rebuffed for holding Bible studies and prayer meetings in common-access activity rooms. And, for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals were not permitted to gather to worship their God in their own churches. ^^ Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportunity for power-hungry federal officials and governors to unilaterally shutter houses of worship for months. At the same time, liquor stores, casinos, abortion clinics, and other genuinely nonessential businesses were allowed to remain open. Many leaders cited public safety concerns while brashly persecuting those seeking to express their constitutional right to religious freedom. America carries a deep-rooted moral and social responsibility to uphold and defend religious freedom domestically and abroad. Unfortunately, the current administration has refused to shine a light on religious persecution throughout the world, which has diminished America’s example and legacy as a global harbinger of democracy and freedom. As America moves forward, it must always remain a safe haven for all to exercise faith free of government oppression and undue prohibition. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * More than 80% of the world's population lives in countries where religious liberty is threatened, restricted, or banned. ^^ * 81% of Americans believe Coach Joe Kennedy should not have been fired for silently praying after football games in Bremerton, Washington. ^^ * 64% believe military personnel should not be fired from their jobs for declining the COVID-19 vaccine. ^^ * 44% think the American legal system is hostile to religious expression. ^^ * 64% would side with their beliefs over the government. 55% think teachers should be allowed to lead prayer in public schools. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Oppose any government or employer medical mandates that violate the ability of religious believers and organizers to act, or not act, in accordance with their personal convictions and core values. ^^ * Ensure uninterrupted access and the ability to practice one’s faith in a place of worship no matter the circumstances happening in the world, including pandemics. ^^ * Vigorously enforce the federal law’s robust protections for religious freedom and conscience protection. ^^ * Advocate for judicial nominees who hold an originalist constitutional philosophy and defend and uphold the importance of the First Amendment, specifically the right of religious freedom. ^^ * Protect houses of worship and faith-based groups from being forced to hire employee candidates who disagree with their tenets and convictions.ArmsDefend Our Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms_bfc1aba8-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea003.2Our Founding Fathers understood it was critical for our Constitution to recognize the right to self-defense, one of the first laws of nature. Throughout U.S. history, the individual right to keep and bear arms has remained as a means of resistance and self-preservation against the volatile threat of tyranny. Today, the Second Amendment is under attack as the radical Left continues to chip away at the important rights it enshrined for all American citizens. ^^ During the last two years, pandemics, riots, and an increase in violent crime have caused millions of Americans to gain a new appreciation for the Second Amendment's role in preserving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thirteen million Americans became new gun owners during this period, and many now recognize the importance of being able to protect themselves during uncertain times. ^^ The previous administration wasted no time reversing policies that infringed upon Americans’ Second Amendment rights. In 2018, the President signed the Fix NICS Act, improving the government’s ability to enforce existing gun laws without creating a greater burden for the average gun owner. And all three Supreme Court Justices appointed between 2017 and 2020 concurred in a landmark decision affirming Americans' right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. Unfortunately, the current administration is hostile to the notion of an armed citizenry in its own country. The administration has collected nearly one billion records of law-abiding Americans' firearm purchases, and the collection and storage of these records could one day be used to confiscate Americans’ privately-owned firearms. ^^ Most recently, President Biden signed into law a bill that bribes states to adopt their own legislation enacting what are commonly known as "red flag laws," or Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). These orders enable judges to have an individual's guns confiscated, merely on the suspicion that they are a danger to themselves or others. If not properly constructed, red flag laws not only infringe on the Second Amendment, but they also neglect due process, punishing you for a crime you did not commit and declaring you guilty until proven innocent. ^^ Additionally, the current administration has proposed rules that would alter the legal definitions of firearms -- turning millions of Americans into felons overnight -- without the approval of Congress. On any policy issue, it is the legislative branch, not executive agencies and bureaucrats, that is entrusted with lawmaking. The repeated calls from many on the Left for universal background checks and bans on commonly owned firearms and accessories from many on the Left have demonstrated their contempt for the Second Amendment — and just how little they know about modern firearms. These measures and others will not reduce gun violence. They will only disarm and penalize innocent Americans. This view is supported by research, including a Department of Justice-funded 2004 study of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. ^^ Our Nation must stay committed to ensuring that the right to keep and bear arms is not eroded into a privilege of a few. Policies that embrace this right as a virtue of our Republic are needed to guarantee that the American people can exercise their full constitutional liberties. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ *46% of American adults have a gun in their households. One in five American households purchased a gun between March 2020 and March 2022. ^^ *In a separate poll, more than one in three American adults say that they or someone in their household owns a gun. ^^ *Of those Americans, 61% say they feel safer because someone in their household owns a gun ^^ *One-third of gun owners have used a firearm to defend themselves or their property. ^^ * 30% of gun owners -- approximately 24.6 million individuals -- have owned an AR-15 or similarly styled rifle. ^^ * Americans use their firearms defensively more than half a million times each year, according to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Encourage “constitutional carry” and concealed carry reciprocity across all 50 states. ^^ * Oppose "red flag laws" and ERPOs without abundant due process protections that provide individuals with the swift ability to challenge any order that may deprive them of their constitutional rights. ^^ *Oppose efforts that target law-abiding gun owners in limiting when, where, and/or with what weapon they can defend themselves. ^^ * Restrain the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) from abusing their powers, and from complicating the lives of gun owners, dealers, and manufacturers with onerous rules. ^^ * Pursue litigation against existing laws including, but not limited to, bans on commonly owned firearms and accessories that are clear infringements on Americans' Second Amendment rights.Tech & SpeechStop Big Tech from Encroaching on Our Free Speech_bfc1ad9c-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea003.3Social media technology has given Americans a public voice like they never had before. Americans increasingly follow the news, debate current events, and keep in touch with friends online. Unfortunately, Big Tech is using its ownership of America's communications infrastructure to control America's public discourse and silence viewpoints that conflict with its agenda. ^^ Big Tech censorship affects millions of Americans. Nearly half of Americans say they personally know someone who has been temporarily or permanently banned from a social media platform. And more than 100,000 Americans reported cases of online censorship to the America First Policy Institute in 2021. Three-quarters of Americans now believe Big Tech companies intentionally censor views they dislike. It is not hard to see why. Big Tech prominently deplatformed President Trump but continues to host several murderous dictators, including Vladimir Putin. ^^ This online censorship is a serious threat to free speech. Major corporations should not get to decide who can speak online or what they can say. Unfortunately, federal law protects this censorship to some extent. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was passed to protect minors from obscenity online, but many courts have interpreted Section 230 to protect platforms from liability when they take down any content. ^^ The best solution is to require Big Tech platforms to act as common carriers to receive Section 230 protections. Common carriers such as telephone companies must accept all customers without discrimination, and they cannot deny Americans service because they do not like their phone conversations. The courts have long held that common carrier requirements are compatible with the First Amendment. ^^ Online platforms can be similarly prohibited from viewpoint-based discrimination. Congress can certainly condition Section 230 protections on major platforms not censoring their users. If Congress does not act, the Federal Communications Commission could unilaterally narrow Section 230 protections for platforms that engage in "bad faith" content moderation. ^^ However, under the current administration, the federal government seems unlikely to protect online free speech. The White House has openly admitted that it is asking social media platforms to remove what the administration deems "misinformation." ^^ In the absence of federal action, states can combat online censorship. The America First Policy Institute has developed model state legislation that would regulate major social media platforms as common carriers. The model legislation protects citizens from deplatforming and viewpoint-based discrimination, and it is designed to be consistent with the First Amendment and Section 230. States that want to act can prevent Big Tech from censoring their residents. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 73% of Americans believe social media sites intentionally censor viewpoints they find objectionable. ^^ * 46% of Americans personally know someone who was temporarily or permanently banned on social media. ^^ * More than 100,000 Americans reported cases of online censorship to the America First Policy Institute in 2021. ^^ * 65% of Americans believe people should be able to freely express their views on social media, including views that others find offensive. ^^ * The Twitter accounts of Vladimir Putin, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran, Bashar al- Assad of Syria, and Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro all remain active, while former President Trump's account remains banned. ^^ * YouTube's "Elections Misinformation Policy" prohibits posting “Content that advances false claims that widespread fraud, errors, or glitches changed the outcome of any past U.S. presidential election." ^^ * However, YouTube has not taken down numerous videos in which Hillary Clinton claims the 2016 election was stolen from her. For example, a YouTube video in which Hillary Clinton says, "Trump knows he’s an illegitimate president," remains active. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Allow major social media platforms to receive Section 230 legal protections only if they act as common carriers -- companies that accept all customers without discrimination. ^^ * Issue regulations from the Federal Communications Commission that narrow Section 230 protections for companies that engage in bad faith content moderation. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Regulate major social media platforms as common carriers.Human LifeHonor the Sanctity of Every Innocent Human Life_bfc1b12a-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea003.4The Founding Fathers established our Nation with the belief that our Creator endows every human being with the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Today, this reverence and respect for human life, a cornerstone of any civilization, is under relentless attack. However, with the recent decision by the Supreme Court to overrule Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, America has arrived at a critical inflection point. In its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Supreme Court pushed the issue of abortion rightfully back to the states, presenting an opportunity for 'we the people' to pass state legislation protecting life. ^^ Seventy-one percent of Americans believe that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases after the first trimester. Additionally, more than 65% of Americans believe that abortion-related laws should be left to individual states to legislate. ^^ However, progressive politicians who are out of touch with American values continue to advocate for unrestricted abortions. The United States Senate recently held a vote in which 49 Senators voted to extend no-limits abortion to all 50 states. It is currently legal in six states plus the District of Columbia. And a radical movement is seeking to extend traditional abortion to infanticide. In Maryland, proposed legislation would allow for infanticide up to 28 days following the child's birth. ^^ At the same time, the Biden Administration has required American taxpayers to use their hard-earned paychecks to unwillingly fund abortions, even when many of them strongly oppose the practice because of their religious beliefs. This requirement conflicts with the Hyde Amendment, which was specifically created following the Roe v. Wade decision to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding abortion services. ^^ A 2022 poll shows that a majority of Americans oppose surrendering their hard-earned taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. Furthermore, "Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Americans either "oppose" or "strongly oppose" using tax dollars to support abortion abroad, including 59% who self- identify as pro-choice." ^^ The original Hyde Amendment applied to Medicaid-funded abortions and contained only a limited exception if the mother's life was in jeopardy. In subsequent years, Congress expanded the Hyde Amendment's language protecting taxpayers from financing abortions. The language now includes additional funding streams such as TRICARE, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and the Peace Corps. ^^ Since the amendment's original enactment in 1976, American presidents have maintained Hyde Amendment provisions in their federal budget proposals every year. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has broken decades of precedent by excluding the Hyde Amendment from its federal budget proposal, instead calling for direct taxpayer funding for abortions both domestically and abroad. ^^ Despite the overwhelming push of the media, the progressive movement, and the executive branch, the message from the radical pro-abortion agenda is not winning. Instead, the anti-life coalition has experienced a sharp decline in nationwide support for unrestricted abortions in recent years. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 71% of Americans agree that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases after the first trimester. ^^ * Three-quarters of Americans believe that "doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals who have religious objections to abortion should not be forced to perform them." ^^ * A majority of Americans believe organizations that have religious objections to abortion should not be legally required to provide insurance coverage for abortion. ^^ * 73% of Americans either "oppose" or "strongly oppose" using tax dollars to support abortion abroad. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * End all federal funding that supports Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, domestically and globally. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Redirect funding to crisis pregnancy resource centers to promote term delivery and life. ^^ * Directly protect the life of the unborn by ending late- term abortions, and require all health centers to provide and educate on all options that promote life, including adoption. ^^ * Require ultrasounds prior to any abortion for accurate pregnancy dating, including chemical abortion accessed through telemedicine or in-person visits. ^^ * Ensure parental consent for any pregnancy-related medical support or activity for women under the age of 18 (minors).Women's SportsDefend Female Athletes and Preserve Fairness in Women's Sports_bfc1b1ac-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea003.5Female AthletesAmerican women and girls, including our female athletes, deserve a fair chance to work hard to pursue their dreams. Allowing biological men to dominate women’s sports accomplishes the opposite of fairness and undermines female achievement, thereby disincentivizing female athletes from working hard to reach their goals. This unfair movement by the Left undercuts the essence of our longstanding American tradition: hard work, determination, and honesty. ^^ In January 2021, the Biden Administration issued an executive order expanding the longstanding definition of “sex” to encompass more than purely biological males and females. The expanded definition now includes abstract concepts such as "gender identity" that have particular impacts on competitive women's sports. Camouflaging the order as an initiative to "combat discrimination," the current administration’s federal policy harms female athletes and robs them of athletic opportunity by blurring biological truths. Additionally, some governors have even vetoed state legislation that would ensure fairness in women's sports. ^^ The most prominent example of the consequences of these actions is swimmer Lia Thomas, who made recent history as the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. After competing on the University of Pennsylvania's male swim team for three years, Thomas has taken advantage of the NCAA's anti-woman policies and shattered records as a biological male identifying as a woman and competing on the university's women’s team. ^^ This rewrite of biological reality will continue to result in the male domination of female spaces. It will also continue to erode female privacy within restrooms, locker rooms, prisons, and shelters, putting women and girls in danger. A glaringly anti-woman agenda has been thrust onto the American people, effectively robbing women and girls of fairness in sports and distorting biological reality. ^^ This radical agenda is anti-science. Proponents actively encourage biological males to compete on and dominate teams not of their biological sex when scientifically, males and females are built and operate differently. When it comes to athletic competition, there are many instances when no amount of training or talent can overcome the biological differences between the sexes. Policies that allow biological men to compete on women’s teams fail to address several remaining disparities between the sexes, including immutable characteristics such as physical size, muscular structure, and height. ^^ Simply put, it is not bigoted to recognize biology, reality, and science. A solid majority of Americans, 62%, are united in the belief that athletes should compete on teams based on biological sex. We must not turn our backs on hardworking female athletes who are deserving of a fair chance. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 62% believe that biological men who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in organized women’s sports programs. ^^ * 66% of Americans agree that it should be against the law to perform a sex-change surgery on anyone under the age of 18. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Direct all executive departments to define "sex" to reflect science as biologically male and female, rejecting “gender identity” and "gender orientation" as the definition of sex. ^^ * Support federal safeguards for educational and athletic institutions to designate teams based on biological sex to protect women in sports. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Encourage attorneys general to bring litigation against the federal government if the federal government redefines sex to include “gender identity” under Title IX or any other regulation. ^^ * Support state safeguards for educational and athletic institutions to designate teams dependent upon biological sex to protect women in sports.EducationGive Parents More Control Over the Education of Their Children_bfc1b5e4-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea00Pillar 4ParentsThe American Founders worked to establish our system of public education for a singular end: to prepare Americans for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Today, we have a responsibility to empower families with quality education options that nurture our communities and strengthen our Nation. ^^ We also have a responsibility to educate our next generation about the ideals and values that make our country great. America’s Founding Fathers recognized that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." Sadly, liberal academics and demagogues are challenging this self-evident proposition by embracing identity politics, division, and submission. Instead of dividing our country by teaching an alternative version of our country’s story, our Nation’s schools should affirm and celebrate America. ^^ To accomplish these goals, we must fight for the advancement of educational opportunity for all American families. This means putting parents and students -- not bureaucrats, unions, or politicians -- in charge of educating our Nation’s next generation. We also must challenge progressive policies by standing against curriculum that includes patently dishonest and activist-driven information about the U.S. and our founding. ^^ Additionally, we must give every parent the right to see all curriculum materials, and encourage schools to teach basic skills that prepare students for life as adults. ^^ By focusing on these areas, we can help restore our public education system so it provides more choice, prepares students for lives as productive citizens, and instills our next generation with a full understanding of America's values and heritage.School ChoiceGive Parents Control by Allowing Them to Select the School Their Child Attends_bfc1b68e-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea004.1ParentsEvery student deserves access to a quality education that provides the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, many children in America are still assigned to schools that do not meet their individual needs, and many parents are limited in their ability to move to a new community for a different school. ^^ Parental school choice allows families to take education dollars for their child to an approved education provider of their choice. Parents have choices between traditional public schools, public charter schools, private schools, virtual learning, and homeschooling. Additionally, parents can access private school choice through tax credit scholarship programs, vouchers, education savings accounts, and individual tax credits. ^^ School choice options for families have grown over time. Today, there are more than 7,500 charter schools across the country serving more than 3.3 million students. Twenty- nine voucher programs are offered in 16 different states and serve more than 248,245 students. Additionally, there are 26 tax-credit scholarship programs in 21 states serving more than 300,000 students. ^^ March 2020 will forever be remembered as the time public schools in America closed their doors, leaving millions of children and families without on-site school. Their subsequent failure to be more proactive in reopening their campuses created an increase in support for school choice policies nationwide. ^^ Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has stalled progress on advancing school choice policies. The Administration recently proposed an unprecedented rewrite of the bipartisan federal Charter Schools Program (CSP).The new language gives the Department of Education the authority to act like a restrictive national charter school board, with one-size-fits-all rules. These regulations would severely limit the types of schools that could apply for funding and would restrict any potential expansion of charter school programs. It also recommended to phase out the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program by 2023. ^^ In spite of the current administration’s policies, 2021 was hailed as the "Year of School Choice." Seven new school choice programs were created, and 21 existing programs were expanded across 18 states. In 2022, more than double this number of states have seen legislation introduced that would expand educational freedom for families. ^^ The timing of the increase in new legislation empowering parents is a response to what has happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educational freedom is a tool that has a proven record of putting students and families first, and parents need to be given the power to choose the best educational opportunities for their children. The heartfelt efforts of these concerned parents at local school board meetings have created a movement and a moment in time when families are choosing educational freedom. ^^ ZIP codes and backgrounds should not determine a child's future. Instead, scaling up choice in education across the Nation can increase competition among providers, reduce opportunity gaps for our more vulnerable students, and improve the quality of education for all children. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Just 18% of Americans are opposed to school choice. ^^ * Support for school choice in America has increased from 64% to 72% since April 2020. ^^ * Students who live in states that offer more school choice options have higher reading and math test scores. ^^ * Standardized test scores significantly improve for students who exercised school choice compared to similar students who did not exercise such choice. ^^ * Students who earned a scholarship from the D.C.Opportunity Scholarship Program in Washington, D.C., are 12% more likely to complete high school. ^^ * Florida workers between the ages of 23 and 25 who had attended charter schools earned more annually than students who attended traditional public schools. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Expand education freedom and opportunity for students by providing incentives to fund scholarship awards to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Enable statewide open enrollment and eliminate school district boundaries, allowing parents to enroll their children at any school in the state. ^^ * Expand access to charter schools. ^^ * Assist low-income families and special-needs students by providing education scholarship accounts. Curriculum MaterialsGive Every Parent the Right to See All Curriculum Materials in Every Class Their Child Attends_bfc1b882-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea004.2ParentsThe formal authority to approve curriculum for public schools rests with states and local school boards. However, the authority for educating children rests with parents. As such, they should be involved early in the approval process in determining what qualifies as appropriate content for curriculum and lesson plans. Today's contentious debates over using classrooms for political activism rather than teaching a complete and accurate account of American history have reinvigorated calls for greater parental and citizen involvement in the curriculum approval process. ^^ Unfortunately for our students, education activists have sought to introduce factually inaccurate and damaging teachings into our Nation's schools. At the same time, teachers' unions and the ACLU have fought viciously against increased transparency measures. This obstruction is directly counter to the preferences of the overwhelming majority of Americans. When surveyed, 84% of people said they believe parents should be able to see all curriculum plans and materials. ^^ This raises an important question: what are activists so scared that parents will see? Actions speak louder than words, and the answer has become increasingly clear with the rise of race-based policies in schools. Many children are being taught to see white supremacy everywhere, indoctrinated to believe America’s foundation was built on racism, talked to about sex and gender identity in developmentally inappropriate ways, and presented with other questionable curriculum. Much of this is happening intentionally without parental knowledge or consent. ^^ A majority of voters believe that school boards do not respect the role of parents. Additionally, nearly 70% of voters believe public schools have lowered standards rather than demanding more from students, which has motivated parents, activists, and policymakers to demand increased transparency in our schools. ^^ Officials that have the authority to make and approve curriculum do so as stewards of the public's trust. The taxpayers and parents who schools ultimately answer to deserve to know what schools are teaching and how tax dollars are being spent. Resistance to commonsense transparency efforts is yet another example of education bureaucrats, teachers’ unions, and radical activists working against the interests of everyday families. Surmounting these hurdles by successfully increasing educational transparency and accountability will restore confidence that America's youth are learning accurate, appropriate content at school that will prepare them for adulthood. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 84% of voters believe that parents should be able to see all curriculum plans and materials for classes their children take. ^^ * 56% of voters strongly support curriculum transparency. A 68% of voters believe most public schools have lowered standards rather than demanding more from students. ^^ * 56% of voters believe public school boards do not respect the role of parents. ^^ * Curriculum transparency legislation was introduced in more than 20 states during the 2021-2022 legislative session. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Mandate that schools and teachers share all curriculum, educational standards, and lesson plans with all current and prospective parents in a timely and user-friendly manner. ^^ * Protect parents' rights to know what their children are learning in public schools. ^^ * Protect parents' voices in deciding what is best for their children through increased curriculum transparency and accountability. ^^ * Create efficient processes by which parents can challenge materials that are age-inappropriate or otherwise unsuitable for public school classrooms.Basic SkillsEncourage Schools to Teach Basic Skills that Prepare Students for Life as an Adult_bfc1bc74-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea004.3StudentsAdultsThe overarching goal of our country’s education system is to teach students the knowledge and the critical thinking skills they need to succeed as independent, responsible adults. Unfortunately, education systems today are focused on checking boxes, teaching scripted curriculum, and administering standardized tests. We need to return to ensuring students think creatively and act independently. ^^ Parents and teachers should partner as they work to prepare students for their future lives as adults. The important life skills they will need as they enter adulthood include communication skills, goal setting, budgeting, physical fitness, and time management. Too many students today are simply expected to pick up this information informally and on their own as they progress through high school. But if students are never taught what these skills are and how to specifically use them, society cannot expect young adults to be prepared for college, career, and most importantly, life. ^^ Students need core courses like algebra and geometry, but these courses alone do not teach them everything they must know to achieve success. Many high school graduates finish school not knowing how to create a budget, balance a checkbook, read bank statements, or plan for savings. The consequences of this lack of training often become evident quickly, as many students take out student loans to pay for college. Credit card companies then target college students with free offers for signing up for new cards, and these students accumulate significant debt by the time they graduate. ^^ Several classes could help high school students with their transition into adult life, including courses on financial literacy, career pathways, classical physical education, nutrition, and mental health. These classes could all be integrated into existing coursework and would significantly help students obtain the life skills needed to be successful in their careers and communities. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 45 million borrowers in the U.S. have a total student loan debt of $1.7 trillion. ^^ * In a 2018 study, only one-third of adults could answer at least four of five financial literacy questions regarding mortgages, interest rates, inflation, and risk. ^^ * Less than one-quarter of U.S. children ages 6-17 years exercise for the recommended 60 minutes per day. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Encourage states to use funds from the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and from Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for the purposes of: ^^ * Financial literacy instruction; ^^ * Critical thinking; ^^ * Digital literacy; and ^^ * Obtaining skills necessary for successful transition into and completion of postsecondary education, training, or employment. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Encourage schools to teach basic skills that prepare students for life as an adult. ^^ * Promote supplemental life skills education. ^^ * Develop accountability models that include credit for offering basic skills courses for high school students. ^^ * Implement successful models of classical physical education programs in schools.America's HistoryAdvocate for Teaching the Truth About America's History_bfc1c110-5c2c-11f0-be57-71bf1383ea004.4Over the past year, parents have been rudely awakened to the deficiencies of many of America’s schools. They have noticed a cavalier disregard for their concerns by education bureaucrats, politicians, and activists who seek to impose an ideological agenda on America's children. All too often, they espouse the view that parents should take a back seat when it comes to their children’s education, despite evidence of mounting failures by the education establishment. ^^ While teachers deserve tremendous respect for the professionalism they bring to their jobs, education activists have sought to introduce factually inaccurate and damaging teachings into our Nation’s schools. Racially divisive policies and theories and false teachings of the American founding are indoctrinating America's youth with an anti-American ideology instead of preparing them for engaged citizenship by teaching rigorous subject matter. ^^ We need honest teaching of America’s history in our schools, not a political agenda. Instead of promoting inaccurate and unpatriotic concepts, our schools should teach the true story about our Nation’s incredible yet imperfect history. When our students are taught the truth about our Nation's founding, they will be proud to be Americans and will have a greater appreciation for their freedoms and the importance of defending them. ^^ One example of activist, inaccurate teaching is The New York Times’s 1619 Project. This project is radical political advocacy masquerading as "journalism" with the goals of reframing American history and challenging national memory. The 1619 Project makes many historically inaccurate claims. While top historians in the country have disputed the accuracy of the 1619 Project, it has still been turned into a curriculum that has been disseminated in more than 4,500 schools across the country. ^^ Contrary to what the majority of parents want, thousands of schools continue to use theories and projects that bring politics directly into the classroom. Some of the most alarming examples include an elementary school in Philadelphia forcing their fifth grade students to simulate a black power rally, the Oregon Department of Education adopting Critical Race Theory in mathematics, and Rockville Center High School in New York giving out a homework assignment that "demonized" the police. And the State of Illinois recently revised its teaching standards to require that educators "explore their own intersecting identities" and "critically think about the institutions in which they find themselves, working to reform [them] wherever necessary." ^^ Using political activism in our classrooms to tell a dishonest story of America to our children is wrong. Instead, we need to teach the accurate history of America, including our country’s struggles, faults, and missteps. America is not perfect, but we have long strived to live up to the founding ideals that make this country the most free and prosperous in the world. Only by teaching the honest American story can we learn from our past faults and failures and rally behind the noble ideas our Nation was founded on. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 75% of parents with K-12 students do not believe schools should teach that "the founding ideals of liberty and equality were false when they were written, and America’s history must be reframed." ^^ * 80% of Americans oppose using classrooms to promote political activism to students. ^^ * 69% of Americans oppose schools teaching that America was founded on racism and is structurally racist. ^^ * Nearly 66% of Americans surveyed believe America’s public schools are headed off on the wrong track. ^^ * Just 24% of Americans believe schools are headed in the right direction in terms of what children are being taught. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Ensure no current or future policies link federal education funding to the teaching of revisionist history, bigotry, or any other dishonest teaching. ^^ * Preserve the right for states to control their education systems. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Ensure that no child in public school be compelled or directed to adopt or express belief in or support for bigotry or a revisionist history of America’s founding. ^^ * Ensure that public schools teach core texts in American political development -- including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Emancipation Proclamation, and others -- and that students demonstrate basic civic literacy as a condition of graduation. ^^ * Reform educator certification standards to state that courses that direct or compel students to express support for bigotry or a revisionist history of America should not be approved as counting toward educator certifications.Border, Trafficking & CartelsSecure the Border, End Human Trafficking, and Defeat the Drug Cartels_a4dc79e4-628a-11f0-923d-86700483ea00Pillar 5As our world becomes more complex, so do the threats we face. Terrorism remains a global reality, and America’s ability to prevent attacks in the U.S. is only as strong as its weakest link at any given moment. Today, our ability to protect our homeland depends on having strong border security, an orderly immigration system, and robust counterterrorism measures. ^^ The halted construction of the border wall system on the southern border has weakened our border security and endangered Americans. Instead of focusing on what it needs to do to keep the American people safe, the federal government has reversed several vital improvements in border security and immigration enforcement. ^^ It has restored catch and release, politicized integral counterterrorism efforts, and shut down international cooperation that had reduced illegal immigration to the U.S. All of these actions have hampered our ability to protect American citizens. ^^ The failure to secure the border has also created an opioid epidemic that has made every state a border state. Chinese-manufactured fentanyl is being moved across the border by Mexican cartels and is now the leading cause of death for young Americans. ^^ An America First approach requires us to vigorously enforce the law and deliver the tools necessary to solve the most serious problems. This approach includes finishing the wall and stopping human trafficking. We must also defeat the drug cartels and modernize and restore integrity to our Nation’s immigration system. Finally, we must strengthen our counterterrorism capacity and defend our country’s critical infrastructure. ^^ Implementing this approach and focusing on these efforts will enable the U.S. to secure our border and protect the American people as we move forward in the 21st century.WallFinish the Wall_a4dc85b0-628a-11f0-923d-86700483ea005.1A nation without borders is no nation at all. At one time, physical border barriers were considered a commonsense and bipartisan approach to securing our homeland. In 2006, more than 80 members of the United States Senate voted for the Secure Fence Act, authorizing the construction of physical barriers along the southern border. ^^ Federal law enforcement officers responsible for patrolling the border and keeping Americans safe have long advocated for an effective border wall system as part of a comprehensive border security strategy. ^^ Starting in 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) started constructing a border wall system with several types of infrastructure, including but not limited to: ^^ * Internally hardened steel-bollard barriers that ranged from 18 feet to 30 feet high; ^^ * New and improved all-weather access roads; ^^ * Perimeter lighting; and ^^ * Enforcement cameras. ^^ * An effective border wall system enables the U.S. government -- not cartels and human traffickers -- to decide where people and goods cross the border. Effective border wall systems cause illegal crossings and crime to fall. ^^ Towards the end of the previous administration, nearly two miles of border wall were being built each day, and 450 miles of wall had been completed in high-priority areas identified by law enforcement officials. ^^ Unfortunately, the current administration immediately halted border wall construction upon taking office. This decision endangered everyday Americans and Border Patrol agents on top of wasting billions of taxpayer dollars earmarked for construction. Malicious actors are taking full advantage of our porous border, and illegal immigration has surged since January 2021. ^^ During 2021, we witnessed the highest number of southern border apprehensions in history. That is, until 2022, which set a new record before the fiscal year even ended. Hidden within the unvetted flood of illegal aliens are potential public safety and national security threats. We have also seen an immense spike in human trafficking, drug trafficking, and drug overdoses, largely due to the importation of illicit fentanyl. Drug overdoses now surpass car accidents as the leading killer of young Americans. ^^ Absent federal leadership, states have begun taking steps to protect their citizens by enforcing state laws that curb illegal immigration. Texas began construction of the first-ever state-funded border wall system, and non-border states are now partnering to mitigate the crisis created by the decision to stop construction of the southern border wall. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 450 miles of new border wall were built between January 2017 and January 2021, and 250-300 more miles had been fully funded. ^^ * In one short 12-mile section in the San Diego Sector, the wall reduced CBP manpower needs by 150 agents every 24 hours, saving taxpayers $28 million per year in salaries and benefits. ^^ * In the Yuma Sector, illegal entries in areas with the new border wall system dropped by 87% from fiscal years 2019 to 2020. ^^ * In the El Paso Sector, drug smuggling efforts fell by as much as 81% in areas with the border wall system. ^^ * Illegal apprehensions at the southern border increased by 278% to a historic high of 1.7 million in fiscal year 2021 since the halted construction of the border wall. ^^ * More than 2.1 million apprehensions have taken place so far in 2022. ^^ * The Border Patrol has estimated that there have been more than 900,000 gotaways since the beginning of the Biden Administration. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Finish constructing the border wall system and fully fund the Border Patrol agents needed to secure the border. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Construct physical border infrastructure and create or expand other non-wall buffers along the U.S.-Mexico border. ^^ * Expand, widen, and/or dredge waterways on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande River.Human TraffickingStop Human Trafficking by Instituting Effective Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Policies_a4dc8d44-628a-11f0-923d-86700483ea005.2Human trafficking is extremely lucrative to those who seek to gain from enslaving others. It accounts for an estimated $150 billion in annual global profits and is far more prevalent than many realize. The forms of exploitation, sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude that constitute human trafficking are completely antithetical to the principles of human dignity that Americans hold dear. ^^ People become victims of human trafficking in several different ways. But no matter the method, origin, or type of exploitation endured, we must stop this evil practice in its tracks through effective policies. The previous administration made the fight against modern slavery one of its signature issues. In a relatively short amount of time, it issued two executive orders targeting human trafficking in the administration’s first 100 days, signed a record-breaking nine pieces of bipartisan legislation into law, and created the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) -- a Cabinet-level entity consisting of 15 departments and agencies that worked to prosecute traffickers and protect survivors. These actions should have served as a foundation for action going forward. ^^ Unfortunately, the federal government has not maintained this sense of urgency or forward progress. None of the current administration’s unprecedented number of executive orders in its first 100 days addressed the scourge of human trafficking. And the current administration has done almost nothing of substance to combat this heinous crime. Inexplicably, it eliminated the Victims of Immigration Crime Enforcement (VOICE) office within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that provided support to the victims of crimes committed by removable aliens. ^^ In the wake of this neglect, the southern border has essentially become a feeding zone for traffickers, a tragic effect of the current administration’s open borders immigration policies. It has never been easier for traffickers to gain access to children, endangering our most vulnerable citizens. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Cartels engaged in human trafficking and/or smuggling earn as much as $14 million per day by taking advantage of the porous southern border. ^^ * Nearly 500,000 victims of human trafficking are located in the U.S. ^^ * Nearly 71% of all reported incidents of human trafficking were related to sex trafficking. ^^ * An unprecedented two million illegal apprehensions were made along the southern border in 2021. ^^ * More than 150,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) entered the U.S. in 2021, an increase of 339% from 2020 figures. ^^ * 140,000 UACs have already been apprehended at the border this fiscal year through August. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Launch new awareness campaigns or expand upon existing ones that combat human trafficking. ^^ * Reconstitute the Victims of Immigration Crime Enforcement (VOICE) office within DHS. ^^ * Increase the outreach efforts by DHS, DOJ, and other government agencies engaged in the anti-human trafficking to their industry partners. ^^ * By doing so, these agencies can provide education on identifying individuals potentially entrapped by human trafficking or goods produced through forced labor practices. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Impose a fee on outgoing wire transfers to disrupt the ability of trafficking and smuggling networks to send money for illicit activities. This additional revenue could better fund law enforcement efforts to combat the cartels and recover the costs of illegal immigration imposed on state taxpayers. ^^ * Enhance scrutiny of and requirements for state-licensed facilities to house UACs.Drug CartelsDefeat the Drug Cartels_a4dc93ca-628a-11f0-923d-86700483ea005.3Each year, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) pour tens of billions of dollars’ worth of illegal contraband into American communities. The drugs and weapons infiltrating our country's neighborhoods have caused immeasurable harm, loss of life, and economic distress for millions of American citizens. ^^ The cartels also facilitate the humanitarian crisis associated with their human trafficking and human smuggling operations. Lax border security and immigration enforcement measures have only emboldened these cartels to move even greater amounts of illegal drugs, weapons, and human beings throughout our Nation. ^^ Tragically, 2021 was the worst year on record for both illegal border crossings and drug overdoses in the U.S. Nearly two million apprehensions were made at the southern border in 2021, and more than 100,000 Americans died from overdoses. These two phenomena are connected. The TCOs and drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) that operate throughout Mexico and have affiliates in hundreds of American cities are at the intersection of these dangerous trends. Today, these cartels are operating freely in Mexico and control vast amounts of territory along the border. Just as our Nation prioritizes defeating terrorist organizations overseas, we should treat threats from TCOs and DTOs with equal seriousness. ^^ Securing the border is the first step in addressing the cartels’ scope and reach. When we reduce illegal immigration, we free up Border Patrol resources to target other criminal activity. Unfortunately, the current administration has significantly rolled back or discontinued many of the policies that made our border more secure in recent years. Such policies include the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program that required aliens claiming asylum to wait in Mexico until their claims were adjudicated. The current administration also discontinued Asylum Cooperative Agreements, which allowed the U.S. to send asylum seekers to a safe "third" country if they had not first sought protection in a country passed through on the journey north. These and other policies made it more difficult for the cartels to operate with impunity, and they should fully resume immediately. ^^ Mexican cartels have become more brazen and are putting our frontline Border Patrol agents and officers at risk. We must disrupt the cartels by ending policies they exploit for financial gain, and we should also consider launching offensive cyber operations. ^^ When possible, the U.S. should partner with Mexico, but we should never forget that border security and national security are unilateral obligations of the federal government. Confronting cartels, TCOs, and DTOs begins with maintaining border integrity and reducing the demand from American citizens for addictive narcotics. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * TCOs and DTOs represent a clear and present danger to stability in Central America and have widespread secondary and tertiary impacts on the U.S. Illegal immigration, which has skyrocketed under the Biden Administration, contributes to the growth and power of TCOs and DTOs. ^^ * Illegal immigration is an integral part of the drug supply chain, as the cartels move illicit drugs into the country while the Border Patrol is preoccupied with apprehending illegal aliens. ^^ * Mexican cartels reportedly earn upwards of $14 million per day for their human smuggling activities. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Adopt a whole-of-government approach to combatting the cartels along the U.S.-Mexico border, including disrupting their human and drug smuggling operations and freezing assets. ^^ * Limit the supply of fentanyl, methamphetamines, and pill processing equipment from China through tariffs and sanctions. ^^ * Return U.S. Border Patrol personnel to the front lines to secure vulnerabilities along the border.ImmigrationModernize and Restore Integrity to the Immigration System_a4dc9b4a-628a-11f0-923d-86700483ea005.4A successful legal immigration system must be orderly and prioritize the interests of U.S. citizens. The legal immigration framework should have a deliberate design that matches America’s needs with the aspirations, skills, and qualities of those who lawfully seek to enter our shores. Unfortunately, the current system fails on all counts, as most new immigrants are selected based on a familial relationship with another immigrant, and very few are selected on the basis of merit. ^^ To restore integrity to the legal immigration system, we must prioritize the selection of new immigrants based on individual merit and skill, which facilitates success both for the immigrants and Americans. ^^ America’s excessive reliance on chain migration -- a policy that enables one immigrant to bring his or her extended family, who then can bring their families, and so on -- undermines the interests of U.S. citizens. It does so by encouraging high levels of low-skilled immigration that puts downward pressure on the wages of the most vulnerable Americans and strains public services. The U.S. should discontinue chain migration and the visa lottery that randomly awards green cards to people with little education or skills and no ties to our country. ^^ The same problem exists with the current temporary foreign worker visa programs. These are ripe for exploitation in both blue-collar and white-collar industries as they lack meaningful labor protections for American workers. In the past, the U.S. has tried to upskill the selection of H-1B visas by replacing the lottery with a skills-based selection process. The Biden Administration abandoned this reform, ensuring that most H-1Bs go to the lowest skilled alien workers. ^^ Recent college graduates are especially harmed by Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows foreign graduates to work in the U.S. for up to three years while being exempt from payroll taxes. Congress never authorized this program, and its operation allows hundreds of thousands of foreign workers each year to obtain jobs at a discount compared to American citizens. ^^ The ability to become a naturalized U.S. citizen is the greatest immigration benefit our country offers. Anyone seeking to join in our great experiment in freedom and opportunity must fully assimilate, embody our virtues, and respect our laws. An immigration system that puts an alien on a path to U.S. citizenship must ensure that it prioritizes the interests of American citizens. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The U.S. has more immigrants than any other country in the world, with more than 45 million people having been born in another country. ^^ * The U.S. awards approximately 1.1 million lawful permanent residents (LPR) with a green card each year. Less than 15% of this total is based on the alien’s merit. ^^ * Hundreds of thousands of aliens are in the U.S. on temporary work visas across the economy, with no meaningful labor protections for American workers. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Prioritize merit-based immigration to better ensure that incoming immigrants have skills that serve the economic interests of America and its citizens. ^^ * Ensure guest worker programs have a meaningful labor market test to prevent foreign workers from replacing qualified American workers. ^^ * Ensure robust worksite enforcement after placement to verify that employers and foreign workers are abiding by the terms of their work visas. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Mandate E-Verify usage by every state government agency to ensure all employers only utilize authorized workers. ^^ * Establish criminal and civil penalties (such as the suspension of business licenses) for employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens or conceal their presence.Infrastructure & CounterterrorismBoost Counterterrorism Capacity and Defend Critical Infrastructure_a4dc9ece-628a-11f0-923d-86700483ea005.5The national security of the U.S. requires that all individuals seeking entry to our country be properly and thoroughly vetted and screened, ensuring no individuals have a nexus to terrorism. Our Nation’s ability to defend the homeland from potential terrorists is largely dependent upon our ability to prevent these individuals from entering the U.S. in the first place. Accomplishing this objective and expanding America's "virtual borders" within the framework of an evolving threat environment requires continued cooperation with our global and interagency partners, as well as enhanced and streamlined information sharing protocols. ^^ During the previous administration, DHS greatly matured these processes through the opening of the National Vetting Center (NVC). The NVC allows agencies vetting individuals seeking entry into the U.S. to have a common framework for sharing and interpreting information, streamlining the process and ensuring that key information is not missed or “lost in translation” when communicated between different agencies and partners. The current administration’s failure to continue this whole-of-government approach to counterterrorism has critically reversed many of those recent gains. ^^ Over the past year, the Biden Administration has hampered the capabilities of CBP, one of the world’s largest law enforcement organizations and the agency responsible for administering the NVC. The CBP must now constantly divert its limited resources to screen illegal aliens and care for unaccompanied alien children -- a problem that is exacerbated by the current administration encouraging and incentivizing illegal immigration. ^^ Counterterrorism efforts are a critical mission of CBP as it anticipates, detects, and intercepts threats before and at ports of entry. Key efforts include disrupting terrorist travel through passenger name record data, sharing watchlists of affiliated terrorists, and providing our allies with key tools such as the Automated Targeting System, which uses data for risk-based scenario assessments. These essential roles in our national security activities are less prioritized because of the border crisis. ^^ Additionally, our Nation is currently seeing an inclination among some officials to significantly curtail federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration. This collaboration is integral to our country’s ability to identify and prevent terrorist attacks. ^^ The Biden Administration’s decision to halt participation in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program has also significantly decreased our internal capacity to protect the homeland. This highly successful collaborative program allows for the delegation of limited federal immigration authorities to participating state or local law enforcement entities. Moves among some officials to eliminate state or local participation within federal law enforcement task forces have had a similar effect. ^^ The current approach places American citizens and communities at risk while compounding the risks to our digital and critical infrastructure -- essential elements of America's national and economic security. Since the 9/11 attack, the threats against our homeland have evolved and become even more sophisticated. Vigilance in the face of these threats requires a willingness to commit to the principles of collaboration and information sharing that are essential to the identification and interdiction of terror attacks, whether physical or cyber in nature. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Every day, DHS stops an average of 10 aliens on the terrorist watchlist from entering the U.S. ^^ * Today, nearly 200 Joint Terrorism Task Forces exist throughout the Nation. Cyberattacks using malware spiked 358% in 2020, and cyberattacks using ransomware increased by 435%. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Require cooperation with and participation in ICE’s 287(g) program. Appropriate funding for DHS’s Homeland Security Grant Program to ensure continued robust support for the Nation's network of fusion centers. ^^ * Continue to expand America’s "virtual borders" by enhancing our cooperative efforts with trusted global partners. ^^ * Facilitate partnership between the government and private industry to protect our cyber resources and critical infrastructure. ^^ * Direct the Intelligence Community to raise the priority of collecting, identifying, and disseminating information about cyberattacks from nation-state and non-state actors to private entities. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Promote collaboration between state and local law enforcement with their federal counterparts through task force participation. ^^ * Develop Suspicious Activity Reporting protocols for state and local law enforcement agencies through participation in the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.PeaceDeliver Peace Through Strength and American Leadership_39d6d6b0-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea00Pillar 6The American victories in World War II and the Cold War established the U.S. as "the last, best hope for man on earth." Freedom’s cause in every part of the world depends upon a strong America. When our country is secure, we can advance American security abroad with greater confidence. ^^ An America First approach to national security ensures that power is used in the interest of the American people. Instead of falling in line with Washington’s increasingly obsolete foreign and defense policy orthodoxy, our foreign policy should reflect an authentically American approach to new problems, new threats, and established alliances. ^^ The U.S. has a unique role in the world, and our Nation has an unmatched ability to do best for others when its people are strong, safe, and prosperous. An America First approach demands that any commitments of American lives or dollars abroad come with concrete benefits for the American people. ^^ To strengthen national security, we must establish an America First foreign policy. This type of diplomacy prioritizes working with nations that contribute their fair share to important alliances and share our commitment to deterring adversaries. ^^ We must also maintain the world's most powerful military force and return our Armed Forces to their core missions of deterrence and warfighting. Additionally, we must pursue a bold new path to peace and prosperity in the Middle East and hold China accountable for its aggression against its neighbors, lack of transparency, and other actions. ^^ By focusing on these priorities, the U.S. can ensure that its approach to national security keeps America first in foreign affairs and protects our citizens from international threats while not over-extending itself economically or militarily at the expense of the American people. As the innovative approach of America First foreign policy during the previous administration has shown, America can defend itself and play a leading role in the world by avoiding new wars, brokering historic peace agreements, and fostering equal and fair burden sharing with our friends and partners.Foreign PolicyEstablish an America First Foreign Policy_39d6e4d4-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea006.1An America First approach to foreign policy is based on the idea that America is best positioned to lead in the world and preserve peace and stability when it places the safety, prosperity, and overall well-being of the American people first. This principle departs from the prevailing Washington approach, which prioritizes the preservation of multinational processes over the protection of American interests. To be clear, America First does not mean America alone, nor does it mean a return to isolationism. ^^ An America First approach to foreign policy acknowledges the reality of the world for what it is and other nations for what they are, rather than how the foreign policy establishment would like them to be. This premise offers the surest path to working productively with other nations in a manner that advances Americans' interests and security while avoiding economic overreach and unnecessary military conflicts. This approach entails a focused and judicious use of military power not only to deter adversaries, but, if deterrence fails, to fight and win our Nation's wars. Utilizing the U.S. military for its intended purpose ensures America does not become entangled in prolonged efforts such as nation-building exercises abroad. ^^ From January 2017 to January 2021, America's pragmatic, interests-driven transactional engagement with other nations coupled with strong pro-American economic and energy policies at home helped make America more secure and more prosperous than at any point in recent years. America’s foreign policy approach left other regions of the world more stable and peaceful, and it established a complete and urgently needed reversal of U.S. policy towards Communist China. By doing so, the Trump Administration was able to protect Americans from systemic theft of intellectual property, guard against espionage on American university campuses, lessen trade imbalances and, when COVID-19 struck American shores, hold Communist China accountable. The Trump Administration initiated robust efforts to address the threats from Russia and Iran, including sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. It also oversaw the initial transfer of lethal aid to Ukraine to bolster its security and sovereignty and restored a needed strategic deterrent against the Iranian government through the maximum pressure campaign. ^^ The America First approach to foreign policy enabled the U.S. to strengthen relationships with allies around the world while creating new opportunities to work with them, as exemplified by the historic Abraham Accords agreement. ^^ The previous administration's efforts regarding NATO highlight the importance of clear and fair burden sharing between America and our allies, both financially and militarily. Despite the Wales Declaration, signed by all NATO members, by January 2017, only five out of the nearly 30 members were slated to meet their commitments. Burden sharing was not only fair but was needed to ensure alignment among allies on collective security. ^^ These historic achievements were possible not only because the Trump Administration rejected establishment positions, but also because these achievements were built on clarity regarding American interests abroad and the threats facing the American people. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, only 10 out of 30 NATO members contributed the 2% of their GDP to which they committed in the 2014 Wales Declaration. ^^ * The Abraham Accords is the first peace agreement between Israel and its neighbors in more than 25 years, and the first-ever normalization of relations between the Israelis and the citizens of other Middle East nations. ^^ * After the signing of the Doha Agreement with the Taliban in February 2020 to begin intra-Afghan peace talks, not a single American service member was killed in Afghanistan from that moment until the end of the Trump Administration. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * End the use of military or tax dollars for nation building. ^^ * Support policies that tie federal funding -- whether military, diplomatic, or foreign assistance -- to clear objectives that directly benefit the American people. ^^ * Revamp foreign assistance, particularly through institutions such as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, into investments in local partnerships with clear economic benefit to their communities. ^^ * Give priority to nations that are willing to fight for themselves against common threats and have demonstrated a willingness to shoulder their share of the burden for providing for collective defense efforts. ^^ * Prioritize working with nations that contribute their fair share to our alliances. ^^ * In the European theater, reimpose defense ties with nations that have met or exceeded their 2% NATO GDP commitments and have demonstrated clear alignment of vision and resources with America’s in terms of countering Communist China and addressing the threat from Russia. ^^ * Do not subordinate national security policy to multilateral institutions and other nations. ^^ * In situations where multilateral institutions work in conflict with American security and interests, ^^ * America's leadership should reserve the right to withdraw American membership and cease sending taxpayer dollars to them.MilitaryMaintain the World’s Most Powerful Military Force_39d6ee66-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea006.2A strong military is foundational to protecting Americans and preserving our Nation’s standing and strength. It ensures the American people are safe and that the U.S. can keep its adversaries at bay. As other nations develop new capabilities and technological capabilities advance, it is more important than ever to have the world’s best trained and most well-equipped military. ^^ Maintaining a strong military is not exclusively about having a large top-line budget. It also requires our military to maintain a relentless focus on its core mission of deterrence and, if deterrence fails, fighting to win America’s wars. In addition, our military needs strong recruitment programs, and our government must ensure that defense acquisition efforts meet our current and future evolving needs. By achieving these objectives, we will ensure that the U.S. military has the right capabilities to protect America’s interests and keep Americans safe and free. ^^ Today, the military is distracted from this core mission. The Biden Administration has imposed "woke" policies that have diverted focus from top threats while dividing and deterring America's service members. One high-profile effort by the current administration is focused on rooting out extremism from the military's ranks, which is an action driven more by politics rather than by military priorities. Some military academies have begun to focus their instruction on Critical Race Theory. Its leaders focus on historical revisionism instead of on the history of war. Eliminating divisive policies, which deter some of those seeking to enlist, will likely go a long way in repairing the military’s recruitment challenges. ^^ Key to maintaining a strong military is ensuring that America's defense budget and acquisition practices remain competitive and aligned with America’s strategic priorities. Any tax dollars spent in the name of “defense” that do not directly contribute to this mission are a diversion from it. The challenge of maintaining a responsible and needs-based defense budget is not only one of better congressional oversight. Rather, it is part of a broader and more longstanding component of the Washington ecosystem known as the "military-industrial complex" -- a symbiotic relationship between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the country's top defense companies. On one hand, this relationship has sustained a degree of trust and consistency in regards to the modernization of American military equipment. But, on the other hand, this robust relationship with a handful of companies has created a quasi-monopoly in contracting and in defining the technology DoD might need to fight the Nation’s wars. ^^ An America First approach to defense acquisition is best exemplified by an open and honest competition within the broader marketplace of ideas and beyond the traditional military-industrial complex. Myriad patriotic American start- up companies, including ones run by veterans drawing on their battlefield experience, can share a stage with the known entities in this space to describe how their services meet tomorrow's threats and add strategic effect to America's credible deterrence. Through this approach, America’s military can better inform conversations about how to pursue its mission requirements and about the range of American partners, existing and emerging, with whom to do so. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The U.S. has spent more than $8 trillion on efforts to fight terrorism across 85 countries. ^^ * The Biden Administration has instigated the largest discharge of service members in history through overly strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements -- assuming they are upheld by the courts. ^^ * Almost all service members' requests for relief from the vaccination requirement have been denied, with denial rates across the service branches of 99.53% for the Air Force, 99.75% for the Army, 100% for the Navy, and 99.83% for the Marine Corps. ^^ * Real (inflation-adjusted) federal government expenditures on national defense increased by more than $100 billion, or roughly 14%, between 2016 and 2020. ^^ * Federal national defense expenditures fell by approximately $80 billion (-10%) between 2008 and 2016. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Ensure the DoD budget reflects the military’s core missions of deterrence and warfighting. ^^ * Conduct a thorough review of all the training required of service members and ensure it meets core mission needs. ^^ * Eliminate non-military issues such as climate change and democracy promotion from military doctrine and defense policies. ^^ * Repair recruitment challenges by investing in service members and eliminating divisive departmental policies. ^^ * Review and revise DoD’s definition of what constitutes "extremism." ^^ * Define what "deterrence" and "warfighting" mean in the context of the threat from Communist China and the nature of the military challenge. ^^ * Conduct an agency-wide review to determine the capabilities needed to prepare for and deter Communist China. ^^ * Ban Communist China's access to U.S. infrastructure and ensure that the U.S. military and law enforcement are not dependent on Chinese drones and other technologies. ^^ * Deepen ties with partner nations by continuing to focus on foreign military sales programs and encouraging other countries to buy American. ^^ * Repurpose the Overseas Contingency Operations budget into research and development for new technologies and weapons systems, particularly satellites and hypersonic weapons.Middle EastPursue a Bold New Path to Peace and Prosperity in the Middle East_39d6f582-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea006.3Middle EastOne of our Nation's signature foreign policy achievements in the last few years was discarding failed, establishment thinking on the Middle East to achieve real, tangible progress toward peace. For decades prior, the "peace process" paradigm gave Palestinians de facto veto power over peace prospects for the region -- to little avail. ^^ This new approach to the Middle East relied on three premises: stand with our friends, stand up to our adversaries, and seek new ways to resolve longstanding challenges. In 2018, the U.S. demonstrated its unwavering support for Israel by implementing the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and moving the U.S. embassy there. It also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. ^^ At the same time, it rejected the deeply flawed 2015 nuclear deal with Iran (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) and instead introduced the “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign against Iran for its nuclear ambitions and its sponsorship of terrorism. In 2019, when an Iran-backed militia group killed an American contractor in Iraq, our government responded with the killing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—Qods Force (IRGC-QF) Commander Qasem Soleimani. ^^ This approach also paved the way for the historic achievement of the Abraham Accords agreement signed between the governments of Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The agreement ensured normalization of relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors, establishing channels for commercial and military cooperation between them that had not existed previously. ^^ As with other policy areas, the current administration has reversed many of these Middle East policies. It has halted the "maximum pressure" campaign as it seeks to bring Iran into a new nuclear deal, avoided mention of the Abraham Accords, and reverted to the approach of prior administrations. It has also elevated the Palestinian National Authority (PA), restoring economic assistance to it and opening an "Office of Palestinian Affairs" at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, despite public opposition by the Israeli government to the opening of a Palestinian consulate in the city. After 17 months of snubbing America’s Gulf allies, the administration began seeking their assistance to address the domestic challenge of rising gas prices. ^^ Nonetheless, America's allies in the region are building on the Abraham Accords and the bold foundation that was established a few years ago. This includes hosting the first joint military naval exercise between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, and an unprecedented free trade agreement between Israel and the UAE. Although our allies have demonstrated their ability to work together, they will need strong leadership from the U.S. to face emboldened adversaries and to continue building towards a safe and prosperous future. It also means pursuing a bold approach to upholding truth and standing up for friends at home by addressing the campaign of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) that is taking hold of campuses and corporations across America and by combatting false narratives and information advanced in Middle East studies curriculum. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ The Abraham Accords yielded the first joint military exercise between Israel and Gulf states, the first free trade agreement between Israel and the UAE, and other forms of unprecedented cooperation between Israel and its neighbors. In 2017, the PA paid terrorists and their families $350 million. All U.S. taxpayer dollars going to the PA were halted until it ceased paying families of terrorists. To date, 35 states have enacted some form of legislation to counter BDS. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Oppose elevation of the PA by reopening a U.S. Consulate for it in Jerusalem. ^^ * Oppose provision of U.S. assistance to the PA until it ceases support for terrorism. ^^ * Expand and build upon the Abraham Accords by deepening military and commercial ties. ^^ * Oppose any effort to agree to a new nuclear deal with Iran that is worse than the JCPOA. Such a deal could include concessions that would lift all U.S. sanctions and remove of any terrorist designations. ^^ * Restore the previous administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against the Iranian government. ^^ * Work to counter BDS efforts nationwide. ^^ * Refrain from rejoining the United Nations Human Rights Council and restoring funds to United Nations Relief and Works Agency until those organizations institute a balanced and fair treatment of Israel. ^^ * Push for greater integration of Israel into U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to include coordination with allies in the region in countering Iran’s malign influence and activities.ChinaHold Communist China Fully Accountable for Chronic Unfair Trade Practices, Stealing American Technologies, and Polluting our Planet’s Air and Oceans_39d6fe06-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea006.4ChinaThe People's Republic of China (PRC) and its ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) represent the premier national security threat to the United States. China’s concerning activities include chronic unfair trade practices, stealing American technologies, aggression against its neighbors, abuse of the environment, and an accelerating nuclear weapons program. Additionally, China has displayed a complete lack of transparency about the origins of COVID-19. We must hold China fully accountable for its actions. ^^ Before new tariffs were implemented in 2018, China’s intellectual property theft cost the U.S. an estimated $225 billion to $600 billion per year, and our trade deficit with China reached $418 billion. Both of these contributed to a hollowing out of America’s manufacturing base, which resulted in 3.7 million American jobs lost between 2001 and 2018. ^^ China is also a consistent aggressor against the free and democratic island of Taiwan. The PRC subjects Taiwan, which is also home to 90% of the world’s advanced computer chip production, to political, media, and psychological warfare and has openly stated that it is willing to conquer Taiwan with military force if necessary. We must provide Taiwan with the latest military equipment and training so its people can defend themselves. ^^ The CCP is the world’s leading polluter, contrary to the establishment narrative that wants to blame America first. A 2017 study showed that 90% of the single-use plastic that pollutes the world’s oceans comes from 10 rivers, six of which are in China, with one billion tons of plastic waste costing the fishing, maritime, and tourism industries billions of dollars that year. The PRC must be exposed for its disproportionate responsibility for ocean pollution, which poisons populations worldwide. ^^ China is also on track to become a top-tier nuclear power. A 2021 DOD report claimed that China may have “up to 700 deliverable nuclear warheads by 2027” and "likely intends to have at least 1,000 warheads by 2030." On the other hand, the U.S. has an aging and increasingly obsolete nuclear arsenal with no apparent plans to build new weapons. ^^ Finally, the CCP has not been transparent about how COVID-19 spread to the rest of the world, destroying global supply chains, depleting American wealth, and killing nearly one million Americans. Our government must do more to investigate origins of the virus to prevent a pandemic like this from happening again. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The PRC has the largest army and largest naval fleet in the world. ^^ * Beijing's official policy is to "reunify" with Taiwan including via military invasion if necessary. ^^ * The PRC is rapidly growing its nuclear warhead stockpile. A The CCP's systematic intellectual property theft has cost the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars. ^^ * COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, and has killed nearly one million Americans, crippled our economy, and damaged our supply chains. ^^ * China releases up to one billion tons of plastic waste into the ocean annually. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Maintain a defense budget large enough to sustain a robust deterrent in the Western Pacific, including naval, air, space, and cyber domains. ^^ * Vigorously support and equip our regional allies and partners with advanced military capabilities to counter China’s rise in East Asia. ^^ * End the political isolation of the Taiwanese people, and supply them with the military, diplomatic, and moral support needed to sustain them. ^^ * Strengthen and modernize our nuclear deterrent capabilities. ^^ * Prohibit intellectual property transfers to Chinese entities, enacting strict punishments for violators. ^^ * Ensure that the Phase One trade agreement with China is fully enforced, and maintain elevated tariffs on Chinese goods. ^^ * Launch a full and transparent investigation into COVID- 19’s origins in Wuhan, China. Seek China’s removal from leadership at the WHO.EnergyMake America Energy Independent_39d6fee2-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea00Pillar 7American ingenuity and entrepreneurialism have been transformational in creating and powering the modern energy landscape. By providing abundant and affordable energy to American homes and communities, more Americans are now able to pursue their dreams and grow their businesses. ^^ Our American energy sector achieved something else as well: in attaining new heights of innovation and development, the U.S. now provides the world with opportunity and security through its energy and energy technology exports. ^^ A policy environment that fosters American industry and innovation is the critical foundation to powering a cleaner, more prosperous future for the U.S. and the world. ^^ Unfortunately, Americans producers and innovators face mounting policy barriers that make it harder for them to provide the resources needed. We must act to safeguard a legacy of prosperity and security for future generations, not a legacy of stagnation, uncertainty, and crippling energy inflation. ^^ An America First approach that elevates energy independence to the center of American policy is essential to achieving these goals. An America First energy agenda is grounded in sound principles of free-market economics and transparent governance. This approach focuses on creating a transparent and fair regulatory environment that creates a level playing field for all energy sources to compete, eliminating harmful regulations and barriers to growth across industries, allowing for investment in crucial infrastructure and jobs, reducing dependence on unstable foreign energy sources, and protecting the environment. ^^ America First policies will reduce our reliance on foreign fuel and strengthen our position on the world stage, lower consumer energy and fuel costs, advance environmental protection, and promote and power a growing and prosperous economy for all Americans.IndependenceBecome Energy Independent to End America's Reliance on Foreign Sources of Oil and Gas_39d70482-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea007.1True energy independence means that the U.S. does not fall victim to the whims of energy cartels, adversaries, or unreliable foreign suppliers for its energy needs. When the U.S. is energy independent, the American people enjoy lower- cost energy and insulation from geopolitical instability. The U.S. must embrace its natural resources to drive economic growth, spur innovation, and ensure American interests always come first. ^^ Before 2019, the U.S. had not experienced net energy exports since 1952. But thanks to the shale revolution, the removal of the crude oil export ban, and the Trump Administration’s pro-domestic energy and pro-liquefied natural gas (LNG) export policies, the U.S. has become an energy superpower. Achieving this status has had profound impacts on the economic outlook of Americans. ^^ Unfortunately, this new era of energy independence is under threat from the anti-energy agenda and regulatory overreach of our government today. The current administration’s decision to halt federal leasing and deprive industry access to critical resources on federal lands undermines market certainty, leading to underdeveloped resources. This decision and others demonstrate its failure to recognize that the U.S. has the resources to safeguard energy independence. ^^ America First policies emphasize securing energy independence across a broad range of energy sources. Such an approach recognizes the importance of diversification and having redundancies in America’s energy ecosystem, especially in light of the unpredictability of future economic and geopolitical conditions. While fossil fuels will remain a core part of America’s energy backbone, our Nation’s ability to secure 21st century energy independence through world- leading technological innovation depends on several factors. These include having the industrial capacity to mine, extract, refine, and transport natural resources such as fossil fuels, critical minerals, rare earth elements, and uranium. ^^ In contrast to the Left's vision of putting all of America's energy eggs into one government-centric "green" energy basket -- exposing our Nation to dangerous levels of foreign dependence -- the America First approach relies on removing undue regulatory constraints. These constraints hamstring the private sector’s ability to take the lead in making critical investments that ensure America's energy independence regardless of which technologies end up prevailing in the energy marketplace. To facilitate such a robust marketplace, policymakers should also enhance access to federal lands for responsible resource development. ^^ Just a few years ago, America defied the doubters by becoming energy independent for the first time in more than half a century. With sound policy, America can once again achieve this milestone and take energy security into its own hands, ensuring that it will never again be dependent on untrustworthy foreign governments for its energy needs. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The U.S. is 100% dependent on imports for 17 critical minerals. ^^ * The U.S. is more than 50% dependent on imports for an additional 29 critical minerals. ^^ * The U.S. imports more than 90% of its uranium from foreign suppliers. ^^ * The U.S. increased nuclear power generation to the highest level on record in 2019 and increased renewable energy production to record levels. ^^ * In 2019, the U.S. became a net energy exporter, while also leading the world in CO2 emissions reductions the same year. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Ensure long-term certainty on future federal land leasing and encourage greater offshore and onshore oil and gas production. ^^ * Open the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). ^^ * Establish a clear pathway to energy independence for critical minerals and rare earth elements, including onshoring and near-shoring mining, processing, and recycling. ^^ * Restore and strengthen the uranium mining and conversion industries by streamlining permitting and removing regulatory hurdles (see "Create a Predictable, Transparent, and Efficient Permitting Process and Regulatory Environment"). ^^ * Establish a strategic uranium reserve to provide greater levels of market certainty while also safeguarding against potential supply disruptions. ^^ * Promote public-private partnerships for early-stage research, development, and deployment of next- generation nuclear power technology. ^^ * Promote new pathways for education and workforce development in nuclear power and engineering.Production & PricesLower the Price of Gas and Energy by Increasing Production of America's Energy Supplies_39d70c70-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea007.2Since January 2021, gas prices in the U.S. have risen by more than $1.50, or 40%, and energy costs overall have skyrocketed by nearly 24%. The result has been an uptick in energy poverty and strained family budgets. Americans are also subject to energy disruptions that occur at unpredictable moments, including one caused by rolling brownouts in California and power outages and temporary price spikes in the aftermath of large storms. Americans deserve access to affordable, reliable, and resilient energy that can handle the unexpected without dramatic disruptions or price increases. ^^ Sound policies that lower the price of energy by facilitating innovation are especially beneficial to America’s most vulnerable. This is because low-income households often spend a higher fraction of their income on energy than wealthier households do. The shale revolution between 2007 and 2019 enabled natural gas prices to drop by 63% and electricity prices to fall by 45%, leading to $2,500 in annual savings for the average family. ^^ By contrast, policies that impede American energy production or distort markets through outsized subsidies of renewables can harm energy affordability and reliability. Such policies artificially undermine the viability of existing technologies such as coal and natural gas-fired power plants that, despite being central to America’s energy ecosystem, have lost political favor in the eyes of the progressive Left. Stranding energy assets that could readily be used to generate power, especially during times of emergency, increases the threat that Americans will suffer from unreliable access to electricity and larger electricity bills. ^^ The policies of climate activists only exacerbate the difficulties of providing affordable and reliable energy. The burdensome regulatory policies pushed by “build-nothing” environmentalists mean additional costs for providers of the most affordable and reliable sources of power. These additional costs for providers expose Americans to a greater risk of rolling brownouts and blackouts. ^^ State and local geographies and policies also affect energy access and affordability and can amplify challenges, including permitting issues, market distortions, and problems with energy access. For example, regions, states, and territories with little to no interconnections are exposed to above-average electricity prices and energy supply disruption, particularly during natural disasters or supply shortages. ^^ The Jones Act is one policy that has repeatedly inflamed energy insecurity in these regions. By constraining maritime interstate commerce to American built, owned, and operated vessels, many of these regions are forced to look to foreign, often costlier, suppliers due to a stark lack of availability of Jones Act-compliant vessels. ^^ Our Nation needs policies that keep consumer costs low and ensure access to reliable energy supplies across the country so that no Americans face energy poverty or insecurity. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Low-income households spend on average 8.6% of their gross household income on energy compared to just 3% for non-low-income households. ^^ * Net electricity generation from nuclear power plants is projected to fall by 17% by 2025, or 8% by 2050. This represents a critical loss of clean baseload power generation at the expense of grid reliability and energy affordability. ^^ * Between 2010 and 2025, approximately 119 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired electricity generation capacity will have been retired. This will represent a one-third reduction since 2011 and will expose Americans to the risk of diminished grid reliability and larger electricity bills. ^^ * Renewable energy accounted for 70% of new planned electricity generation capacity in 2021 but currently accounts for only 12% of primary energy consumption. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Eliminate market distortions by ending inefficient subsidies, regulations, and financial regulations, from production to end-use. ^^ * Promote an expedited rehabilitation of decommissioned power plants to enable the use of existing infrastructure for new power generation capacity, ensuring continued economic opportunity and energy reliability. ^^ * Exempt the energy sector from logistical and supply chain constraints imposed by outdated legislation. ^^ * Doing so will ensure that communities with insufficient energy distribution networks can access American energy resources, regardless of a vessel’s flag.Regulations & PermitsCreate a Predictable, Transparent, and Efficient Permitting Process and Regulatory Environment_39d71148-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea007.3As long as Washington is in the driver’s seat picking winners and losers in the energy sector, the energy market will never have a true level playing field. The top-down approach to the rapid “green” revolution currently touted is not revolutionary at all. Instead, it relies on unpredictable and often opaque policies that will be ineffective and detrimental to the U.S. energy sector. ^^ Our country needs an America First approach that promotes an energy market in which competition and innovation are the key drivers of economic growth, and rightsized federal involvement ensures a free and fair market. This approach is characterized by federal policies that allow competition among all forms of energy and collaboration with the private sector on early-stage research, development, and deployment. This competition and collaboration would help ensure energy security, affordability, and reliability, as well as grid resiliency for American consumers. ^^ When these objectives are achieved, the American people will have access to the best form of energy for their regions at the lowest . They will also have greater employment opportunities, particularly in underserved regions such as Appalachia. However, this requires the creation of an environment that supports and propels American energy growth, innovation, and infrastructure development -- one in which the role of the government is not to obstruct, but to enable. ^^ It is especially critical that the permitting challenges that currently act as a net drag on American economic development be addressed. Permitting constraints driven by burdensome regulations obstructing infrastructure development threaten to stall the economy. During the previous administration, reforms to modernize regulations ushered in an era of American energy independence that proved transformative for U.S. infrastructure and resource development. These reforms included modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, and clarifying the definition of "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS). Unfortunately, the Left is rolling back critical reforms and overregulating our domestic energy industry. ^^ The current administration's policies seek to allow government intervention to determine the success of only certain companies, industries, and projects at the expense of others. This approach does not consider the implications for consumer costs, grid resiliency, or energy security. The cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline and the threatening of the Dakota Access Pipeline are just two examples of recent actions that have been taken. ^^ The administration's flawed goal of cutting emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050 is set to fail because of its own approach to implementation. The dramatic increase in electricity demand being called for must be complemented by an ability to provide added levels of power generation. Furthermore, renewable energy is not readily available, or sufficiently reliable, to supply the combined needs of our Nation. ^^ Ambition in the energy sector is a positive for the American people, but it must be grounded in a reality that recognizes the importance of a predictable and transparent permitting process and modernized regulatory environment. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Fossil fuels accounted for more than 70% of primary energy production in the U.S. in 2021. ^^ * Wind accounted for just 3% of primary energy production in the U.S. in 2021. ^^ * The average environmental impact statement required under NEPA for a single project was more than 600 pages in length before reforms under the previous administration. ^^ * A single project previously took agencies an average of 4.5 years to complete. ^^ * The U.S. has not invested in the construction of new refining capacity since the 1970s. ^^ * Refining capacity in the U.S. has been reduced by more than 1 million barrels per day. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Prescribe a quantitative valuation on dispatchable power generation that assesses its overall benefits to grid reliability and resilience, as well as to consumer cost, in the absence of the removal of market-distorting subsidies. ^^ * Reinstitute regulatory and permitting reforms and develop a long-term environmental modernization strategy (see “Provide Clean Air, Clean Water, and a Clean Environment for all Americans”). ^^ * Halt all new discretionary regulatory policy activity and actions that would disproportionately target one sector at the expense of another.Air, Water & EnvironmentProvide Clean Air, Clean Water, and a Clean Environment for All Americans_39d7195e-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea007.4An America First environmental vision recognizes that the American people and our environment must thrive together. This vision rejects the false premise that environmental progress and prosperity are antithetical goals. Instead, rightsized, transparent regulation can protect important public interests and allow the free market to drive innovation and create real environmental progress. The central goal of U.S. environmental policy should be to empower human flourishing, all while protecting our land, water, and air and allowing Americans to make the best use of our Nation's vast natural resources. ^^ The evidence for the success of this policy approach is clear. As the pro-growth policies of the previous administration drove incredible economic growth, the U.S. improved on environmental measures by providing cleaner air, water, and land, and led the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the country became a net energy exporter for the first time in nearly 70 years and rejected lopsided, unenforceable, America- last international agreements such as the Paris Agreement. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions declined by an estimated 2.9% in 2019—the largest absolute decline in such emissions of any country in the world. And air continued to become cleaner, with combined emissions of the core six traditional air pollutants falling by 7% from 2017 to 2019. ^^ Unfortunately, our government is now rejecting this proven blueprint for environmental success. Instead, it is advancing a government-centered approach that will cripple the U.S. economy and prove once again to be ineffective, not only in relation to climate targets but also to addressing a host of other environmental issues, including traditional air and water pollution and environmental cleanup, among others. This harmful policy approach includes rejoining the Paris Agreement and reversing modernized regulatory reforms that were undertaken to address decades of accumulated red tape. ^^ These reforms preserved environmental protections, such as the NEPA reforms, Section 401 reforms, and the WOTUS rule, which provided much-needed clarification and rejection of federal overreach in relation to U.S. waters, among others. This reversal reinforces the importance of updating and modernizing the underlying statutes as the most effective way to address the failings of accumulated and outdated regulations and provide better certainty for American businesses long-term. ^^ Rather than produce real environmental results, the current misguided approach uses a myopic focus on climate change as a justification for its sweeping radical agenda and massive government expansion. Among other measures, this broad expansion includes increases in regulations, taxes, and spending. This agenda runs directly contrary to economic principles proven to generate prosperity, improve infrastructure, and drive innovation. ^^ The American people deserve a human-centered approach that delivers results, not more apocalyptic rhetoric that prioritizes lofty ambitions over real progress. To provide a better future for all Americans, the U.S. must commit to the core principles that advance economic and environmental progress. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * During the past 30 years, the U.S. has reduced concentrations of criteria air pollutants by more than 77%. ^^ * At the same time, energy production increased by 44%, and the economy grew by more than 350%. ^^ * The combined emissions of the six core pollutants fell by 7% from 2017 to 2019, resulting in cleaner air. ^^ * Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions declined by an estimated 2.9% in 2019 -- the largest absolute decline in such emissions of any country in the world. ^^ * In 2019, the U.S. became a net energy exporter for the first time in nearly 70 years. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Modernize key environmental laws to drive environmental improvement and economic growth outcomes. Laws that may need modernization include: The Clean Air Act (CAA); The Clean Water Act (CWA); The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); The Energy Policy Conservation Act (EPCA); The Endangered Species Act (ESA); and The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). ^^ * Prioritize addressing China's and other adversarial nations' vast environmental abuses and their devasting human impacts. ^^ * Prioritize meaningful and enforceable environmental agreements by using USMCA, not the Paris Agreement, as a model.ExportsBecome an Energy Superpower by Exporting America's Energy Abundance_39d72264-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea007.5Thanks to the shale revolution, the removal of the crude oil export ban, and the previous administration's pro-liquefied natural gas (LNG) export policies, the U.S. has become a major player in international energy markets. Our Nation's successes included becoming a net oil exporter in 2019 and becoming the world's largest LNG exporter shortly thereafter. Across the board, U.S. products have undercut the ability of adversarial countries to use energy as a geopolitical weapon. As a result, our Nation has fostered greater energy security for our allies and partners. Additionally, we have embraced energy’s contributions to human flourishing and reduced global energy poverty, all while returning economic benefits and opportunities to American workers. ^^ Unfortunately, the current administration is promoting policies that would take America from energy dominance to energy dependence. These policies range from opposing overseas fossil fuels projects to empowering an energy future in which China is squarely in the driver’s seat. To continue exporting America's energy abundance, maintaining our status as an energy superpower, and restoring market-based competition to global markets, we need an America First Approach. This approach to energy dominance means aligning U.S. economic interests with our global aspirations of promoting prosperity, security, and environmental progress while putting American interests first. ^^ The U.S. must resist build-nothing climate alarmists who undermine our Nation's ability to replicate our economic and environmental success on the world stage. The current top-down, government-knows-best, climate-above-all outlook ignores the needs of America’s allies and partners and stands at odds with our national security and economic interests and with environmental reality. Many international organizations, such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), actively voice their unfounded and unrealistic opposition to fossil fuels while advancing a renewable-only approach without appropriate recognition of the human, economic, strategic, or environmental realities underpinning our modern energy systems. ^^ Our Nation should also recognize the danger of promoting policies that would empower China and other foreign adversaries by prioritizing renewable-only energy strategies. Instead, we should restore the proven model of an all-of-the-above approach rooted in market-based competition, not top-down economics. America must reassert global leadership, and energy offers a clear and viable path for doing so. Without American investment or affordable energy supplies, countries will increasingly engage in commercial relations with our competitors and adversaries, especially China. Exporting American jobs to China should be an untenable economic or foreign policy for the United States, especially in light of its rampant environmental and humanitarian abuses. ^^ The current administration's restrictive energy policies carry profound implications for millions of Americans and others throughout the developed world. They seek to deny the use of affordable and reliable energy, namely natural gas, and ignore the upward trend in global energy demand. For regions experiencing the realities of extreme energy poverty, the imposition of renewable-only energy systems cannot serve as the foundation of a dependable energy system or provide a reliable basis for economic growth. Any such policy is nothing short of climate colonialism. When our policies constrain U.S. commercial actors, our adversaries are all too willing to step in. ^^ We have the resources to lead the world in eradicating global energy poverty while strengthening our own energy security and that of our allies and partners. Our Nation can do so while returning benefits to American workers and families. However, private capital must be liberated from policy constraints to support energy infrastructure from production to delivery, regardless of energy source. U.S. export regulations must also be streamlined to foster greater market certainty. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * In 2019, the U.S. became a net energy exporter while leading the world in CO2 emissions reductions. ^^ * In 2021, the U.S. became the world's leading LNG exporter, experiencing a 1,800% increase since 2016. ^^ * Fossil fuels make up more than 80% of the global energy mix and are projected to remain a dominant player through 2050. ^^ * Two-thirds of America's natural gas reserves are located in the Appalachian region's Utica and Marcellus shale deposits. ^^ * 10% of the world's population lives without access to electricity, of which nearly half are located in sub-Saharan Africa. ^^ * The Biden Administration has doubled the Obama Administration's initial emissions targets. The previous targets have been estimated to cost the U.S. economy 2.7 million jobs by 2025 and as much as 6% of GDP annually by 2030.VotingMake it Easy to Vote and Hard to Cheat_39d72836-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea00Pillar 8The foundation of the American system of self-governance is liberty, and the core expression of the people's liberty is the ability to cast their ballots in free and fair elections. Safeguarding faith in the integrity of our elections is nothing less than safeguarding the future of our republic. Our Nation needs policies that protect just, legal, transparent, and fair elections while recognizing that states -- not the federal government -- are best situated to determine voter eligibility, registration, election day processes, and voter roll management. ^^ Every eligible voter should have the opportunity to cast one ballot at one time that is counted once. Anything that fails this simple test is a failure of the system, and the people responsible for that system should be held accountable. One fraudulent vote, or one administrative mistake, is one too many when it comes to protecting each sacred vote. The best election integrity policies make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. ^^ As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 election experienced a series of abrupt and dramatic changes. Many of these changes dismissed constitutional guardrails and altered how Americans vote and how elections are conducted. The accountability of state and local government officials was obliterated, and these changes hindered their ability to ensure legal, safe, and secure elections free from outside and private interests. ^^ To address concerns about election integrity in the U.S., we must require all voters to present voter identification and clean up voter rolls. Our government must also require all ballots to be returned to election officials by Election Day. ^^ Additionally, we must end weak ballot harvesting laws that do not protect the chain of custody for ballots. At the same time, we must ensure that Zuckerbucks are not allowed to be part of our electoral system. By focusing on these areas, we can enhance election integrity and ensure the American system of self-governance is protected.IDRequire Voters to Have Photo Identification_39d73006-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea008.1VotersA government-issued photo identification ("photo ID") is a fundamental requirement of an effective electoral system that protects the validity of every vote and voter. Photo ID is required in almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives to verify that an individual is in fact who he or she claims to be. Given the importance of elections, it is vital to ensure each voter is properly identified to protect against voter fraud and guarantee a fair outcome. ^^ Secure elections require our officials to have the ability to verify the identities of all voters. Requiring a photo ID is an effective, common-sense, and popular policy that will help ensure fair and honest elections. Eighty-five percent of Americans support the requirement of a photo ID to prove a person’s identity when casting a ballot. ^^ This 85% support for photo ID requirements is even more astounding when considering the political and dishonest rhetoric of opponents of these measures. Their rhetoric includes claims of adverse reactions from voters, claims of people lacking an identification, and worse, race- baiting language. However, research from Harvard University and the National Bureau of Economic Research recently showed no adverse effect on voter turnout or registration after implementing photo ID requirements for voters. ^^ Additionally, a common argument is that voter ID laws have a disproportionate or disparate effect on minority populations. This argument does not consider the fact that photo IDs are already required to buy alcohol and tobacco, board a domestic flight, drive a car, and open a bank account -- all activities in which the broader public, including minority populations, regularly participate. ^^ These Harvard researchers also found another positive byproduct regarding the implementation of voter identification laws: preventing fraud. By studying elections between 2008 and 2018, Harvard researchers used publicly available databases on documented fraud and noted that voter ID laws could deter fraud. ^^ Twenty-five states have already established requirements of government-issued photo ID for the purpose of voting, which is easily available at no cost to the voter. While 15 of these states allow other identification documents if a photo ID is not presented, eight states specifically require a photo ID to vote. These eight states have proven it is possible to secure the vote with no inconvenience or cost to anyone. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 25 states do not have photo ID requirements to vote. ^^ * While 25 states require photo ID to vote, 15 of them have. work-arounds. These work-arounds allow a person who forgets his or her photo ID to have other ways to cast his or her ballot without using a photo ID. ^^ * 46 out of 47 European countries require a photo ID to vote. ^^ * Mexico has required all voters to present a photo ID since 1991. Every voter in Mexico must have a tamper-proof photo ID that includes a thumbprint and embossed hologram. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Require a government-issued photo ID to vote, leaving implementation to the individual states. ^^ * Offer free photo ID cards to eligible voters to remove the barrier of access or financial difficulty. ^^ * Create a "cure" for individuals who show up at a polling place without a photo voter ID that requires them to have some form of photo ID before a person’s vote is counted.BallotsRequire All Ballots to Be Returned by Election Day_39d73858-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea008.2Americans expect their elections to be adjudicated swiftly and fairly. For example, a recent Rasmussen poll finds that 82% of Americans believe that ballots should be returned to officials by Election Day. Although slow communications in our Nation's century led to some drawn-out election processes, it should be possible in modern America to know an election's outcome on the evening of Election Day. Delaying election results by days and weeks creates more opportunities for fraud and injects uncertainty and public skepticism into the election process. ^^ During the 2020 election, 60,000 ballots were received in Pennsylvania a full three days after Election Day. They were not alone. Twenty-one states allow ballots to be counted if received after the polls close on Election Day. Residents in Virginia had 45 days to vote in their most recent statewide elections, but some people claimed this was still not enough time to count the votes. Attorneys sued Virginia to allow 10 more days of counting. ^^ A large majority of Americans are already skeptical of the electoral system -- for good reason. From 2018 to 2020, voter confidence in the accuracy of elections fell to just 59%, dropping 11% in only two years. Ensuring ballots are counted accurately and in a timely manner is crucial to making it easy to vote but hard to cheat. Reasonable exceptions should be made for limited groups such as military service members who are overseas, but otherwise, people should be required to meet the same deadline when returning their ballots. ^^ Despite overwhelming popular support for election integrity measures, including returning ballots by Election Day, the Biden Administration has voiced support for policies that would move in the opposite direction. For example, progressives in Congress proposed the For the People Act, which would extend the deadline to receive ballots until two weeks after Election Day. ^^ During the last presidential election, mail-in ballots were a driving force for the large numbers of ballots that were being tallied overnight after Election Day. The United States Postal Service already faces challenges in delivering regular, everyday mail on time, and this issue is exacerbated by the newly increased access to mail-in ballots. The verification of mail-in ballots should occur before Election Day so that states have time to verify the validity of mail-in ballots and avoid delays on Election Day. The hard deadline of all ballots received by Election Day enables both early verification of mail-in ballot validity and transparent and timely counting of all ballots. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 43% of voters submitted ballots by mail in the 2020 general elections. J^^ * Just over 23% of voters submitted ballots by mail in the 2016 general elections. ^^ * Voter confidence in the accuracy of the presidential election fell to 59% from 2018 to 2020, a decrease of 11%. ^^ * 18 states and the District of Columbia currently allow ballots to be counted after Election Day. ^^ * The highest grace period for returning ballots is 10 days. A 32 states require ballots to be received by Election Day. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Require all ballots returned to elections officials by the end of Election Day. No absentee ballots should be accepted once the polls close. ^^ * Eliminate drop boxes for mail-in ballots, as this creates confusion about where and when a voter should submit his or her ballot. ^^ * Require an affidavit for absentee applications that affirms the voter is incapable of voting on Election Day and affirms eligibility under defined state law. ^^ * All absentee ballots should have clearly defined regulations, and all absentee voters should know the deadline for returning their ballots. ^^ * Require witness signatures for absentee ballots for more efficient ballot validation. ^^ * Require jurisdictions to begin processing (not counting) absentee ballots seven days before Election Day to ensure more timely election results. ^^ * Create a uniform statewide process to cure ballots, and limit the cure period. Ballot HarvestingEliminate Ballot Harvesting_39d73d26-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea008.3During the 2020 election, officials in many states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin, cited concerns about COVID-19 to disregard vital measures that protect the chain of custody for ballots between the time they are cast and when they are counted. One of the most egregious examples occurred when officials ignored state law and allowed ballot harvesting -- the transportation of ballots to various voting locations by a third party on behalf of a voter or group of voters. Ballot harvesting creates the opportunity for individuals and organizations to cheat in elections by abusing the ballot chain of custody process. ^^ Some states allow ballot harvesting with restrictions, such as limiting the number of ballots someone can harvest or requiring a familial relationship between the voter and harvester. Other states have lenient regulations or no laws regarding ballot harvesting. Unfortunately, during the last presidential election, ballot harvesting was allowed to go unchecked in record numbers. ^^ Many states unwisely followed in the steps of places such as California, which expanded the law in 2016 to allow paid workers to collect ballots from private residences. The problem of removing guardrails designed to protect legal voters was exacerbated by the hastily allowed policy of mass mail-in ballots. As a result, the combination of a record-setting influx of ballots mailed to citizens and the removal of regulations on ballot harvesters created opportunities for fraud. ^^ Compounding matters further, states and localities installed drop boxes where people could place completed ballots without proper monitoring. This practice opened these states up to violations of written law and fraud, which unsurprisingly led to lawsuits. Hastily creating a new system whereby an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots are transported by an unknown number of people and delivered unregulated into an often-unmonitored drop box is not a recipe for instilling confidence in elections. The security of these ballot drop boxes was so weak that the boxes themselves sometimes went missing, were vandalized, or were set on fire. Worse yet, there was no accounting for the ballots inside. ^^ Investigations into malfeasance remain underway today. These investigations include evaluating testimonies of payments made to people who collected ballots, commonly referred to as "mules." The mules are accused of depositing multiple ballots at various drop boxes, manipulating elderly voters at nursing homes to hand over ballots, and bribing local election officials to boost turnout of certain political voters. ^^ Ballot harvesting is a ripe opportunity for individuals and organizations to cheat in elections. Allowing ballot harvesting is a mistake. States should prioritize transparency and accountability by banning the practice. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 9 states allow a family member to submit a ballot in place of a voter, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. ^^ * 31 states allow the voter to choose someone to submit the ballot in his or her place, although some states have set limits on who can collect the ballots or how many they are allowed to collect. ^^ * Alabama is the only state to require a ballot to be returned by the recipient of the ballot. ^^ * 13 states say nothing about ballot collection, which allows unfettered ballot harvesting. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Eliminate drop boxes for mail-in ballots. ^^ * Prohibit a person from returning more than two mail-in ballots, and limit who can return a ballot to a familial relationship. ^^ * Eliminate mass mailing of unsolicited mail-in ballots. ^^ * Require an affidavit for mail-in ballot applications that affirms the voter is incapable of voting on Election Day and affirms eligibility under defined state law. ^^ * Require a witness signature for mail-in ballots. ^^ * Implement statewide ballot tracking. ^^ * Reform the mail-in ballot process by requiring the matching driver’s license number or last four digits of a social security number on absentee applications and inside the envelope of a returned ballot. ^^ This allows a form of ID that protects the personal identifiable information of the voter but allows for validation, which is needed because of the rise of ballot harvesting in certain states. ^^ * Prohibit any organization or entity from paying individuals to collect ballots.InfluenceBan the Practice of Billionaires Giving Money to Election Officials to Influence an Election_39d743c0-772c-11f0-b7b1-2eb71a83ea008.4A new practice of private sector businesses partnering with state government election officials to influence elections has created major implications for election integrity. In the most recent presidential election, Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg used his foundation to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars through nonprofits directly to local government entities that run elections. These government entities then used that money, which has become known as "Zuckerbucks," in politically targeted areas of a state to drive up the turnout of certain target groups. ^^ Under the guise of wanting to assist with COVID-19 relief efforts, the Zuckerberg Foundation sent half a billion dollars to local government election entities in 2020. States and local governments promised to use this money for personal protective equipment (PPE) and overall voter turnout efforts. ^^ However, Freedom of Information Act requests showed that the money was largely not used for PPE, nor was it used to help facilitate voter turnout overall throughout the entire state. Instead, this private money was used by election officials to target certain areas and certain voter groups, according to the grant application submitted by the City of Philadelphia. This type of pollution of America's election system erodes people’s confidence in free and fair elections. ^^ States must outlaw private entities from using grant money to usurp governmental authority and illegally alter our election procedures. This is a high priority for ensuring election integrity and is essential for providing states with proper control over their elections. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * $10 million in private money was given to the City of Philadelphia to be used to purchase PPE, but only $225,000, or approximately 2%, was spent on PPE. ^^ * Election officials in Philadelphia spent almost all of the $10 million on the targeted turnout of target voters. ^^ * In Pennsylvania, 92% of Zuckerbucks money was directed to counties that went for Joe Biden. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Prohibit local governments from accepting private money from private individuals and third parties to conduct elections. ^^ * Create civil causes of action for election fraud. This involves establishing substantive claims forming a case so that local officials are held accountable for improper and illegal actions.CommunitiesProvide Safe and Secure Communities so All Americans Can Live Their Lives in Peace_61af7d12-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea00Pillar 9American Communities The rule of law is indispensable to our Nation. However, it is impossible for our Nation's citizens to be safe and secure if crime plagues our streets and lawlessness dominates our communities. At a time when some state and local governments fail to meet their basic duty of providing public safety, we must be dedicated to funding the police and supporting law and order. ^^ To return law and order to our Nation's cities, we must reestablish respect for the rule of law and promote respect for law enforcement. Law enforcement is an essential element of our public safety infrastructure, but it is facing a generational crisis in recruiting and retention. This crisis has been spurred on by the dangerous and ill-conceived “Defund the Police” movement, which has been promoted and amplified by progressive activists and a complicit mainstream media. ^^ At the same time, we must address other issues, including fatherlessness and Chinese Communist malign influence throughout our country. We must also do more to combat organized crime and address homelessness and mental health issues that are plaguing our streets. ^^ Additionally, we should create a pathway to a second chance to help reintegrate Americans who have been convicted of crimes and have served their time back into civil society. Solving all of these issues will help contribute to safe and secure communities. By focusing on these goals, we can enable police officers to serve their communities to the best of their abilities, protect the American people from dangerous threats, and help build strong families and neighborhoods in which the American people can thrive.Rule of LawRestore the Rule of Law_61afa206-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea009.1The rule of law serves as a foundational pillar of our republic. For a civil society to exist, citizens must believe that our laws will be fairly applied and equally enforced. To uphold the rule of law, society must maintain a social contract between American communities and law enforcement. Citizens must respect the law, and law enforcement officers must act fairly and, when necessary, hold offenders accountable. A nation that has lost respect for the rule of law is subject to chaos. ^^ In 2017, President Trump signed an executive order to establish the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety. This action was taken to combat illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and violent crime throughout our country. He also established the Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice in late 2019, which reinforced his administration's commitment to the rule of law. ^^ Even after these strong actions, our Nation still has much work to do to restore the rule of law. Lawmakers in many parts of the Nation must go further to ensure the law is enforced. Rising crime rates and diminished support for law enforcement officers have contributed to a deterioration of our legal system and a lack of respect for the idea of enforcing laws fairly and consistently. ^^ Sadly, many of our country's largest cities responded negatively to the Trump Administration's efforts to promote the administration of justice. Some local lawmakers vehemently resisted cooperating with these initiatives, even as violent criminals and gangs worked to jeopardize the safety of their own neighborhoods and their own law enforcement officers. ^^ Some state and local officials also expressed a willingness to lessen punishment for crimes or look the other way as wrongdoing occurred. At the same time, their public lack of confidence in their own police officers contributed to growing unrest throughout major cities. Violent crimes and murder rates have since skyrocketed, demonstrating the consequences of downplaying the importance of law and justice. To solve these problems and maintain the important social contract between communities and law enforcement, we must restore the rule of law. Doing so requires a concerted effort to stop the decriminalization of crimes at the state and federal level and a willingness to aggressively enforce the laws on the books. Americans deserve to live in safe communities where the rule of law is promoted and respected. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 12 major U.S. cities broke annual homicide rates in 2021. ^^ * In New York City, shootings increased by 104% from 2019 to 2021, car thefts rose by 91%, and murders climbed 52%. ^^ * 6 major cities (Baltimore, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New York City) are all on pace to break their 2021 levels of violent crime halfway through 2022. ^^ * After previously cutting the Portland Police Bureau's budget by $16 million, Mayor Ted Wheeler was forced to add millions back to the police budget and offer a $25,000 signing bonus to recruit new officers amid a rising crime wave. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Stop the decriminalization movement. ^^ * Prioritize aggressive enforcement of existing criminal laws and strict interpretation of those laws. ^^ * Declare Antifa a domestic terrorist organization because its goal is to destroy our constitutional government through violence. ^^ * Carry out a nationwide crackdown on theft and violent crime through strong penalties and strong prosecution. ^^ * Protect the victims of crime through victim's assistance programs, such as local domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, homicide support groups, and elder abuse programs at the state and federal level. ^^ * Adopt an "original meaning" interpretation of the Constitution. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Stop the decriminalization movement ^^ * Prioritize aggressive enforcement of existing criminal laws and strict interpretation of those laws.Law EnforcementPromote Respect for Law Enforcement_61afb1b0-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea009.2Law Enforcement OfficersPolice OfficersPolice officers, along with the military, small businesses, and the church, have always been highly respected institutions in the U.S. A poll from February of this year shows that 80% of Americans see police officers as "good people doing a difficult job." The public's positive sentiment towards police officers has stayed strong despite a public messaging campaign that promoted disrespect toward the police and popularized the mantra, "Defund the Police." Most of our citizens respect their law enforcement officers and always have -- so too should their government. ^^ When our Nation's police officers -- and the institution of law enforcement itself -- are not respected, crime naturally ensues. But when the public respects our police officers and the important work they do to protect our communities, our Nation is stronger and more secure. ^^ Policing that is safe and effective both for police officers and their communities relies on mutual respect. Without this, assailants are more likely to use aggression when dealing with police officers, putting their own lives and the lives of officers at risk. ^^ Heightened tensions between the police and the communities they serve have happened before. Throughout U.S. history, popular perceptions of the police have ebbed and flowed following high-profile incidents such as the 1993 Rodney King case in Los Angeles or the 2014 attack on Officer Darren Wilson that led to the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. The sensationalized news stories that resulted from these incidents enflamed communities and led to policies that slashed police budgets, hampering their ability to adequately perform their duties. ^^ Law enforcement officials must be equipped with the proper tools to successfully investigate and bring to justice the violent criminals plaguing society. Americans understand that freedom can only exist when they feel that their everyday lives will not be interrupted by threats of violence and lawlessness. Sadly, this assurance of security does not exist in many communities today. ^^ The mainstream media has been quick to characterize as incidents of "police brutality" events where the facts on the ground prove otherwise. In many cases, the fallout from this irresponsible coverage has been months of devastating riots, arson, and mass looting. ^^ We must increase penalties for assaulting police officers, incentivize police retention and recruitment, resist federalizing law enforcement through consent decrees and other civil oversight, support rural law enforcement, and stand with law enforcement officers so they can effectively do their jobs. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 12 major cities broke annual homicide rates in 2021. ^^ * Washington, D.C., cut $15 million from the budget for its police department in 2020. ^^ * Washington, D.C., experienced a 15% increase in homicides from 2020 to 2021. ^^ * Ambush attacks on police increased by 115% in 2021. ^^ * 67% of United States adults want the police presence in their communities to stay the same. ^^ * 20% of Black Americans and 24% of Hispanic Americans want a greater police presence in their communities. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Oppose federal consent decrees that are aimed at taking accountability away from elected officials and limiting the flexibility of state and local law enforcement. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Prioritize community outreach and develop "strong and positive" relationships between community members and their police departments. ^^ * Launch education and transparency initiatives regarding police policies, particularly regarding the use of force. ^^ * Support enhanced penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers, especially assaults on officers when they are performing their duties. ^^ * Support increases in pay for law enforcement officers. ^^ * Prioritize access to training and career advancement opportunities. ^^ * Prioritize supplemental funding for small and rural law enforcement agencies that are often under-resourced.Intellectual PropertyStop Chinese Communist Malign Influence and Theft of American Intellectual Property_61afbf0c-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea009.3The greatest threat to American economic security is the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and more specifically, the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PRC regularly exploits U.S. immigration policies and our open business and academic environments to steal hundreds of billions of dollars in American intellectual property (IP) each year. The PRC also employs nefarious practices to foster anti-American and pro-communist sentiment within the public discourse. ^^ The PRC's methods include its extensive use of counterintelligence, espionage, disinformation campaigns, and cybertheft. These malign practices seek to bolster the PRC’s commitment to economic and military dominance through the systematic theft of intellectual property. Other nefarious actions include the acquisition of state secrets through coercion, blackmail, or bribery. ^^ The Department of Justice reports that 80% of economic espionage cases, including trade secret theft and hacking, involve communist China. The PRC carries out its intelligence gathering through corporate infiltration and talent recruitment. The Thousand Talents Program aims to entice Americans to sell their knowledge and innovative practices to China in direct violation of export controls and conflict of interest rules. ^^ But this threat is not confined to industry alone. It also extends into the academic field. Confucius Institutes, launched globally in 2004 and scattered across universities within the U.S., have been a cause for concern since their inception. Ostensibly created to promote Chinese culture and language, Confucius Institutes are controversial in the U.S. due to allegations that they suppress academic freedom at American universities, are controlled by the CCP, and disseminate Chinese propaganda. ^^ The previous administration took steps to curb foreign influence in American institutions through a strategic plan that countered the PRC's abuses of our free economy and society. This approach prohibited PRC nationals with connections to the CCP from applying for student visas for national security-sensitive graduate programs. It also halted imports of products made with slave labor and spotlighted CCP efforts to undermine the 2018 midterm elections. America First efforts like these are needed to counter the PRC’s malign influence and theft of American intellectual property. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Chinese theft of American IP currently costs between $225 billion and $600 billion annually. ^^ * 75 Confucius Institutes are operating in the U.S., including 65 on college campuses. ^^ * 500 Confucius Classrooms are on K-12 campuses throughout the U.S. ^^ * The FBI has arrested dozens of individuals accused of spying on behalf of the PRC while on American soil. These include individuals who worked within the intelligence community and sensitive industries affecting U.S. national and economic security interests. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Limit and regulate foreign donations and endowments from foreign governments or foreign nationals to both state universities and local school systems. ^^ * Prohibit Confucius Institute access to or involvement with any level of state or local school curricula, staffing, or other operations. ^^ * Enhance scrutiny of aliens from countries with adversarial governments who attend American universities. ^^ * Prohibit IP transfers to Chinese entities, and enact and enforce strict punishments for violators. ^^ * Eliminate the majority People’s Republic of China (PRC)-owned corporations or companies from state-controlled pension funds. ^^ * Prohibit the use of PRC-manufactured drones by state and local law enforcement.Homelessness & Mental HealthAddress Homelessness and Mental Health Issues that are Plaguing Our Streets_61afe1ee-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea009.4An increasing number of individuals and communities are struggling with homelessness in America today. Approximately 580,000 homeless individuals are scattered across the Nation, according to a Department of Housing and Urban Development 2020 survey. Four in 10 of these individuals are currently in unsheltered locations on the street or in other unhabitable areas. ^^ Substance abuse and mental illness play a major role in this issue. Fifty percent of unsheltered homeless individuals report that mental health conditions contributed to loss of housing, and 51% report that substance abuse conditions contributed to their situation. Furthermore, at least 3 in 4 unsheltered homeless individuals self-reported mental health or substance abuse conditions, with the majority reporting both. ^^ The rising number of mentally ill and substance- abusing individuals pose a danger to themselves and others, and this situation must be addressed. All around the country, the data show that neighborhoods next to street camps have higher levels of rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault than those that are not. Additionally, diseases such as typhus and Hepatitis A have spread through homeless encampments in California. ^^ Once vibrant cities such as San Francisco have allowed drug paraphernalia, human excrement, homeless encampments, and tent cities to proliferate in the name of "compassion," hurting the local economy and lowering the quality of life for law-abiding taxpayers. For these reasons, approximately 8 in 10 voters in the city want their legislators to ban street camping. ^^ Solving problems associated with mental health and homelessness requires appropriate and flexible treatment options for severe mental illness. Medicaid has excluded federal payments to institutions of mental disease (IMD) for care provided to most Medicaid-eligible adults since 1965, which has limited access to care for low-income patients with severe mental illness. In 2018, the Trump Administration sought to address this issue through CMS-issued guidance that allowed states to apply for Section 1115 waivers to pay for some short-term treatment in IMDs for serious mental illness. It also issued guidance allowing waivers to cover short-term treatment for substance use disorders in 2017. ^^ Addressing the root causes of homelessness must be prioritized by policymakers through the alignment of funds and resources. The Left has long advocated for a "Housing First" approach that provides homeless individuals with housing without addressing the underlying problems that cause homelessness. Evidence has shown that this approach is ineffective. ^^ An America First solution requires addressing the mental health and substance abuse crises contributing to the homelessness crisis, empowering law enforcement to act in defense of their communities and public spaces, and deregulating local housing markets. Allowing homelessness to grow unabated is not the "compassionate" solution for the homeless themselves nor for the broader public. Instead, the problems of this vulnerable population must be addressed so they can be empowered to live as productive American citizens in clean, safe communities. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Unsheltered homelessness increased by more than 50,000 individuals during the last 5 years. ^^ * Sheltered homelessness has decreased each year since 2014. ^^ * 60% of crimes in Los Angeles involving homeless individuals are violent, while just 32% of all crimes in the city are violent. ^^ * 4 people die in Los Angeles's homeless camps every single day. ^^ * At least 3 in 4 unsheltered homeless individuals self-report mental health and substance abuse conditions. ^^ * Approximately 8 in 10 voters want their legislators to ban street camping. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Combat drug addiction and the opioid epidemic by ending the flow of drugs into the country from our open borders, creating harsher punishments for drug trafficking, and increasing treatment availability. ^^ * Allow modifications of the IMD exclusion in Medicaid based on evidence from Section 1115 waivers for short- term treatment for severe mental illness or substance abuse disorders. ^^ * Empower states and communities with the flexibility and resources needed to develop treatment programs for homeless individuals. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Apply for Section 1115 waivers for modifications of the IMD exclusion in Medicaid for short-term treatment for severe mental illness or substance abuse disorders. ^^ * Empower local police to enforce all public order laws. ^^ * Abandon the failed "Housing First" philosophy. Instead, address the underlying causes of homelessness first and then empower individuals to succeed on their own. ^^ * Address overregulated local housing markets. ^^ * Challenge the 9th Circuit's ruling in Martin v. Boise, which held that cities could not enforce anti-camping ordinances if they do not have enough homeless shelter beds available for their homeless populations.Crime, Trafficking & DrugUnravel Organized Crime, Human Trafficking Rings, and Drug Trade Within Our Cities_61afee0a-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea009.5Every American child should be able to grow up without falling victim to violence, drugs, or other crimes that can destroy their future. Public officials are responsible for doing everything in their power to make this possible and keep our neighborhoods safe. Unfortunately, traffickers pose grave threats to the safety of communities and to the well‐ being of children, teenagers, and families. Criminal street gangs and drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) are engaged in all types of criminal activity, including murder, assault, robbery, extortion, and most notably, trafficking of both humans and drugs. Through force, fraud, coercion, and sexual exploitation of minors, traffickers splinter families, destroy lives through drug addiction, and threaten the safety of our communities. ^^ Sadly, the Biden Administration has failed to address these problems and take strong action that would protect American communities. To combat organized crime, our government must secure the southern border to shut down the pipeline of illicit narcotics moving into our country. Additionally, the government should enact sanctions and tariffs on suppliers of fentanyl and empower law enforcement with the resources they need to fight illicit drug trafficking. The previous administration enacted federal policies that provided more resources and authority to law enforcement, but our government is now taking a different, unsuccessful approach. ^^ To break the pernicious cycle of illicit drugs pouring into our communities, gang violence, and crime, our Nation needs comprehensive solutions that focus on prevention, intervention, and suppression. In 2020, the Department of Justice carried out Operation LeGend -- a sustained and coordinated law enforcement surge in communities across the Nation. Additionally, in 2018, a record amount of funding was granted for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, which enhanced efforts to interdict drug trafficking organizations to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into American communities. ^^ Prosecutors at all levels must be encouraged and empowered to aggressively prosecute gang members, drug traffickers, and human traffickers by enforcing zero tolerance policies at all levels. These include aggressively prosecuting drug dealers who intentionally sell opioids, including deadly fentanyl, intending to create addiction in their customers. Without aggressive enforcement, the destructive groups will continue to spread, allowing them to become more sophisticated and better organized. ^^ Trafficking, gang activities, and other forms of organized crime are threats to any society dedicated to freedom, individual rights, and the rule of law. For the safety of all Americans, we must address them to protect our communities and maintain law and order. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Annual drug overdoses in the U.S. exceeded 100,000 in 2021 for the first time ever, making drug overdoses the leading cause of death for young Americans. ^^ * CBP seized more than 5,000 kilograms of fentanyl in 2020; one kilogram of fentanyl is equivalent to 500,000 lethal doses. ^^ * Enough fentanyl was caught crossing our border in 2021 to kill 2.54 billion people. ^^ * Approximately 28,100 gangs are active across the U.S. with activity in all 50 states. ^^ * More than 50% of schools with more than 1,000 students reported gang activities. ^^ * Gang violence accounts for 13% of all homicides and nearly half of all violent crimes. ^^ * Gangs are responsible for facilitating approximately 85% of all sex trafficking in some areas of the country. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Fully fund Department of Homeland Security efforts to secure the border, stop illegal immigration, and hold drug smugglers accountable. ^^ * Increase funding and support for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area operations. ^^ * Enact zero tolerance policies to address gang violence and drug trafficking operations. ^^ * Fund community-based diversion and prevention programs to protect America's youth from exposure to gangs or illicit narcotics. ^^ * Enhance criminal penalties for convicted gang members and traffickers. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Enact zero tolerance policies to address gang violence and drug trafficking operations. ^^ * Fund community-based diversion and prevention programs to protect America's youth from exposure to gangs or illicit narcotics. ^^ * Enhance criminal penalties for convicted gang members and traffickers.Families & FathersStrengthen Fatherhood and the Nuclear Family_61affc7e-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea009.6FamiliesFathersAmerica leads the world in fatherlessness, with approximately one out of every four children growing up without a father in the home. Fatherlessness often leads to serious problems, including children who are far more likely to run away from home, drop out of school, or end up homeless. Unfortunately, decades of political mismanagement and misaligned incentive structures within our welfare system have exacerbated the problem of fractured families. ^^ Means-tested welfare programs, such as housing and food assistance, undermine their anti-poverty rationale when they sharply cut benefits off as household income increases. Policies like these discourage fathers from returning to the home and penalize all families for taking actions to move up the economic ladder. With government programs acting as a destabilizing force for families, out-of-wedlock births have skyrocketed from five percent in 1960 to more than 40% today. To address this crisis, we must first raise awareness about the issue of fatherless children and then work to find new solutions. ^^ Of course, there is no "one size fits all" solution to the fatherlessness crisis in America today. Solving this problem will require policies that promote lasting marriages and responsible fatherhood by strengthening the nuclear family, empowering churches, and increasing programming and support for incarcerated and formally incarcerated individuals. ^^ Eliminating benefit cliffs and reducing tax penalties on secondary earners can help stabilize lower-income working families by encouraging two-parent households and active labor market participation. Government officials can also support an all-out pro-fatherhood messaging campaign to amplify the importance of fatherhood across the Nation. ^^ Americans overwhelmingly believe that parents bear the primary responsibility of raising children. When this is not possible or is not taking place, local communities are well- positioned to take care of fatherless children. ^^ Local churches and faith-based organizations are well-prepared to lead on this issue, as they have the resources needed to guide fathers to their highest potential. At the federal level, removal of the Johnson Amendment, which restricts tax-exempt churches from engaging in political speech, would greatly empower churches to speak forcefully on new policies. At the same time, tax breaks for mentorship programs, civic service and engagement opportunities, and family resource programs can help equip fathers and families for success. ^^ The federal government cannot reinvigorate fatherhood on its own. But it can and must stop getting in the way of families who are looking to rebuild from brokenness. The America First vision centers on reforming harmful policies that undermine the stability of the two-parent family and empowering private organizations that are the most directly invested in the success of their local communities. With the federal government as a partner for restoration instead of an instigator of decline, fatherhood will once again be celebrated in America as a core component of strong families who make up the foundation of our Nation. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 23% of American children are raised in a one-parent household. ^^ * Without a father in the home, children are five times more likely to live in poverty than a child in a married- couple family. ^^ * 90% of all homeless and runaway children come from fatherless homes. ^^ * 63% of teens who commit suicide and 85% of children and teens with behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. ^^ * 71% of all adolescent patients in drug and alcohol treatment centers come from fatherless homes. ^^ * Children without fathers at home are 9 times more likely to drop out of high school. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Reverse the cultural crisis by empowering churches and community organizations by providing legal protections for political speech. ^^ * Eliminate benefit cliffs and reduce steep tax penalties on secondary earners that discourage two-parent working households. ^^ * Enhance programs that have successfully reduced recidivism, better equip men with tangible and employable skillsets to be successful upon their reentry into society, and bring fathers back to their families and communities. ^^ * Support parenting education for incarcerated parents to learn to parent and promote a "Continuum of Care" model for fathers as they return to their community and families. ^^ * Permit the use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support non-custodial or incarcerated parents to get programing such as education, job assistance, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Update income verification to determine appropriate and accurate rates of child support. ^^ * Encourage community organizations and churches to provide support for non-custodial parents who are actively paying child support and in good standing to spend time with their children. ^^ * Remove tax and benefit disincentives to two-parent working families. ^^ * Enhance programs that have successfully reduced recidivism, better equip men with tangible and employable skillsets to be successful upon their reentry into society, and bring fathers back to their families and communities. ^^ * Support the use of mediation in cases of divorce or transition from prison or military to co-parenting. ^^ * Support funds for non-custodial parents to get the help and support they need to successfully co-parent. ^^ * Promote policies that remove barriers to adoption.Second ChancesCreate a Pathway to a Second Chance_61b01eca-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea009.7Incarcerated PeopleOne out of every 100 American adults, or close to 2.3 million people, are currently incarcerated. Approximately 90% of those incarcerated will eventually be released from prison, yet within three years of release, more than 40% will return to prison. In some states, recidivism rates are even higher, reaching closer to 60%. This system has proven to be a burden not only on law enforcement but on society as a whole. Reducing recidivism can be achieved, but this goal will require taking a “whole of community” approach. ^^ This approach calls for working with key partners in the faith-based and nonprofit communities, law enforcement, and local employers to equip former nonviolent inmates with the tools they need to succeed in society. The faith-based community is uniquely poised to help in reentry efforts due to its resources, know-how, and on-the-ground manpower to provide access to employment and construct stable support systems for formerly incarcerated individuals. ^^ By providing strong community mentorship, counsel, and assistance to the formerly incarcerated, the faith-based sector can help these individuals get back on their feet and reintegrate themselves into civil society. Additionally, it is important to highlight the many stakeholders in faith-based and nonprofit organizations who use their expertise to contribute to reentry efforts on a daily basis. ^^ Recidivism can also be addressed through the promotion of "Good Time Credits" for nonviolent offenders who voluntarily choose to participate in rehabilitation programs. These programs aim to prepare inmates for life after incarceration and incentivize good behavior and habits that will serve them well in society. Merit-based rehabilitation programs reward those who actively take steps towards rehabilitating themselves through preparation for post- incarceration life, such as educational attainment, good behavior, and skills training. ^^ The construction of stable support systems is also critical to any efforts surrounding criminal justice reform. This can be accomplished by connecting nonviolent, formerly incarcerated individuals to stable housing, employment opportunities, and programming for training and licensing. Additionally, by addressing transportation barriers to employment, or reestablishing family relationships to rebuild their lives, our Nation can decrease the number of people returning to prison while also helping confront rising crime rates. ^^ We cannot afford to simply release these individuals back into society without proper preparation, tools, or support systems for what comes next. We must change the paradigm of how society views prisons. It is our duty to address the core problems and issues that inmates are facing, and then care for and support them appropriately until they are truly rehabilitated. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Federal prisons are at 60% overcapacity. ^^ * 2 million people are currently in our Nation’s prisons and jails -- a 500% increase during the last 40 years. ^^ * 90% of people going to prison in America will eventually be leaving. ^^ * Approximately three out of four people remain unemployed a year after being released. ^^ * Approximately 70 million U.S. adults have criminal records. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Reform means-testing criteria in government assistance programs to not penalize two-parent homes, such as those without housing assistance and food stamp programs, thereby encouraging more stable family environments. ^^ * Prioritize mechanisms for reentry to society that include a focus on rehabilitation efforts prior to parole. ^^ * Facilitate pathways to a second chance, such as reducing barriers and disincentives to occupational training and licensing, and engage the private and nonprofit sectors in expanding access to halfway homes, transportation, and employment, and supporting reentry programming. ^^ * Highlight the successful faith-based and nonprofit stakeholders in prison reentry efforts around the country. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Create merit-based rehabilitation programs for nonviolent offenders within our government-funded prisons that provide educational and workforce parole credits at the state level. ^^ * Prioritize mechanisms for reentry to society that include a focus on rehabilitation efforts prior to parole. ^^ * Encourage additional tax incentives for those providing pathways to a second chance. These pathways include occupational training and licensing, halfway homes, transportation, employment, and reentry programs. ^^ * Highlight the successful faith-based and nonprofit stakeholders in prison reentry efforts around the country.Government CorruptionFight Government Corruption by Draining the Swamp_61b02a50-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea00Pillar 10The American republic was founded as a government by, for, and of the people, but sadly, that aspiration too often seems like a distant dream. Self-dealing politicians insulate themselves from accountability to their own electorates, and unelected bureaucracies rule huge swaths of American life. Unfortunately, legislative, judicial, and executive power has become concentrated within the regulatory agencies themselves. ^^ What began two and a half centuries ago as man’s greatest experiment in self-government now looks like something much different than the founders envisioned. The nature of Washington, D.C., and many state capitals is increasingly that of a swamp that needs to be drained. ^^ Fortunately, it is not too late to reverse course and solve these problems. To drain the swamp and restore government by the people, we must fight government corruption and move federal agencies and decision-making closer to the people. We must also cut the red tape that is forcing businesses to spend too much money on compliance costs. ^^ Additionally, an America First approach requires us to reform the civil service to create accountability in the bureaucracy. It also requires us to dismantle the administrative state and achieve the elusive goal of balancing the federal budget. ^^ By taking these actions, we can fight government corruption by draining the swamp and restoring power to the American people. In doing so, our Nation can defend fundamental rights, eliminate burdensome regulations, and restore American governance as originally intended.CorruptionFight Government Corruption_61b0378e-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea0010.1In theory, Members of Congress and other public officials should make decisions to advance the common good, not reward campaign donors or enrich themselves. In practice, politicians often fall short of these ideals. Government ethics and transparency rules are meant to prevent politicians from serving themselves. Unfortunately, Congress has exempted itself from many of these rules while leaving large loopholes in others. ^^ Half of Congressmen and Congresswomen join lobbying firms after they leave office, collecting lavish salaries for influencing their former colleagues. Members of both parties pass through the “revolving door” between Capitol Hill and K Street. Former Senate Majority Leaders and former House Majority Leaders have become lobbyists, and for many, election to Congress becomes the path to a multi-million dollar lobbying career. The same is often true of Cabinet secretaries. ^^ Voters are in the dark about how lobbyists influence their elected representatives because Congress has exempted itself from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). As a result, Members of Congress do not have to report when they meet with lobbyists or what they discuss. Lobbyists can and do secretly draft bills and amendments for Members of Congress, but the communications about this process are hidden from public view. ^^ Ethics rules generally prevent senior executive branch officials from owning stock in companies affected by their decisions, but Congress has not seen fit to apply these standards to itself. Members of Congress frequently vote on bills that directly affect the value of individual stocks they own. ^^ The government can do better for the American people. Open records policies should apply to Congress. Members of Congress should have to disclose e-mails with lobbyists and other outside parties, and they should have to disclose any and all meetings with lobbyists and advocacy organizations. Voters should know how lobbyists are trying to influence their elected representatives. ^^ Members of Congress should also be prohibited from owning or trading individual stocks. Congressmen and Congresswomen should not derive financial benefits from votes they cast. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * 14 current and former members of Congress were convicted of criminal offenses between 2012 and 2022. ^^ * Over the past three years, at least 64 members of Congress violated the STOCK Act, a law intended to combat insider trading by Members of Congress. ^^ * Federal ethics rules generally prohibit senior executive branch officials from owning more than $15,000 worth of individual stocks. These ethics rules do not apply to Members of Congress or their staff members. ^^ * Executive branch agencies fulfilled more than 838,000 FOIA requests in FY 2021. ^^ * Congress did not fulfill any FOIA requests, because FOIA does not cover Congress. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Apply open records requirements to members of Congress and their staff members, allowing the American people to see their communications with lobbyists and special interest groups. ^^ * Require Members of Congress to report meetings with lobbyists and other advocacy organizations. ^^ * Prohibit Members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks. This would not prevent the ownership of broadly diversified mutual or index funds, which grow with the overall economy.Agencies & Decision-MakingMove Federal Agencies and Decision-Making Closer to the People_61b04486-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea0010.2Federal AgenciesTo many Americans, the federal government feels distant and out of touch. Indeed, Washington policymakers and federal bureaucrats inhabit a different world from most Americans. The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area exists in a bubble largely insulated from forces affecting the rest of the country. Federal spending drives the Washington economy, and federal jobs or related positions -- such as lobbying or federal contracting -- dominate both the Washington job market and social scene. Federal employees also make on average one-sixth more than comparable private sector workers. And five of the seven wealthiest counties (or county-equivalents) in the U.S. are located in the Washington metropolitan area. ^^ Washington bureaucrats make decisions affecting the entire country, but many of them are socially and economically disconnected from the rest of the Nation. The people making federal policies often have little experience walking in the shoes of those who are affected by their decisions. As a result, the decisions they make often do not truly reflect the will of the American people. ^^ Relocating federal agencies outside Washington would pierce this "beltway bubble." Doing so would move agency leadership closer to the American people and into communities where they are not primarily surrounded by like-minded federal employees and contractors. During the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture successfully moved the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture from Washington, D.C., to Kansas City, Missouri, while the Department of Interior moved the Bureau of Land Management to Grand Junction, Colorado. ^^ Relocating agencies would also save taxpayers a lot of money. The cost of living in the Washington metropolitan area ranks among the highest in the U.S. Highly paid federal employees, contractors, and lobbyists bid up housing prices as they compete for homes with shorter commutes into "the Federal City." The federal government then pays its Washington employees premium wages to compensate for these higher living costs. By relocating 100,000 employees out of the Washington metropolitan area, the federal government would save more than $1 billion annually in locality pay. ^^ The argument for keeping federal agencies concentrated in Washington has long been that they need to be physically present in the same city to coordinate with each other, the White House, and Congress. Modern teleworking technology, however, has eliminated this need. Three-fifths of federal employees telecommuted every day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Agencies continued to coordinate very effectively with each other and Congress while most of their employees worked remotely. This demonstrated that they can function equally effectively with employees working in other states. ^^ The federal government should also move decision- making closer to the American people. The federal government currently regulates almost every aspect of Americans' lives -- crowding out the ability of individuals, communities, and states to make decisions themselves. But this was not the Founders' original vision. Instead, they conceived of a federal government that would tackle only truly national responsibilities such as national defense or regulating interstate commerce. ^^ However, the Supreme Court of the United States has interpreted federal authority to regulate interstate commerce very broadly, and it now includes matters that only tangentially affect interstate commerce. The federal government has consequently swelled from one of limited and enumerated powers to one with expansive authority to regulate every facet of Americans’ lives. ^^ The federal government should return to the Framers' vision. In the case of interstate commerce, Congress or the courts should restrict federal regulatory agencies’ jurisdiction to truly interstate economic activities. Regulation of matters that only indirectly affect interstate commerce should be left to states or local communities, which are better able to judge their unique needs. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Federal employees enjoy 17% higher salary and benefits than comparable private sector workers. ^^ * 283,000 federal employees work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. ^^ * The Washington metropolitan area contains five of the seven wealthiest counties and county-equivalents1 in the U.S. | Loudon County, Virginia (median household income of $147,100) | Falls Church City, Virginia (median household income of $146,900) | Fairfax County, Virginia (median household income of $127,900) | Howard County, Maryland (median household income of $124, 000) | Arlington County, Virginia (median household income of $122,600). ^^ * The Washington metropolitan area has the fifth-highest cost of living out of 267 urban areas in the U.S. ^^ * Cost-of-living adjustments raise federal salaries in the Washington metropolitan area to 13% higher than what federal employees earn in the rest of the U.S. ^^ * Relocating 100,000 federal jobs from the Washington metropolitan area to the rest of the U.S. would save taxpayers $1.4 billion per year in federal employee locality pay adjustments. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Broadly relocate federal cabinet departments and their sub-agencies across the U.S. This effort should have a particular focus on relocating to areas with low living costs. ^^ * In the alternative, unilaterally relocate agency subcomponents employing at least 100,000 federal employees, if necessary, by using presidential authority. This would include relocating the FBI headquarters and IRS headquarters. Federal regulatory agencies' jurisdiction should be restricted to truly interstate economic activityRed TapeCut the Red Tape_61b04f08-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea0010.3Regulations impose a hidden tax on the economy by forcing businesses to spend money on compliance costs instead of investing it in hiring workers or expanding operations. Regulations are often proposed in isolation with little regard to the collective burden that federal red tape imposes across the economy. And in some cases, Congress or agencies deliberately hide the costs of policy choices by issuing regulations instead of taxing or spending. ^^ Beyond formal regulations, agencies frequently impose additional layers of red tape through "guidance documents" -- informal agency statements on law or policy that do not require Administrative Procedure Act (APA) rulemaking procedures. APA procedures give members of the public an opportunity to comment on proposed policy changes and require agencies to respond to those comments. ^^ Unfortunately, the public usually has no opportunity to comment on guidance documents before they are issued. Although the documents are not technically legally binding, regulated parties typically feel they must comply with them to avoid becoming an enforcement target. Agencies issue hundreds or thousands of guidance documents each year, making it difficult for small businesses and individuals to keep up with rapidly evolving policy and legal positions. ^^ The Trump Administration addressed this problem by requiring agencies to restrain the total cost of all regulations they issued. Its executive order on "Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs" (Executive Order 13771) generally prohibited agencies from increasing the total regulatory burden on the economy and required agencies to take two deregulatory actions for each regulatory action. Additionally, its executive order on "Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents" (Executive Order 13891) required agencies to make their guidance documents publicly available on a central website and give the public an opportunity to comment on major guidance documents before they were issued. ^^ These reforms had a very positive effect, as total regulatory costs fell by $199 billion during the four years of the Trump Administration. The Council of Economic Advisers estimated that, if left in place, these reforms would have increased Americans’ real household incomes by an average of $3,100 per year. ^^ Unfortunately, the current administration rescinded Executive Order 13771 and the guidance transparency requirements on President Biden’s first day in office. In its first year, the Biden Administration increased net regulatory burdens by $201 billion and forced firms to spend an estimated 131 million additional hours completing paperwork. ^^ Past experience and research indicate that the increasing red tape from the current administration will raise prices for American families. Businesses get their money from their customers. When regulations and their associated compliance burdens raise businesses' costs, they pass those costs onto customers through higher prices. The government should ensure that the overall regulatory burden does not raise costs on the American people. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Federal agencies reduced net regulatory costs by $199 billion during the four years of the Trump Administration. ^^ * The Council of Economic Advisors estimated that the Trump Administration's deregulatory reforms would raise annual household incomes by $3,100 a year once they took full effect. ^^ * Federal agencies increased net regulatory costs by $201 billion in 2021, the first year of the Biden Administration. ^^ * Americans will take an estimated 131 million hours to complete the paperwork created by new regulations finalized in 2021. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Require regulatory budgeting so agencies must consider and cap the total cost of all the regulations they issue, rather than examining regulations in isolation. ^^ * Restore the executive branch requirement that agencies take two deregulatory actions for each new regulatory action initiated. ^^ * Ensure the public has an opportunity to weigh in on agency guidance by requiring agencies to follow the APA's notice-and-comment procedures before issuing significant guidance documents. ^^ * Ensure public availability of guidance documents by requiring agencies to publicize them on a central website. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Ensure the public has an opportunity to weigh in by requiring agencies to provide a public comment period before issuing new rules or guidance documents. ^^ * Ensure public availability of state agency guidance documents by publishing them on a central website.Civil ServiceReform the Civil Service to Create Accountability in the Bureaucracy_61b05c00-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea0010.4In theory, the president controls the executive branch of the federal government. But in practice, career federal bureaucrats wield enormous power with little accountability to the president. Civil service protections make removing career employees prohibitively difficult. Federal removal procedures often take 6 months to a year to complete, without counting appeals. And surveys show that most federal supervisors lack confidence that they could remove problematic employees. ^^ Unsurprisingly, agencies rarely fire career bureaucrats. In FY 2020, agencies dismissed fewer than 4,000 out of 1.6 million tenured career federal employees. According to recent surveys, federal employees are widely frustrated that their agencies do not take action against poor performers. The system also prevents agencies from firing bureaucrats who advance their own policy agendas. ^^ For example, during the Trump Administration, career employees in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division refused to assist in litigation against Yale University for discriminating against Asian Americans. These employees knew a successful lawsuit would undermine racial preferences in college admissions. Because they supported those racial preferences, they refused to participate in the litigation -- despite Yale's clear violations of the Civil Rights Act. ^^ The reformers who created the civil service never dreamed of empowering career staff to undermine elected officials. They wanted to end the spoils system, but they also recognized that removal protections would be destructive. The Pendleton Act of 1883 created a professional civil service by regulating federal hiring while keeping the federal workforce at-will. Not until the 1960s did the general federal workforce gain the ability to appeal dismissals. ^^ Several states have returned their government workforces to at-will employment, meaning employees can be fired for any non-discriminatory reason, and employees cannot appeal their removal. These states continue to operate highly effectively. They demonstrate that government workforces do not need removal protections to avoid the spoils system, and they show that at-will employment is compatible with a professional merit service. ^^ For America's democracy to function, executive branch employees must be accountable to the president. If the bureaucracy can pursue its own agenda, no matter who voters elect, then the government is no longer accountable to the people. To protect the government’s democratic accountability -- as well as to remove poor performers from the federal workforce -- the federal government should return to at-will employment. State governments that have not already done so should do the same. ^^ The federal and many state governments also pay their employees to work for government unions, while on the clock as public employees. These practices subsidize union activities that make it harder for elected officials to manage the bureaucracy. They are wasteful and counterproductive subsidies. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Non-veteran federal employees were first given removal appeals in 1962. ^^ * It now takes an estimated six to 12 months for federal agencies to dismiss a poor performer. This figure does not include subsequent appeals. ^^ * Just 26% of federal supervisors are confident they could remove a demonstrated poor performer. ^^ * Only one-third of federal employees report their agency takes steps "to deal with a poor performer who cannot or will not improve." ^^ * Fewer than 4,000 out of 1.6 million tenured federal employees were dismissed for poor performance or misconduct in FY 2020. ^^ * 58% of Americans believe it is too hard to fire poorly performing government employees. ^^ * State employees in Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, and Texas. serve at-will. So do managers and supervisors in Florida state government. ^^ * Agencies spend $200 million annually to subsidize federal union operations. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Return the federal civil service to at-will employment -- the original vision for a professional merit service. ^^ * Agencies should be free to remove employees for any non-discriminatory reason, with no external appeals. ^^ * Include dismissal policies like those outlined in the Lloyd-LaFollette Act, instead of extensive civil service appeals. Under Lloyd-LaFollette, supervisors had to explain in writing why an employee deserved dismissal. Employees could respond in writing. A different agency official decided whether the employee would be removed. Employees could not appeal this decision. This system protected against arbitrary or unfair removals without making justified removals difficult. ^^ * Use executive branch authorities to make significant portions of the federal workforce at-will. ^^ * Require federal unions to reimburse taxpayers for using agency resources. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Return state employees to at-will employment. ^^ * End "release time" subsidies for government unions.Administrative StateDismantle the Administrative State_61b06948-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea0010.5To prevent the federal government from abusing its power, the Framers of the Constitution created an unprecedented system of a democratically accountable government with internal checks and balances. As Alexander Hamilton argued in Federalist No. 51: ^^ If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. ^^ Based on this reasoning, the Constitution was designed to protect the American people from concentrated and unaccountable government power. It divided legislative, executive, and judicial power between three separate branches of government and further divided legislative power between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Regular elections hold the legislative and executive branches accountable to the people. The Bill of Rights further requires due process before Americans can be deprived of life, liberty, or property and protects additional rights such as the right to a speedy trial. ^^ Unfortunately, the modern "administrative state" has largely circumvented these safeguards. Congress has broadly delegated much of its legislative authority to executive branch administrative agencies, which issue thousands of rules annually that bind the American people. Many of these rules are issued by unaccountable career staff -- not political appointees. And under the Supreme Court's Chevron and Auer doctrines, courts must generally uphold these rules. ^^ As a result, administrative agencies now do most federal policymaking, and Congress often has little say in major federal policy decisions. For example, the government's recent policies mandating that healthcare workers receive COVID-19 vaccines, restricting oil and gas drilling, standing down immigration enforcement, and providing federal funding to abortion providers all took effect without a vote of Congress. Indeed, the healthcare vaccine mandate took effect despite the Senate voting against it. ^^ While the Framers created an independent judiciary, "administrative judges" -- senior agency officials -- typically determine whether Americans have violated administrative rules in internal agency proceedings. These administrative proceedings often lack the due process safeguards that protect Americans in criminal prosecutions. Administrative agencies now wield concentrated executive, legislative, and judicial power in a manner that the Framers sought to prevent. ^^ Administrative agencies are also insulated from accountability to the American people. While voters can write to their representatives or senators or volunteer to work on their reelection campaigns, voters have little influence on the enormous federal bureaucracy. The career bureaucracy focuses primarily on operating its agencies, not representing citizens' concerns. In dozens of "independent agencies," the elected president cannot even remove agency leaders after appointing them. As a result, these agencies exercise vast regulatory power without accountability to voters or the president. ^^ America can restore the Constitution's checks and balances by dismantling the administrative state and returning federal authorities to their proper branches. The federal government can be made accountable to the American people. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * The U.S. federal government has 278 executive branch departments, bureaus, agencies, and sub-agencies. ^^ * The Biden Administration issued 3,273 final rules, including 164 "significant" final rules, during President Biden’s first year in office. ^^ * Elected Members of Congress did not vote to approve any of these rules, but they legally bind the American people. ^^ * Appeals courts uphold agency interpretations of the law in 71% of Chevron cases. ^^ * 55% of voters believe letting government bureaucrats set rules without approval from Congress or voters is a major threat to democracy. ^^ * Only 25% of the Department of Health and Human Services' rules were issued by officials appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. Many of these rules were instead issued by career bureaucrats. ^^ * 28 independent agencies are led by officials whom the president cannot remove at-will. These independent agencies include the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ^^ * 1,931 administrative law judges (ALJs) and 10,831 non-ALJ executive branch employees perform quasi-judicial adjudications in the executive branch. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Prevent major agency rules or guidance documents from taking effect without an affirmative vote of Congress. ^^ * Prohibit career bureaucrats from issuing regulations. That authority should be restricted to political appointees alone. ^^ * Do not let agencies authoritatively interpret statutes and regulations they administer. That role should be the responsibility of the courts. ^^ * Make all agency heads serve at the pleasure of the president, without removal protections. ^^ * Allow only Article III Judges -- not senior agency officials -- to perform judicial functions, such as imposing fines or penalties. ^^ * Require agencies to provide Americans the due process protections contained in the Trump Administration’s since-rescinded "Regulatory Bill of Rights" in administrative enforcement proceedings. ^^ * Establish agency ombudsmen to investigate and redress bureaucratic abuses. ^^ At the state level, support policies that: ^^ * Prevent major agency rules or guidance documents from taking effect without an affirmative vote of the legislature. ^^ * Give state governors final responsibility for the issuance of state rules. ^^ * Do not let agencies authoritatively interpret statutes and regulations they administer. That should be the responsibility of state courts. BudgetBalance the Budget_61b07398-77c3-11f0-a24f-c1811183ea0010.6Not having run a budget surplus in 21 years, the federal government is expected to run deficits totaling a whopping $15.74 trillion over the coming decade. If the will were there to tackle this problem, what would it really take to balance the budget? ^^ The first step to balancing the federal budget is to grow the economy. Economic growth alone will not solve our budget predicament, but it is an essential component of any solution. The current administration’s anti-work and pro- regulation policies hamper economic growth. The damage would be compounded further if the administration passes its tax hike agenda. ^^ In the 21 years since the federal government last ran a budget surplus, federal revenue has for the most part remained at a stable 16-18% of GDP. But while revenues more than doubled, federal outlays more than tripled (+215.2%). In short, the federal government does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. To balance the budget within 10 years given CBO’s current economic and revenue projections, federal spending growth would need to slow from a projected 4.26% annual growth rate to 1.27%. ^^ Mandatory spending (Social Security, Medicare, etc.) accounts for 64% of federal spending and a majority of the projected 10-year spending increase. Urgent action is needed to preserve and modernize these programs for the senior citizens and vulnerable populations who depend on them and to prevent hard to the U.S. economy from unsustainable debt and higher taxes. ^^ Despite only accounting for 29% of total federal spending, discretionary spending offers ample opportunities for significant savings. For example, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) detailed budget process reforms and $16.7 trillion in potential spending savings (relative to the current law baseline) in its recently published "Blueprint to Save America." ^^ Lastly, interest on the federal debt acts as a self-reinforcing driver of deficits, with the CBO estimating interest costs to triple from $399 billion this year to $1.194 trillion by 2032. Once again, the solution to this issue lies in restraining spending. Doing so reduces not only the additional principal added to the debt, but it also saves on subsequent interest. ^^ The federal budget will not balance anytime soon. Achieving balance will take years of dedicated effort to accelerate economic growth and a commitment to reining in federal spending growth, but these sacrifices are necessary to hand the next generation an even more prosperous America that puts their dreams and aspirations first. ^^ THE FACTS ^^ * Federal outlays are expected to total $5.874 trillion in 2023, according to CBO. ^^ * With next year's deficit forecast to total $984 billion, balancing the budget would require a 16.8% spending cut -- more than the combined spending next year on national defense and veterans' programs. ^^ * The CBO’s online model estimates that raising baseline labor force and productivity growth rates by 0.5 and 0.4 percentage points, respectively, would boost cumulative GDP by more than $11.2 trillion and cut the deficit by $1.9 trillion. ^^ * Federal revenue has grown 142.9% in the 21 years since the federal government last ran a budget surplus, and the deficit has still soared. ^^ * Reducing federal outlays by 5% in 2023 and maintaining the savings for a decade relative to the CBO’s current law baseline would cut cumulative interest costs by $440 billion, lower the 10-year deficit by $3.38 trillion, and shrink the fiscal year 2032 deficit by 17%. ^^ THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA ^^ At the federal level, support policies that: ^^ * Aim to achieve 4% economic growth by pursuing policies that encourage work and investment, such as making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent. ^^ * Avoid economically damaging tax hikes that would complicate deficit reduction efforts. ^^ * Implement across-the-board work requirements for able-bodied Americans on federal government assistance programs. ^^ * Address unsustainable mandatory spending growth and strengthen economic growth by modernizing and preserving key programs that senior citizens and vulnerable populations rely on. ^^ * Impose discretionary spending caps with automatic sequestration penalties. ^^ * Pursue bold changes to budget processes that make it easier to root out wasteful spending items.2022-07-312025-08-12https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/aboutOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net