Institute for Legislative Analysis

John Hoeven

The Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) amendment #134 to the Fiscal Responsibility Act rescinds roughly $17 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief funds, allowing the monies to be used elsewhere instead of new spending. Support is the Limited Government Position as this amendment serves as a step in the right direction towards spending reprioritization. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $33 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Promoting Fiscal Responsibility by Rescinding Unused COVID-19 Funds and Reprioritizing Spending.

This resolution balances the federal budget within 5 years. Under the plan, federal spending is frozen in fiscal year 2023 and then gradually reduced over the next five years by cutting spending by 6 pennies for every dollar. The measure would yield a $65.8 billion surplus by 2027 and would collectively spend $4.2 trillion less than is projected by the Congressional Budget Office to be spent over that period. Support is the Limited Government Position as this budget will at least place an end to the $1.4 trillion budget deficit. However, much larger cuts must take place in order to reverse our $30 trillion national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in unfunded federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Cutting Spending and Balancing the Federal Budget within 5 Years through the "Six Penny Plan".

The Paul amendment #5191 to the treaty document backing Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO clarifies that Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty does not supersede the constitutional requirement that Congress declare war before the United States engages in war. Support is the Limited Government Position as the ultimate decision as to whether the economy and, most importantly, American lives, be placed at risk through warfare should be determined by Congress - as enshrined in the U.S. constitution - not a foreign entity.

Ensuring NATO Does Not Supersede Congress' Constitutional Authority to Declare War.

The Toomey instruction for the senate conferees to the "United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA)" requires establishing an exclusion process for any duties (tariffs) imposed through an action under Section 301 of the Trade Act. Under this process the Unites States Trade Representative (USTR) is required to consider the impact imposing a tariff has on U.S. companies and consumers, and then provide exclusions in circumstances where the tariff is expected to do more harm than good for the U.S. companies and consumers. Support is the Limited Government Position as this "protectionist" interference by government in the free market through tariffs (taxes on imports) unnecessarily drive-up product costs for both American manufacturers and consumers. Free trade has been a foundational principle of limited government dating back to Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, who identified the disastrous consequences of protectionist trade practices in the "Wealth of Nations" in 1776.

Protecting Consumers from Higher Taxation by Granting the USTR Flexibility to Provide Exclusions from Tariffs in Cases Where they Harm American Manufacturers and Workers.

The Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) amendment #1034 to the "National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024" prevents funds contributed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from being channeled to countries that sponsor genocide or state backed terrorism, unless such funds are authorized by the U.S. Congress. The amendment specifically pertains to IMF's "special drawing rights" process. Support is the Limited Government Position as, while the U.S. should arguably not be putting up over $100 billion to the IMF, these funds and the associated dividends provided through "special drawing rights" should certainly not be received by state sponsors of terrorism or other adversaries of the U.S.

Ensuring U.S. Funds and Dividends at the International Monetary Fund are Not Channeled to Countries that Sponsor Terrorism without Congressional Approval.

The Paul Amendment #5184 to the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022" helps offset the estimated $700 billion price tag of the bill by placing a 10-year moratorium on funding provided to the United States Agency for International Development (U.S. AID) except for funds that have been appropriated for Israel. Support is the Limited Government Position as the gigantic cost of the PACT Act (which runs contrary to limited government principles) must be offset, especially considering the U.S. national debt has exceeded $30 trillion and congress is running a budget deficit of $1.4 trillion. The countless documented cases of waste, fraud, and abuse within U.S. AID makes the initiative a prime candidate to be cut.

Protecting Taxpayers by Offsetting a Portion of the PACT Act Cost through a 10 Year Moratorium on Foreign Aid Spending.

The Braun amendment #4930 to the "Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act" prohibits the advancement of any budget resolution that does not reach a balanced budget within 10 years, unless approved by a two-thirds vote of the senate. Support is the Limited Government Position as the country can't afford to financially sustain the ever-growing budget deficit that has now grown to $1.4 trillion. Significant spending cuts must take place across government in order to reverse our $30 trillion national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in unfunded federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Reigning in the $1.4 Trillion Annual Budget Deficit through a "Balanced Budget Amendment".

The "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023", which was passed on December 23, 2022 funds government through the rest of fiscal year 2023. The package is over 4,000 pages long and included numerous earmarks, ultimately amounting to $1.7 trillion in spending. Spending increases included 5.5% in domestic spending and 10% in defense spending. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this measure was voted upon only days before the new congress, which would likely have significantly cut spending within the bill due to Republicans taking control of the House. The bill also contained nearly $50 billion in additional spending on Ukraine (without safeguards to prevent corruption), bringing the year's total to $113 billion - totaling more than half the size of Ukraine's entire pre-war economy.

Bypassing the New Congress by Ramming Through $1.7 Trillion in Spending in the Final Days of the Lame Duck Session.

The "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024" sponsored by Rep. John Carter (R-TX) is a $460 billion minibus funding several government agencies through Fiscal Year 2024. Overall spending levels are generally flat compared to the prior year with increases for some agencies and decreases for others. For example, the bill provides a 10% cut to the EPA, 7% cut to ATF, and a 6% cut to the FBI. However, the bill continues to fund the Essential Air Service program and contains countless earmarks which fund pet projects of lawmakers, especially at the Army Corps of Engineers where spending is increased 7-fold. The bill also provides increased spending for a number of welfare programs such as WIC, plus $3.3 billion for community development block grants. Furthermore, hundreds of millions is directed to fight climate change through carbon capture. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill maintains the unsustainable spending levels which were hiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and is chock-full of wasteful pet-projects of special interests. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Note: A Democratic lawmaker who opposed the bill was recorded as "X" due to the fact their opposition was not the spending but rather minor provisions pertaining to gun control.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending through a Budget Bill Filled with Waste and Funding Earmarked for Pet Projects of Lawmakers.

The "FY2024 supplemental appropriations" sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is a package of four bills approved in the U.S. House of Representatives and amounts to $95 billion in foreign aid. This includes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion for the Israel-Hamas conflict ($15 billion for Israel, $9 billion for Gaza, $2.4 billion for regional U.S. operations) and $8 billion for Taiwan and countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The bill also contains a provision banning the social media platform TikTok, which is a subsidiary of Chinese-owned company ByteDance Ltd. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as Americans cannot afford to continue to pour hundreds of billions into Ukraine - especially without proper safeguards to prevent corruption and waste. Additionally, while a TikTok ban across government platforms is reasonable considering national security, it ultimately should be up to individual Americans to weigh the risks of TikTok and determine their usage - not politicians - absent a much more substantial threat to national security.

Placing America Last by Providing $95 Billion in Foreign Aid to Ukraine and Other Nations and Imposing an Overreaching Ban on the Social Media Platform TikTok.

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency concerning COVID-19 declared by the President on March 13, 2020. As a result, a number of temporary government powers are eliminated, such as the authority of employees within the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to impose mask mandates on public transportation. Support is the Limited Government Position as the start of the pandemic shutdowns was over two years ago and Americans have since adapted to protecting themselves from COVID-19 and future variants. The termination of the national emergency not only signals a return to normalcy but also eliminates powers that have been abused by some government employees during the pandemic.

Reigning-in Government Power by Terminating the Federal COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration After 2 Years.

The Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) amendment #1829 to the "Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act" would insert the language of the House-passed "Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act". This provision prohibits law enforcement and intelligence agencies from purchasing personal information about customers or subscribers of electronic and remote computing service providers - such as email, social media, cell phone and cloud computing companies - without first obtaining a court order. According to the House sponsor, the bill "stops the federal government from circumventing Americans' Fourth Amendment right to privacy by closing loopholes that allow the government to purchase Americans' data from big tech companies without a search warrant". Support is the Limited Government Position as the U.S. Constitution explicitly protects Americans from unreasonable searches and seizure. This amendment helps strengthen civil liberties as protected under the Fourth Amendment.

Strengthening Civil Liberties by Inserting the "Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act" into the FISA Bill thus Preventing Government from Purchasing Americans' Data without a Search Warrant.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify new rules imposed by the Department of Education in July which create additional hurdles for charter schools to receive federal funding. For example, charter school applicants must now prove a need and community support for the charter school, undergo analysis for the enrollment and diversity of the school, and disclose contracts the charter school may have with for-profit companies. Support is the Limited Government Position as the responsible expansion of school choice not only benefits taxpayers, but, most importantly, improves educational outcomes for all students by creating competition through a "marketplace" of educational options for parents.

Protecting School Choice by Overturning Department of Education Rules that Burden Charter Schools with Significant Red Tape and Regulatory Barriers.

This vote prevents consideration of the second article of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for "Breach of Public Trust". According to the House sponsor of impeachment Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), "Mayorkas' policies have killed Americans, bankrupted communities, overrun schools, besieged towns, drowned hospitals, and incapacitated law enforcement while empowering cartels and foreign entities". Oppose is the Limited Government Position as Secretary Mayorkas has failed in his duties as Secretary of Homeland Security through the implementation of radical policies that have severely weakened our national security and devastated countless communities across the nation.

Blocking the Impeachment Trial of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for Article II "Breach of Public Trust" for his Failure to Secure the Southern Border.

This bill, "making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2024", is a "CR" that funds portions of government through January 19, 2024 or February 2, 2024, depending on the department. The CR does not contain provisions demanded by conservative lawmakers, such as spending cuts or border security measures. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this "kick the can down the road" approach weakens the ability of conservatives to obtain meaningful spending cuts. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $33 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Continuing Out-of-Control Spending through a CR Without Any Fiscal Restraints or Border Security Measures

The Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) amendment #98 to the Fiscal Responsibility Act ensures that the bill's "pay-go" requirement cannot be waived by the Biden Administration's Office of Management and Budget. The "pay-go" requirement ensures that any new spending must be offset by cuts elsewhere. Support is the Limited Government Position as this amendment serves as a critical safeguard to even greater reckless spending. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $33 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Preventing the Debt Limit Bill's "Pay-Go" Provision from Being Bypassed thus Ensuring Any Additional Spending is Offset by Cuts Elsewhere.

The Cruz amendment #4927 to the "Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act" prohibits the use of federal funding for schools and early childhood development facilities that enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates on children. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps protect individual liberties by ensuring it is parents - not government - making the medical decision on whether or not to vaccinate their child against COVID-19.

Protecting Individual Liberties and Parental Rights by Prohibiting Federal Funds from Being Used to Enforce COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates on Students.

This vote prevents consideration of the first article of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for "Willful and Systemic Refusal to Comply with the Law". According to the House sponsor of impeachment Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), "Mayorkas' policies have killed Americans, bankrupted communities, overrun schools, besieged towns, drowned hospitals, and incapacitated law enforcement while empowering cartels and foreign entities". Oppose is the Limited Government Position as Secretary Mayorkas has failed in his duties as Secretary of Homeland Security through the implementation of radical policies that have severely weakened our national security and devastated countless communities across the nation.

Blocking the Impeachment Trial of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for Article I "Willful and Systemic Refusal to Comply with the Law" for his Failure to Secure the Southern Border.

The Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) amendment #104 to the Fiscal Responsibility Act makes the food stamp work requirement within the bill permanent by removing the sunset provision. Support is the Limited Government Position as, while significant reforms must be made to government welfare programs to reduce government dependency, the existing work requirements should be, at the very least, enforced. Programs, such as the federal SNAP program, crowd out the private sector, which is much more effective and better equipped to solve underlying challenges faced by individuals and making them self-sufficient.

Promoting Self-Sufficiency by Making Permanent the Work Requirement Provisions within the Debt Limit Bill.

The final version of the "American Relief Act, 2025" passed on December 20, 2024 and sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) would fund the government through March 14, 2025. The bill also includes more than $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in economic aid to farmers, as well as an extension of the farm bill through Sept. 30, 2025. This version of the bill does not include a two-year suspension of the debt limit as had been advocated by President-elect Trump. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Note: Democratic Lawmakers who opposed the bill because they wanted greater levels of spending were also recorded as opposing the limited government position.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending through a Government Funding Package Containing Over $100 Billion in Disaster Aid and Farm Subsidies with No Fiscal Offsets.

The Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) amendment #1182 to the Minibus Appropriations Package prohibits any funding from being utilized to implement any earmark, community project funding, or congressionally directed spending. Earmarks direct funds to a specific recipient or congressional district while circumventing merit-based or competitive funds allocation processes. Support is the Limited Government Position as earmarks fuel corruption within the political process and incentivize runaway and wasteful spending for lawmaker pet projects. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $33 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Restoring Fiscal Responsibility by Prohibiting Earmarks within the Minibus Appropriations Package that Drive Runaway Spending for Lawmaker Pet Projects.

This bill, the "National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024", lays out how the Pentagon will be funded for the next year and includes $886 billion in defense spending. Most notably, this conference version of the bill removes Republican provisions that end Pentagon practices that facilitate abortion, enable taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries, and promote Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the armed forces. Furthermore, the bill reauthorizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which has been utilized to conduct surveillance on Americans without a warrant, including President Trump's previous campaign for president. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as Pentagon funding should be contingent on both a full audit, due to reports of tens of billions of taxpayer funds being "misplaced", and safeguards that protect funds from being utilized for politicized and other improper purposes. The FISA reauthorization violates the protections provided to Americans against unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Authorizing a Defense Bill without the Removal of Countless Radical Left Policies Surrounding Abortion, Transgenderism, Critical Race Theory, and Civil Liberty Violations.

This resolution introduced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service titled"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Northern Long-Eared Bat". The rule changed the classification of the northern-long eared bat from "threatened" to "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to the population suffering from an outbreak of white-nose syndrome. According to the sponsor, the Biden administration rule "is an example of the ESA being used to stifle development rather than its intended purpose, which is to protect species from human-caused harm". Support is the Limited Government Position as the rule results in a disproportionate regulatory burden imposed by unaccountable bureaucrats who will empower radical environmental groups to shutdown development and infrastructure expansion through much of the continental United States.

Protecting Property Rights by Nullifying an Overreaching Biden Administration Rule Concerning the Northern-Long Eared Bat on the Endangered Species Act.

The Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) amendment #3331 to the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" would delay the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act until changes are made that would offset the bill's negative effects on Social Security's actuarial balance as determined by the Social Security board of trustees. The underlying bill eliminates two federal cost-control policies that barred employees with a public pension from then also collecting the full-level of benefits under the federal retirement program. The bill is estimated to increase taxpayer spending by $195.65 billion and shorten the window for insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund by 6 months - triggering a 23 percent cut for all seniors in 2033. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure serves as a step in the right direction to prevent the further worsening of the unfunded liability crisis surrounding Social Security. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Promoting Fiscal Responsibility by Delaying Implementation of the "Social Security Fairness Act" Until Changes Are Enacted to Offset the Bill's Negative Effects on the Actuarial Balance.

This resolution introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) would prohibit the sale of certain offensive American weaponry to Israel. The measure bans the sale of "M933A1 120mm High Explosive mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes" while two other similar resolutions also introduced by Sanders ban the sale of "120mm tank rounds" and "Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs)". The United States has been providing Israel these weapons after the nation was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. According to the sponsor, "Israel's strategy of deadly attacks on and near civilian populations must end" citing the 43,000 Palestinians that have died from the conflict in Gaza. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill weakens national security. Israel is the United States' strongest ally in the Middle East and a critical partner in combatting adversaries such as Iran.

Weakening National Security by Halting the Sale of Certain U.S. Weapons to Israel as they Combat Terrorist Groups in Iran and the Gaza Strip.

The Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) amendment #376 to the "National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024" requires all member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to meet their commitment of two percent of GDP defense spending before the U.S. provides additional funds to Ukraine. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure helps place pressure on the other members of NATO to meet their commitments. The taxpayers of the U.S. should not be forced to continue shouldering a disproportionate share of the financial burden.

Strengthening NATO Accountability by Withholding Aid for Ukraine Until the Other NATO Member Nations Meet their Obligation of Two Percent of GDP Defense Spending.

The Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) amendment #1828 to the "Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act" would prevent American information from being collected without a warrant. While Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) prohibits the NSA and FBI from "intentionally" targeting Americans through its mass surveillance, these agencies acquire a huge amount of innocent Americans' communications "incidentally." These agencies can then conduct backdoor, warrantless searches of these "incidentally collected" communications. According to the sponsor, the "amendment would simply say this: You can investigate all the foreigners you want under 702, under FISA, whatever you wish for foreigners, but for Americans you go to an article III court". Support is the Limited Government Position as countless Americans have had their Fourth Amendment rights infringed through warrantless spying under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This amendment helps protect civil liberties by strengthening government transparency and accountability.

Protecting Civil Liberties Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by Prohibiting Surveillance on Americans without a Warrant.

The Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) amendment #1237 to the Minibus Appropriations Package prohibits funding of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule titled ''Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-Financed Housing''. This HUD rule subjects housing projects financed or subsidized with federal funds to meet much more stringent energy efficiency standards. Support is the Limited Government Position as the new energy efficiency mandates imposed by HUD unnecessarily drive-up housing and taxpayer costs in order to advance a politicized climate change agenda.

Reducing Housing and Taxpayer Costs by Nullifying a Biden Administration Rule Imposing More Stringent Energy Efficiency Standards on Government Subsidized or Financed Housing.

The Merkley amendment #6595 to the massive lame duck spending bill, known as the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023", places a series of new regulations on private companies concerning accommodations for breastfeeding up to a year after the birth of an employee's child. For example, employers must provide reasonable break times and a shielded location other than a bathroom for employees to express breast milk. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as employers are already incentivized to establish safe and productive work environments and this government overreach into the private sector unnecessarily exposes employers to new avenues of frivolous litigation that may be advanced by deviant plaintiffs\' attorneys.

Imposing Overreaching New Federal Mandates on the Private Sector Concerning Workplace Breast Feeding.

The Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) amendment #1366 to the continuing resolution would reduce funding by 15 percent (except for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs) and rescind $30 billion for the enforcement funds provided to the IRS as part of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Support is the Limited Government Position as this amendment serves as a step in the right direction to restoring fiscal sanity in Congress. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $33 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Advancing Fiscal Responsibility through a 15% Cut in Spending within the Short-Term CR Government Funding Bill.

The Braun amendment #4990 to the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022" eliminates over 367 pages of earmarks within the spending package that funds government through the rest of the year. These earmarks, which total $8 billion, represent pet projects that individual members of congress have added into the bill. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure will at least slightly improve the horrendous level of wasteful spending within the bill. However, much larger spending cuts must take place across government in order to reverse our $30 trillion national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in unfunded federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Protecting Taxpayers by "Cutting the Pork" in the Budget through the Elimination of All Earmarks within the 2022 Funding Package.

This resolution introduced by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify the Environmental Protection Agency rule titled "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'". This Biden administration rule overturned the reforms implemented by the Trump administration and provides the EPA with much more expansive regulatory authority than it was initially granted under the Obama administration. As a result, the EPA's regulatory authority includes not only rivers and wetlands, but ephemeral streams and ditches under the Clean Water Act. Support is the Limited Government Position as the Biden and Obama administrations granted the EPA carte-blanche authority to regulate practically any standing amount of water, which resulted in property rights being infringed and enormous additional costs for landowners.

Strengthening Property Rights by Overturning Biden Administration Regulations Providing the EPA Overreaching Authority under the Waters of the United States Rule.

This motion blocks a resolution sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) which would prevent the Biden administration from utilizing U.S. military servicemembers to operate a pier on the coast of the Gaza Strip. The $230 million military-run project known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system, or JLOTS, consisted of a floating pier that would only operate for about 20 days and undercut certain actions taken by Israel. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the Gaza pier boondoggle represented a failed political stunt and unnecessarily cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Furthermore, it created unnecessary tensions between the U.S. and Israel and placed American service members in harms way.

Placing American Service Members at Risk of Harm and Creating Unnecessary U.S. Tensions with Israel by Authorizing the Biden Admin's Boondoggle Floating Pier Project in Gaza.

The Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) motion to the "Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024" would instruct the Senate Committee on Appropriations to adjust the bill into a full-year CR funding government through September 30, 2024. According to the sponsor, this adjustment would "result in a spending cut of $73 billion, bringing our total discretionary spending down to 1.56 trillion, a significant cut from the $1.66 trillion funding deal that is in the works currently". Support is the Limited Government Position as this motion increases fiscal responsibility. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Cutting Government Spending by $73 Billion by Extending the Duration of the CR through September of 2024.

This resolution introduced by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled "Small Business Lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)". This rule implements a section of the Dodd-Frank Act and requires banks to collect and report data on race, ethnicity, and sex across 81 fields. The sponsor noted this rule imposes a significant additional cost on lenders and creates privacy concerns for small businesses that do not want such information made public. Support is the Limited Government Position as this Biden Administration rule further worsens the draconian regulatory framework of Dodd-Frank, while unnecessarily driving up lending costs and infringing privacy rights.

Combatting Regulatory Overreach by Nullifying Biden Administration Rules Forcing Banks to Report and Publish Additional Data Pertaining to Race, Ethnicity, and Sex.

This resolution introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify the policy update issued by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) on May 5, 2022 relating to discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. According to the sponsor, this policy is "weaponizing funding for school lunch programs in an effort to force public schools to embrace Joe Biden's transgender agenda", such as "requiring biological boys to be given access to girls bathrooms and locker rooms or allow biological boys to compete against biological girls in girls' sports". Support is the Limited Government Position as federal funding should not be weaponized by unaccountable bureaucrats to advance politicized initiatives, especially those surrounding sensitive issues that should be handled at the local level by school boards accountable to parents.

Preventing the Weaponization of the Federal Appropriations Process by Bureaucrats Attempting to Push Policies Surrounding Transgenderism in Local Schools.

This resolution sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) would enact a "Six Penny Plan" federal budget. The plan would balance on-budget outlays and revenues within five years by cutting six pennies off every dollar projected to be spent in the next five fiscal years. According to the sponsor, the plan would reduce spending by $329 billion in the first year, and accomplishes the balanced budget even with the provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act being made permanent. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure represents an excellent pathway to restoring fiscal order to Congress. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Restoring Fiscal Sanity through a "Six Penny Plan" Federal Budget that Makes Significant Cuts in Spending and Balances the Budget within Five Years.

The "Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024" would avoid a shutdown by extending government funding through either March 1 or March 8, 2024 depending upon agency. Notably, the bill does not contain border security provisions advocated by conservatives. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill maintains fiscal irresponsibility by kicking the can down the road, while also failing to include the critical border security provision. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Maintaining Fiscal Irresponsibility through the "Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024" that Fails to Include a Critical Border Security Provision.

The Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) amendment #1840 to the "Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act" would implement two reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court. First, it would bolster the role of amici curiae - outside experts who present a perspective other than the government and assist the FISA Court in evaluating arguments presented by the Department of Justice - by creating a presumption that amici should participate in certain particularly sensitive or important matters and by increasing amici's access to information. Second, it would require the disclosure to the court of all material, exculpatory evidence, or impeachment evidence. The sponsor noted that the provision mirrors an amendment that the Senate passed by a vote of 77-19 in 2020. It is noteworthy that while the NSA and FBI are prohibited from "intentionally" targeting Americans through its mass surveillance under FISA, these agencies acquire a huge amount of innocent Americans' communications "incidentally." These agencies can then conduct backdoor, warrantless searches of these "incidentally collected" communications. Support is the Limited Government Position as countless Americans have had their Fourth Amendment rights infringed through warrantless spying under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This amendment helps protect civil liberties by strengthening government transparency and accountability.

Strengthening Government Transparency Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through Increased Oversight of the Program by Outside Experts (Amici Curiae).

The Tester amendment #5480 to the "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" prohibits title 42 (a policy invoked at the start of COVID-19 that grants border patrol the ability to expel migrants seeking asylum) from being lifted until a comprehensive plan has been presented to congress and members are allowed 30 days to review. The amendment is in response to an enormous gathering of migrants seeking asylum along the border, with the U.S. Border Patrol reporting 2.76 million encounters with migrants over the past year. Support is the Limited Government Position as, despite the need to grow the U.S. economy through reforms to the immigration system that increase the number of skilled individuals who may enter and work in our country, the promotion of an open-border immigration system places an immense drain on U.S. infrastructure and taxpayer resources ranging from welfare to the education system, while also creating serious law enforcement and national security issues.

Delaying a Surge of Migrants from Crossing the Southern Border by Requiring a Comprehensive Plan Before Title 42 is Lifted

The Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) amendment #3289 to the "Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" would rescind $2.9 billion in Department of Energy loan guarantees to pay for the provisions in the underlying bill. The bill is in response to the PACT Act (also known as the "burn pit bill") that was passed in 2022 and drastically expanded veteran healthcare coverages - which has now created a $3 billion budget shortfall. According to the sponsor, "Which is more important, subsidizing millionaire owners of green energy or paying for veterans' benefits? Why not take one to pay for the other?" Support is the Limited Government Position as the Institute for Legislative Analysis' had correctly noted two years prior that the PACT Act would "create countless avenues for devious plaintiffs' attorneys to advance fraudulent health and disability claims and will likely further overload the VA". This amendment serves as a step in the right direction in covering the cost of the disastrous PACT Act which is expected to cost taxpayers over $700 billion.

Protecting Taxpayers by Reappropriating Wasteful Funding in the DOE to Pay for the Runaway Costs from the Disastrous PACT Act.

The "Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act" (RECA) sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) would extend RECA for an additional six years past its current sunset date of June 7, 2024. RECA was enacted in 1990 under George H.W. Bush to compensate individuals exposed to fallout from nuclear weapons testing between 1947 and 1961. The bill also includes provisions which increase payouts and eligibility, as well as expand the regions covered to include the bill sponsor's district in St. Louis, Missouri. The bill does not contain any funding for the new entitlement, which is estimated to cost at a minimum of between $50 to $100 billion over the next ten years for the St. Louis region alone. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as expansion and creation of a new entitlement program that lacks critical safeguards and limits on eligibility will result in a fiscal catastrophe. Federal taxpayers have already experienced a similar fiscal nightmare and skyrocketing costs resulting from the poorly crafted World Trade Center Health Program, which requires constant additional taxpayer cash infusions. Unfortunately, greedy plaintiffs' attorneys seek out any individual who may be remotely impacted by an event and work to extract enormous payouts at the expense of taxpayers.

Threatening a Fiscal Nightmare through the Extension and Expansion of the Entitlement Program "Radiation Exposure Compensation Act" (RECA).

The "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" sponsored by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) eliminates two federal cost-control policies that barred employees with a public pension from then also collecting the full-level of benefits under the federal retirement program. The bill is estimated to increase taxpayer spending by $195.65 billion and shorten the window for insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund by 6 months - triggering a 23 percent cut for all seniors in 2033. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill largely serves as a political ploy to gain favorability from federal workers and labor unions while worsening the unfunded liability crisis of Social Security. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Quickening the Insolvency of Social Security to Gain Political Favorability from Federal Workers and Labor Unions through the "Social Security Fairness Act".

The Sen. Joshua Hawley (R-MO) amendment #1058 to the "National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024" establishes a new entitlement program for residents in St. Louis, Missouri and the surrounding regions who may have been exposed to radioactive contamination from nuclear waste during the federal government-run Manhattan Project. Any individuals who had been present in the regions for any two year period since 1949 would be entitled to compensation if they contracted a cancer or other specified disease. Spouses and children would also be able to obtain compensation if the family member died. The amendment does not contain any funding for the new entitlement, which is estimated to cost at a minimum of between $50 to $100 billion over the next ten years. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as, while well-intended, creation of such an entitlement program without extremely carefully crafted safeguards and limited eligibility could result in a fiscal catastrophe. For example, the previous amendment to this same bill by Sen. Gillibrand, which pertained to the World Trade Center Health Program, demonstrates the skyrocketing costs such entitlement programs create. Unfortunately, greedy plaintiffs' attorneys seek out any individual who may be remotely impacted by an event and work to extract enormous payouts all at the expense of taxpayers.

Threatening a Fiscal Nightmare through the Creation of a New Entitlement Program for any Resident of the St. Louis Region Since 1949 Potentially Impacted by the Manhattan Project.

This "Minibus" appropriations package provides a year of funding for certain government agencies and functions including veterans affairs, agriculture, transportation, housing and military construction . The package includes several "historic" spending hikes in a range of areas including military construction and government welfare programs surrounding housing. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill represents yet another example of fiscal insanity. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $33 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending through a Minibus Appropriations Package with "Historic" Levels of New Welfare Spending and Enormous Agency Budgets.

The "Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024" sponsored by Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) would avert a partial government shutdown by extending government funding by a week (March 8) for six agencies and March 22 for others. The extension serves as a stopgap as the final details on a broader extension are finalized. According to bill opponents, the broader bill will not provide any substantial spending reductions at a time the nation is facing $1 trillion in annual interest payment on the debt. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this measure merely kicks the can down the road to advance a fiscally irresponsible budget. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Advancing a Fiscally Irresponsible Budget by Kicking the Can Down the Road through the "Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024".

This resolution ratifies the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which was adopted at Kigali on October 15, 2016, on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The amendment calls for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), gases used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR). Furthermore, foreign manufacturers, including China, are provided with preferential (i.e., cheaper) access to HFCs during Kigali's phase-out period and are also provided with millions of dollars in subsidies through a U.S. financed adaptation fund. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as membership in world-wide initiatives and ratification of such treaties nearly always result in overly-stringent environmental regulations being placed on the United States. Meanwhile, countries that are engaging in horrendous environmental practices, such as China, must meet and comply with much lower standards. As a result, the U.S. is placed at a significant competitive economic disadvantage on the national stage and Americans are faced with higher A/C and cooling costs.

Hiking Consumer A/C and Cooling Costs and Subsidizing China and other Foreign Countries through the Ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which Cuts Usage of HFCs.

The Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) amendment #421 to the "National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024" allows U.S. servicemembers who were dismissed as the result of the Biden Administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate to seek reinstatement or a change in their discharge status. The amendment also restores their lost GI and VA benefits. Support is the Limited Government Position as not only was the COVID-19 vaccine ineffective in controlling the virus, but the mandate also resulted in the dismissal of over 8,400 service members and hurt recruitment. The COVID-19 vaccination mandate represented a clear example of government overreach and all service members who were dismissed should be allowed to once again serve their country.

Ensuring U.S. Service Members Dismissed as the Result of the COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate May Seek Reinstatement and Have their Discharge Statuses Changed.

The Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) amendment #1614 to the "Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024" would prevent the Federal Reserve from purchasing the debt of states or municipalities through its Open Market Operations. According to the sponsor, "we now know that the Federal Reserve is not only buying the Federal debt; they are buying the debt of profligate, large-spending States like California, New York, and Illinois. It was never intended that Congress give the Fed the power, and we should make sure that it is explicit that the Federal Reserve cannot buy the debt of individual States." This action by the Federal Reserve generally lowers the borrowing costs for the states and localities the Fed purchases the debt. Support is the Limited Government Position as the reckless actions by the Federal Reserve to purchase state and local bonds places the entire U.S. financial system - including the U.S. dollar - at risk in the event of widespread defaults. The continued monetization of debt coupled with the enormous balance sheet of the Fed, merely heightens the risk of a hyper-inflationary event.

Ending a Reckless Federal Reserve Policy Jeopardizing the Stability of the U.S. Monetary System through the Purchase of State and Municipal Debt.

The Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) amendment #3352 to the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" would enact the "Government Shutdown Prevention Act" which would keep government open but institutes a six percent cut to then-current funding levels for any agency, program and activity that Congress failed to fund. Funding would continue to be reduced by another one percent every 90 days thereafter that an agreement is still not enacted. Support is the Limited Government Position as this fiscally responsible measure helps provide lawmakers an alternative to either enacting a wasteful, bloated budget or a government shutdown. Lawmakers must rein in the out-of-control spending and $35 trillion in national debt, which, when coupled with the $200 trillion in federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Increasing Fiscal Responsibility through the "Government Shutdown Prevention Act" which keeps Government Operating Albeit a Six Percent Cut to All Unfunded Programs.

This resolution introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a Biden administration rule issued by the Department of Energy on December 18, 2023, titled "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Furnaces". The rule requires gas furnaces to achieve an efficiency standard of 95 percent when right now, residential gas furnaces only require an efficiency standard of 80 percent. According to the sponsor, "this rule would remove up to 60 percent of current residential furnaces from the market and would impact 55 percent of American households". Support is the Limited Government Position as consumers within a free market - not central planning by government bureaucrats - should have the freedom to choose the type of furnace that best meets their needs. This measure serves as a step in the right direction to combatting government overreach which unnecessarily hikes consumer costs.

Utilizing the Congressional Review Act to Overturn a Draconian Biden Administration DOE Rule Imposing Energy Efficiency Mandates on Furnaces.

The Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) amendment #1740 to the "Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024" would prevent illegal immigrants who commit the crime of burglary, theft, or shoplifting from being granted legal status or citizenship. According to the sponsor, the amendment is "particularly relevant in the case of Laken Riley, where the illegal alien who murdered her had previously been arrested for those crimes". Support is the Limited Government Position as ensuring public safety and national defense is arguably the most important role of government. Failure to secure our nation's border and deport those residing in the country unlawfully not only has catastrophic implications on the ability to maintain law and order, but also creates countless other issues, ranging from welfare to the education system.

Strengthening Public Safety by Denying Legal Status to Any Illegal Immigrant Who Commits the Crime of Burglary, Theft, or Shoplifting.

The "Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2023" funds the federal government through December 23, 2022, as opposed to January 2023 when a new congress will be sworn in following the November election. Such an action will result in members of congress who lost their election, but are still sitting in office (a concept commonly known as "lame duck"), to set government funding for the next year, rather than the next congress.  Oppose is the Limited Government Position as allowing lame duck members of congress to set funding levels - especially with a holiday deadline - will likely result in greater irresponsible spending. Budgets should be set by sitting members of congress, the individuals who are held accountable by the voters, not members who are on their way out of office.

Paving the Way for Irresponsible Spending Through the Second CR which Allows the Lame Duck Congress, Not the New Congress, to Set Government Funding.

This resolution introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) utilizes the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives titled"Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached Stabilizing Braces". Under the rule, pistols with a stabilizing brace attachment would be reclassified as short-barreled rifles, and subject to additional regulations. Additionally, gun owners who fail to register their pistols with stabilizing braces with the ATF could face ten years in jail and hefty fines. Support is the Limited Government Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure weakens Second Amendment and privacy rights of law-abiding citizens while doing nothing to deter criminals from continuing to engage in unlawful behavior.

Strengthening Second Amendment Rights by Nullifying a Biden Administration Rule that Subjects Pistols with a Stabilizing Brace to Additional Regulations and Registration Mandates.

The Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) amendment #110 to the Fiscal Responsibility Act adds a major border security provision modelled after the House-passed "Secure the Border Act". The amendment includes restarting border wall construction, hiring thousands of additional Border Patrol agents, equipping agents with better technology to detect drugs and illegal immigration, and additional E-Verify requirements. Support is the Limited Government Position as an unsecured southern border presents a major national security risk and places an enormous strain on taxpayer-funded resources, ranging from law enforcement to welfare to education. While lawmakers should work to boost merit-based immigration to expand the U.S. workforce and economy, major policy changes must be made to curb illegal immigration and prevent dangerous individuals from entering the country.

Year
2024	—	100.00	100.00	100.00	—	88.89	100.00	100.00	54.55	—
2023	100.00	100.00	100.00	—	100.00	91.67	87.50	100.00	47.62	100.00
2022	100.00	100.00	—	100.00	100.00	100.00	66.67	100.00	70.00	66.67

Year	Score	Role	Party
2024	72.92	Sen	R
2023	76.79	Sen	R
2022	81.40	Sen	R

John Hoeven

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