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Message from Congressman Scott Fitzgerald
Good afternoon!
I’m back in DC today and it seems there will be a vote on the House floor to elect the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
I’ve received quite a few calls from folks in the district and I appreciate everyone who has shared their opinions on what type of leader they’d like to see elected. From the start, I’ve thrown my support behind Jim Jordan, a sensible conservative from the Midwest. I plan to vote for Mr. Jordan should a vote be held this week.
I’ve worked very closely with Chairman Jim Jordan on the Judiciary Committee since coming to Congress. His passion is unmatched and I think he is best suited to bring our entire conference together to pass important legislative priorities for the American people.
I look forward to electing a Speaker soon and getting back to work.
Have a great week!
- Scott
Israeli soldiers deploy at kibbutz Beeri near the border with Gaza on October 11, 2023.
The U.S. must shift Iran strategy in response to Hamas attack
A couple of weekends ago, we bore witness to a barbaric terrorist attack launched by Hamas against Israel. This attack left more than a thousand innocent people killed, including 27 Americans, with an estimated further hundred people taken as hostages. My heart breaks for the many lives lost, and I stand ready to assist Israel in defending its country, and its citizens, against these despicable acts. But protecting our ally Israel will take more than public condemnation. We must also hold those complicit in these atrocities accountable, namely Iran.
We have clear evidence that Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism, helped orchestrate these attacks in what is just the latest round of the Iranian regime’s assault on Israel and Western democracy. It’s no wonder Iran feels emboldened. Since taking office, President Biden has tried to appease the Iranian regime with an “all carrot and no stick” approach to foreign policy. This has led to the U.S. giving billions to Iran in exchange for little, if any, concessions.
Take, for example, the administration’s decision to relax sanctions on Iranian oil sales. Relaxing sanctions has allowed Iran to generate oil revenues exceeding $80 billion annually while strengthening its relationship with China. As I warned in April 2021, using China to dodge U.S. sanctions allows Iran to funnel money to its proxy forces in the Middle East, including the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hamas, which is armed, funded, and led by the Iranian regime.
It is past time that we change our posture towards Iran. The Biden administration should immediately cease negotiations surrounding a new nuclear agreement with Iran and impose the “Maximum Pressure” campaign that worked during the previous administration. President Biden should also reverse course on his sanctions waiver that released $6 billion in frozen oil revenues to Iran.
Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, President George W. Bush stated in his Address to the Nation that “[a] great people has been moved to defend a great nation.” Over the coming days, weeks, and months, Israel will take decisive action to defend its country, reclaim its territory, and rescue its people. The U.S. will take action to ensure Israel has the resources and capabilities necessary to defeat terrorism. But if we do not shift our policy on Iran, history is tragically bound to repeat itself.
To read my full op-ed in The Hill, click here.
I’m voting for Jim Jordan
Our southern border needs support, our government needs to pass a fiscally responsible budget, and our ally in Israel needs support as it wages a defense in response to terrorists attacks by Hamas.
But until we elect a new Speaker in the House of Representatives, we cannot execute on these priorities.
Last Friday, Jim Jordan was elected by the Republican conference to become House Speaker-designate for the party. As you know, I’ve supported Jim Jordan from the start. I’ve worked very closely with Chairman Jim Jordan on the Judiciary Committee since coming to Congress. His passion is unmatched and his work has always been laser-focused on transparency, accountability, and action.
Most importantly, I am convinced he’ll be a Speaker who will always go to bat for the American people. It’s time for Republicans to unify behind the candidate with the skills, experience, and tenacity to meet the challenges of our time. Jim Jordan is that man.
I look forward to voting for Mr. Jordan on the House floor this week.
I joined a resolution to stand in solidarity with Israel
Last week, I joined over 420 members, including the entire Wisconsin delegation, in signing onto H.Res.771 to stand with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.
The resolution:
- Stands with Israel as it defends itself.
- Reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defense.
- Condemns Iran’s support for terrorist groups and proxies, including Hamas.
- Urges full enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Iran to prevent Iran’s funding of terrorist groups including, Hamas.
I will, as I always have, stand strongly in support of our ally Israel.
ICYMI: National Farmers Day
In case you missed it, last week we celebrated National Farmers Day!
It’s never too late though to thank a farmer. Wisconsin has a rich farming history with nearly 65,000 farms spanning 14.3 million acres. We owe our farmers a debt of gratitude for keeping us well-fed.
Thank you, farmers!
Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program
ICYMI, my office is seeking a veteran for a position in WI-05’s Oconomowoc district office. If you or a person you know are interested, I encourage you to apply!
The person chosen for the special position will work with military and veteran constituents to handle veterans-related casework and act as a facilitator between constituents and federal, state, and local agencies.
The Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program was established by the House of Representatives to provide employment opportunities for veterans within member offices.
The program is limited to veterans who meet all of the following requirements:
- Honorably discharged
- Released from active duty within the last six years
- Terminal pay grades at or below E-5, O-3, or W-2
- Veterans promoted to the pay grades of E-6, O-4, and W-3 within 6-months of separation from active duty are eligible, granted they meet ALL other eligibility requirements.
- Veterans who are in receipt of a 20-year or Temporary Early Retirement Authorization (TERA) retirement are not eligible for the program.
Click here to learn more about the job posting.
That’s a wrap for this week’s eNewsletter! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on my work for the 5th District of Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
Scott Fitzgerald
Member of Congress
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