Latest news with #Emmer
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Lawmakers Push for Osprey Safety Report to Be Added to Annual Defense Funding Bill
House lawmakers want a safety report about the V-22 Osprey to be included in the annual defense appropriations bill after several deadly crashes killed troops and raised questions about the aircraft's continued use by the military. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., wrote a letter to the leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on Friday, asking for language to be added to the fiscal 2026 appropriations bill that would shed more light on historic mechanical failures with the aircraft. "These servicemembers are heroes, and their legacy should reflect their decorated careers, bravery and service to this nation," the letter says. "There is no question that our service members deserve better than to be protecting our country in an aircraft with known mechanical issues." Read Next: Pentagon Diverts $1 Billion from Army Barracks to Fund Border Mission Emmer and Grothman's letter follows a deadly Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey crash in November 2023 in Japan that killed eight airmen during a training mission. exclusively reported last year, after reviewing privileged safety information, that the crash was caused by issues in the tilt-rotor aircraft's gearbox -- specifically a fractured single high-speed planetary pinion gear. That internal Safety Investigation Board report detailed that other failures in the gearbox were first flagged back in 2013, a decade prior to the deadly crash, and concerns were raised at the Pentagon. Additionally, the company that made the part that failed has been plagued with a history of manufacturing issues. Emmer and Grothman's letter cited past reporting and specifically asks for language to be included that will examine past safety reports that probed failures, including that gear from the Japan crash. The letter asks the defense appropriator subcommittee to request "a report that includes the results of any safety investigation pertaining to any crash of the CV-22 Osprey since the introduction of the aircraft or other mishap involving the failure of the single high-speed planetary pinion gear." The language would require the defense secretary to submit the safety information within 30 days of the passage of the appropriations bill. Jason Gagnon, a spokesperson for Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., the chair of the defense appropriations subcommittee, said the congressman would be working with other lawmakers on Osprey safety. "Chairman Calvert looks forward to working with Majority Whip Emmer and other colleagues on this issue," Gagnon said in an emailed statement. "The safety of our service members remains one of the top priorities of the Defense Subcommittee." Notably, almost a year ago, Grothman led a House Committee on Oversight and Reform subcommittee hearing into the safety record of the V-22 Osprey. reported earlier this month that the investigation had stalled with the Republican-led committee, which angered Gold Star families who lost loved ones in the crash and are still hoping for answers. "I'm beyond disappointed, to say the least, that these oversight efforts seem to have stalled or disappeared," Amber Sax, the wife of John Sax, a Marine Corps pilot who died in a 2022 Osprey crash, told earlier this month. Grothman blamed the previous administration for a lack of transparency. He signed the letter alongside Emmer, calling for safety reports two weeks after reporting pointing out the lack of progress. Air Force Special Operations Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse told in an emailed statement that they "continue to welcome congressional interest and oversight" on the Osprey program. "We maintain close coordination with the V-22 Joint Program Office to ensure resourcing and funding are prioritized to maximize readiness and safety of the CV-22, like we do for all our aircraft," Heyse said. Related: Osprey Safety Investigation Stalls in Congress, Angering Gold Star Families
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP Whip unveils hundreds of coalition endorsements for Trump agenda bill
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer's (R-Minn.) office revealed hundreds of endorsements for the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' of President Trump's tax and spending priorities, marking a major push for the legislation as GOP leaders aim to pass it in the lower chamber this week despite ongoing talks over last-minute changes. More than 100 outside groups have signed on to say they support final passage of the overall bill so far. Those range from traditional allies of Republicans like Americans for Prosperity — which is pushing for lower taxes — and March for Life Action, to major corporations like Uber, Chevron, and Verizon. And a website that Emmer's office debuted Tuesday showcases hundreds more endorsements for individual titles of the massive bill, which had input from every House committee. Total endorsements for portions of the bill have reached nearly 1000, according to Emmer's office. Around 450 organizations and counting — to include Ulta Beauty, Lyft, and The Home Depot — have endorsed the tax portion of the bill, which includes extension of individual tax cuts along with provisions to limit taxes on tips and overtime. The coalitions project, first shared with The Hill, showcases how the massive legislation impacts many corners of the American economy and American life. 'House Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill has earned historic support because it delivers real results for every corner of America. From securing the border to cementing the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, this landmark legislation promises a stronger future for all Americans,' Emmer said in a statement. Managing coalition support for legislation is an under-the-radar responsibility for the Whip, who is also tasked with working to convince the razor-thin GOP majority in the House to support the package. While Emmer's office already had logged groups' support for individual portions of the bill, staff worked to gather the partners' support for the full package just since Friday, when all portions of the bill were combined for the House Budget Committee. The legislation faced a speed bump in a failed Budget Committee vote before hardline conservatives relented to support the bill Uncertainty surrounds the final details of the legislation — and the timeline of passing it — as warring factions of the party push for last-minute tweaks. Moderate blue-state Republicans are seeking an increase to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, currently written as $30,000 in the bill; while deficit hawks want more substantial reforms to Medicaid and faster phase-out of green energy incentives, among other changes. The broad swaths of the bill, though, are set. In addition to extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts and working to deliver on his campaign promises of no taxes on tips or overtime, it phases out green energy incentives passed into law under former President Biden; imposes new work requirements and other restrictions on Medicaid that are estimated to result in millions of people losing coverage under the low-income program; requires states to share the cost of nutrition benefits for the first time; increases the debt limit; and gives funding boosts to the Pentagon and Trump's border and immigration enforcement efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
GOP Whip unveils hundreds of coalition endorsements for Trump agenda bill
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer's (R-Minn.) office revealed hundreds of endorsements for the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' of President Trump's tax and spending priorities, marking a major push for the legislation as GOP leaders aim to pass it in the lower chamber this week despite ongoing talks over last-minute changes. More than 100 outside groups have signed on to say they support final passage of the overall bill so far. Those range from traditional allies of Republicans like Americans for Prosperity — which is pushing for lower taxes — and March for Life Action, to major corporations like Uber, Chevron, and Verizon. And a website that Emmer's office debuted Tuesday showcases hundreds more endorsements for individual titles of the massive bill, which had input from every House committee. Total endorsements for portions of the bill have reached nearly 1000, according to Emmer's office. Around 450 organizations and counting — to include Ulta Beauty, Lyft, and The Home Depot — have endorsed the tax portion of the bill, which includes extension of individual tax cuts along with provisions to limit taxes on tips and overtime. The coalitions project, first shared with The Hill, showcases how the massive legislation impacts many corners of the American economy and American life. 'House Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill has earned historic support because it delivers real results for every corner of America. From securing the border to cementing the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, this landmark legislation promises a stronger future for all Americans,' Emmer said in a statement. Managing coalition support for legislation is an under-the-radar responsibility for the Whip, who is also tasked with working to convince the razor-thin GOP majority in the House to support the package. While Emmer's office already had logged groups' support for individual portions of the bill, staff worked to gather the partners' support for the full package just since Friday, when all portions of the bill were combined for the House Budget Committee. The legislation faced a speed bump in a failed Budget Committee vote before hardline conservatives relented to support the bill Uncertainty surrounds the final details of the legislation — and the timeline of passing it — as warring factions of the party push for last-minute tweaks. Moderate blue-state Republicans are seeking an increase to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, currently written as $30,000 in the bill; while deficit hawks want more substantial reforms to Medicaid and faster phase-out of green energy incentives, among other changes. The broad swaths of the bill, though, are set. In addition to extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts and working to deliver on his campaign promises of no taxes on tips or overtime, it phases out green energy incentives passed into law under former President Biden; imposes new work requirements and other restrictions on Medicaid that are estimated to result in millions of people losing coverage under the low-income program; requires states to share the cost of nutrition benefits for the first time; increases the debt limit; and gives funding boosts to the Pentagon and Trump's border and immigration enforcement efforts.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Tom Emmer refuses to rule out deporting U.S. citizens
U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) speaks during a news conference on the results of the 2024 election outside of the U.S. Capitol Building on November 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by) On Sunday, U.S. House Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District repeatedly dodged straightforward questions about whether the U.S. president has the legal power to 'deport' U.S. citizens, or whether he would be supportive of such a move. The question has arisen recently, as President Donald Trump suggested his administration could 'deport' U.S. citizens. 'The homegrowns are next,' Trump said last week during a meeting with El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele. CNN's Dana Bash asked Emmer, who is also the House GOP whip, about the issue during his appearance the network's State of the Union talk show. 'Do you think the federal government has any legal authority to [deport] American citizens?' Emmer declined to answer the question, instead offering a lengthy response about the administration's ongoing enforcement actions against non-citizens. Bash tried several times to steer Emmer back to the question of U.S. citizens. 'What about the idea that the White House says it is looking into, whether or not U.S. citizens who are convicted of violent crimes can be imprisoned in El Salvador?' she asked. Emmer once again dodged and attempted to steer the discussion back toward the treatment of non-citizens. Bash gave it one more try: 'I just want to give you one more chance to say whether or not you're okay with U.S. citizens — the idea of it. I know it's not happening. But he has actively said more than once that they are looking into it. Would you be okay with that?' Emmer, for a third time, refused to answer. To be perfectly clear: The Constitution does not grant the president the power to 'deport' U.S. citizens or imprison them in foreign countries. 'It is pretty obviously illegal and unconstitutional,' said Ilya Somin, a professor at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. 'It's obviously unconstitutional, obviously illegal,' said David Bier of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank based in D.C. 'The U.S. government cannot deport a U.S. citizen for any reason,' said U.C. Davis law professor Gabriel Chin. The episode represents a remarkable about-face on civil liberties for Emmer, a man who used to commemorate Constitution Day on social media, and who once took to the floor of the U.S. House to read the portions of the 6th Amendment that protect the rights of the criminally accused. Not long ago, Emmer publicly argued that efforts to protect Americans' safety needed to be balanced against Constitutional safeguards of individual liberties. 'We must protect this country, but cannot do so by circumventing the Constitution,' he said in a July 2016 explanation for why he voted against renewing the Patriot Act. Four months later, Trump was first elected president of the United States.
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Minnesota politicians at odds over bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration
The U.S. House recently passed the SAVE Act , which requires proof of citizenship to vote. The bill has resulted in a heated debate on what ID requirements should be needed to vote. "By passing the SAVE Act, House Republicans are working to ensure that only American citizens vote in American elections and voters across the political spectrum agree," U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer said. Proof of citizenship can be made with an original birth certificate or a passport, but critics say the SAVE Act would keep millions from voting. The U.S. government estimates 146 million Americans do not have a passport, which at its lowest price costs $130. Sixty-nine million women do not have a birth certificate with their name on it because they changed their name when they got married. Among the leading critics of the SAVE Act is Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. He says women, especially, will have hoops to jump through. "Sixty-nine million American women have a different last name now than when they were born. Of those, north of 20 million do not have a passport. So what does that mean? Just practically, in a common-sense way, it means that will person will likely have to produce documents in person. One will be a birth certificate, and then a second document will be a marriage record." Emmer says Minnesota needs the SAVE Act especially badly because of new driver's license laws passed in the last few years. The laws are automatic voter registration when renewing a driver's license and a law that allows undocumented residents to get driver's licenses . Emmer says that in Minnesota, 1,000 voter registrations were sent to people who could not legally vote. Simon says the bottom line is that noncitizens are not voting. "There was a study by a University of St. Thomas professor last summer, so this is fresh. Ten years of Minnesota voting from 2014 to 2024: 13.3 million voters voted during that time. He found three examples of a noncitizen voting out of 13.3 million." To become law, the SAVE Act would have to pass the U.S. Senate, and with a slim Democratic majority and 60 votes needed, that is unlikely to happen. However, the SAVE Act is moving forward in several other states. Louisiana, New Hampshire and Wyoming have all adopted proof of citizenship for voting laws. You can watch WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy and Adam Del Rosso every Sunday at 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
