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Background Every child deserves the chance for a good, individualized education that can prepare him or her for a job and a bright future. What is sorely needed in education policy is not rigid federal government control but parent and student choice. Federal government intervention in elementary and secondary education has been growing for over half a century, during which time education spending has skyrocketed (on a per-student basis, federal...

Background In January, the House Rules Committee will hold a hearing on “congressionally directed spending,” which is an inside Washington euphemism for a congressional earmark. Earmarks have been prohibited since 2011, when Republicans seized control of the House after the tea party wave. What is an earmark? Generally, an earmark is a special provision inserted into legislation that directs funds to a specific recipient, often times circumventing formula, merit-based or...

This week, the House will vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 4712), introduced by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). This legislation requires that appropriate medical care be given to any child who survived an attempted abortion, and establishes criminal penalties for health care practitioners that violate this requirement (the mother of a child born alive may not be prosecuted) and a civil right of action to enforce the...

Washington—Earlier this week, the U.S. House passed legislation with 230 votes to extend federal funding of discretionary programs through February 16, 2018. Less than two hours before federal discretionary spending was set to expire, Senate Democrats voted to block that bill because it did not include amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants. Heritage Action release the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Needham: “Federal spending debates reveal a...

Washington—According to reports, the third day of the partial federal government shutdown could also be the last. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stated last night that it would be his “intention to proceed to legislation that would address DACA, border security, and related issues” if those issues are not resolved by February 8, 2018. It remains unclear if congressional Democrats will continue to oppose funding the government unless the...

Washington—The Monthly Harvard-Harris Poll (January 17-19, 2018) asked voters if they thought “immigration priority for those coming to the U.S. should be based on a person's ability to contribute to America as measured by their education and skills or based on a person having relatives in the U.S.” The results were overwhelming. 79 percent of respondents said immigration should be based on a person's ability to contribute to America, and...

Washington—According to reports, the Trump administration will propose allowing up to 1.8 million illegal immigrants that came to America before they were adults to gain legal status and ultimately citizenship. A White House official reportedly said the plan includes “the DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] population, plus individuals who failed to apply for DACA but otherwise met the requirements, as well as adjustments in time frame that would bring...

Next week, the Senate will vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S. 2311), introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). This legislation would protect unborn children by preventing abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, at which time scientific evidence suggests the unborn child can feel pain. The House passed a similar bill last fall by a vote of 237 to 189.

Our current family-based or “chain migration” legal immigration system is outdated and prioritizes relatives of existing immigrants over highly skilled and other merit-based applicants seeking to come to America. For decades, special interest groups and politicians have resorted to emotional appeals, rather than sound policy, to block needed reforms. During the forthcoming debate over the unlawful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Congress and the Trump administration should permanently...

The Schumer-Rounds-Collins amnesty proposal, revealed by the “Common Sense Coalition” drew fire from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which said the bill would “effectively make the United States a Sanctuary Nation.” Entitled the “Immigration Security and Opportunity Act,” this legislation provides amnesty and a path to citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants, fails to end chain migration and establish a merit-based immigration system for the 21st century, fails to...

Today, the Senate and House are expected to vote on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. The agreement would raise the Budget Control Act caps by $296 billion with only a third of that being paid for, suspend the debt ceiling until March 2019, extend the unreformed Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for ten years, provide nearly $90 billion for disaster recovery, and make numerous other changes including so-called tax...

Today, the Senate and House are expected to vote on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. The agreement would raise the Budget Control Act caps by $296 billion with only a third of that being paid for, suspend the debt ceiling until March 2019, extend the unreformed Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for ten years, provide nearly $90 billion for disaster recovery, and make numerous other changes including so-called tax...

Washington—This afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to increase the existing statutory budget caps by $300 billion over the next two years. If those increases establish a new baseline for defense and non-defense discretionary spending, the impact over the ten year budget window will be roughly $1.5 trillion. Additional items likely include roughly $90 billion in disaster recovery spending, another suspension of the debt...

Today, the Senate and House are expected to vote on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. The agreement would raise the Budget Control Act caps by $296 billion with only a third of that being paid for, suspend the debt ceiling until March 2019, extend the unreformed Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for ten years, provide nearly $90 billion for disaster recovery, and make numerous other changes including so-called tax...

Today, the Senate and House are expected to vote on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. The agreement would raise the Budget Control Act caps by $296 billion with only a third of that being paid for, suspend the debt ceiling until March 2019, extend the unreformed Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for ten years, provide nearly $90 billion for disaster recovery, and make numerous other changes including so-called tax...

True conservative immigration reform requires an end to chain migration. In the past 35 years alone, 20 million people have come to the country simply because a relative had a green card. Recent polling suggests 79 percent of voters want an immigration system that prioritizes highly educated and skilled immigrants. Merit-based immigration makes sense for the 325 million Americans, and that should be the priority of legislative action. As The...

The Senate could soon vote on a Schumer-Rounds-Collins amnesty proposal revealed by the “Common Sense Coalition” late Wednesday night that drew fire from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which said the bill would “effectively make the United States a Sanctuary Nation.” Entitled the “Immigration Security and Opportunity Act,” this legislation provides amnesty and a path to citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants, fails to end chain migration and establish...