Mark Alford's Capitol Recap: Episode 63

The Democrat’s DHS shutdown updates, hear from POTUS Trump on Operation Epic Fury in Iran, on the ground with Rep. Brian Babin for the Artemis 2 Moon launch, talking Fort Leonard Wood military quality of life with Sgt. Major Wyer, in House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, and a special Easter reflection.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:05

From Washington, D.C. to the heart of America, this is Congressman Mark Alford's Capital Recap, the voice of truth with a behind-the-scenes look at what's really going on in the swamp. Defender of conservative values and a man who believes our best days are still ahead of us. Here he is, Congressman Mark Alford.

SPEAKER_03 0:31

You know, each week we take you behind the scenes. Can I tell you what's going on in Washington, D.C. The swamp this week? We have a lot to cover again. We're going to start with the ongoing and very unnecessary Democrat shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. And what we're trying to do to end that. Then we're going to take a look overseas when tensions with Iran continue and what the administration is saying about the path forward, what the president had to say in his speech just a few days ago. And I'm going to take you somewhere pretty incredible. We're going to take you to Florida. I was there to see the Artemis II rocket launch from Cape Kennedy. It was just spectacular. They're going back to the moon. We're going to fill you in on that. You're going to hear from the chairman of the committee that oversees the space program, a good friend of mine, Brian Babin. And after the break, we're going to take you behind the scenes here in Washington with a week packed with appropriations hearings, the work that happens before the headlines. And as we approach Easter, I'll share a message about faith, sacrifice, and hope, all because of Jesus Christ. That and more, so let's get started. Let's start with the DHS shutdown, shall we? I'll tell you what, folks, the shutdown has gone on far too long, and today I'm happy to tell you that thanks to Republicans in Congress, the end is near for this Democrat shutdown. Republicans are making it very clear that we are not going to allow partisan gridlock or political games to jeopardize the safety of you, the American people. We're working alongside the Senate, and House leadership is doing this. We're advancing a two-track strategy now to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. We're going to have partly appropriations and partly reconciliation through the Senate. We're going to make sure that border security and immigration enforcement remain strong, stable, and insulated from future political maneuvering. You know, we had hoped originally that Democrats would come to their senses and join us in a common sense, bipartisan effort to temporarily fund DHS and continue negotiations. Well, they have instead chosen to prioritize their far left base over national security. That leaves Republicans with no choice really but to act decisively to reopen the department, guarantee pay for federal workers, and secure our borders for years to come. You know, at the same time, we stand unwavering in our support for the brave men and women of law enforcement, our police officers, border patrol agents, and ICE personnel who put their lives on the line each and every day to protect this great nation. Republicans are moving forward now to make sure that these Patriots are fully funded and empowered to do their job with or without Democrat support. We will not allow efforts to defund or weaken immigration enforcement to endanger American communities. Bottom line is the American people deserve safe streets, secure borders, and really a government that puts their protection first. And that's exactly what Republicans are committed to delivering swiftly and without compromise. So look for updates on that this weekend and as we move into the next week. Let's talk about Iran a little bit. It's on everyone's mind. The conflict that's going on now, the situation continues to develop, and it's something that we're watching very closely. This week, President Trump shared a very important update on the major combat operations in Iran. If you didn't get to listen to a speech, it was really good from the White House, and I want you to listen to part of it. Here he is, President Trump.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

As we speak this evening, it's been just one month since the United States military began Operation Epic Fury, targeting the world's number one state sponsor of terror, Iran. In these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield. Victories like few people have ever seen before. Tonight, Iran's Navy is gone. Their Air Force is in ruins. Their leaders, most of them, terrorist regime they led, are now dead. Their command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is being decimated as we speak. Their ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and their weapons factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces. Very few of them left. Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating large-scale losses in a matter of weeks. Our enemies are losing in America, as it has been for five years under my presidency is winning and now winning bigger than ever before.

SPEAKER_03 5:42

Well, we'll keep you up to date on the latest situation as it unfolds in Iran. Be sure to follow us on our social media channels at repmarkalford for the very latest. That's at repmarklford. Now I want to take you somewhere a little bit different and honestly somewhere inspiring. This week, as a member of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees NASA, it's called the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee. I got a chance to actually go to Florida to the Kennedy Space Center as America gets ready for the Artemis II launch. And I saw it. I saw the launch. It was just simply spectacular. I was last year in April of 1990 to see the Shovel Discovery launch. I was a reporter then for the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach, and I made the drive north to watch this launch as it took the Hubble Space Telescope up into space. And I tell you what, this launch was even more spectacular. Just standing there, seeing that rocket on the pad and watching it lift off with all that power, with four astronauts on board who are going to circle the moon and come back and get ready for another mission by another crew to actually land on the moon in 2028. It is so inspiring. It makes you proud to be an American. Think about that. A new generation of explorers picking up where the Apollo missions left off. Everything's coming together. And according to the plan, they're going to travel farther than any human in history, orbit the moon, and then come back to Earth. I had a chance to be with my friend Representative Brian Babin of Texas. He is the chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, knows a lot about NASA. And here's what he had to say about the launch right before the launch. We had a disc conversation. Listen. So, Chairman Babin, what does this launch, this Artemis launch going back to the moon mean for America?

SPEAKER_02 7:45

It means staying this number one spacefaring nation on the planet. This has been years in the coming. Uh and this great big SLS rocket that we see behind us here is going to make a journey of ten days with four astronauts, three Americans, one Canadian, that are going to take them farther into space than any other time in human history. We're going to do a flyby of the moon. We're not going to land on the moon this time, but this just proves that this vehicle can get the job done. And this is going to keep us out in front of our peer adversary, the Chinese Communist Party. And this is national security now, Mark. It is 100% national security that we beat the Chinese to the surface of the moon. It is too important to just turn it over to them. That's why we have to be there first. Mining operations, rare earth metals, billions of tons of water ice, putting a nuclear reactor down there, putting habitat, rovers. We want activity there at the South Pole of the lunar on the lunar surface. And uh when we do that, we're going to make sure that uh the United States of America stays in its proper and rightful place, is the number one spacefaring nation, and uh and remain there.

SPEAKER_03 9:07

Trevor Burrus, you're the chairman of the authorizing committee that oversees NASA. I just happen to be on the appropriation subcommittee that oversees NASA and funds NASA. Why isn't it important that we properly fund NASA? Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_02 9:20

Can't get back without the funding. You as an appropriator should know that better than anybody else. And you know, you're like a if like a good lawyer, you always know the answer to the question before you ask it. Uh but you know, I'm an authorizer, you're an appropriator, and it is absolutely imperative. We can have the best ideas in the world, but if we can't get the appropriations, uh the the operations and the programs are not going to happen. So I want to say thank you to you and your CJS. And Chairman Hal Rogers, but uh of of CJS, uh that subcommittee on the appropriations committee uh that is uh you know making this happen. Uh and quite frankly, we couldn't do without you. Uh and we've all we've already seen uh the Senate uh has uh on their side have uh have increased the funding, and uh you guys have have done it done a uh yeoman's job here on the House side, and this is what this is how things happen. This is this is this is gonna be the fruition, uh the reaping of tons and tons and years of work and perseverance on the part uh of hundreds of thousands of uh civil servants with NASA and also of commercial uh uh company employees as well.

SPEAKER_03 10:37

You're a fiscal conservative just like me. It makes you sick, like it makes me sick, to see us in debt,$39 trillion. We know that it's not the discretionary spending that's that's really the issue. Yes, we need to watch our spending, but the NASA budget is about$25 billion this year, maybe plus up a little bit this for 27. Why is that investment worth it?

SPEAKER_02 11:01

It's critical investment. Mark, thank you for for even saying asking that question. You know, a lot of people think we're just throwing money away with that we've got a a budget for NASA that's about 10 percent of the budget. I think it's less than 1 percent, uh 25 billion. I mean, uh I think we uh uh to my knowledge, I think we've we've discovered$250 billion in fraud uh in uh in our federal project.

SPEAKER_03 11:27

Yes, sir. Yes, absolutely. We tried to attack that on the Small Business Committee, and when the Democrats were in charge, they didn't want to reclaim, uncover, and prosecute people. And now the Trump administration is finally doing that.

SPEAKER_02 11:40

Thank God for the Trump administration. We've got to root this fraud out. I think with the with the fraud, discovery of fraud and recovering of this and prosecution of those who are guilty of it, I think is going to lead to a lot smaller and skinnier budget in the in the future, because we're sending billions of dollars to adversaries. Can you imagine that we uh what's going on in in Minnesota? Our own tax money is going to pay, going to go into terrorist groups in in Africa. It's it's incredible. You can't even hardly wrap your mind around something like that.

SPEAKER_03 12:14

Final thought.

unknown 12:15

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:16

Not really a question, but for those listening right now, Brian Babin represents the district which includes Baytown, Texas, where I was born in 1963. Still have family there, and uh it's honor, it's an honor to have you representing my hometown.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

Well, it's an honor to know you, Mark. Uh even though he's from Missouri now, uh, we're still going to claim him as a as a proud Texan. And he used to get in front of a camera there and um on on the local news of Houston, Texas. I appreciate all your great history, and I am honored to be serving with you in the House of Representatives. Well, thank you for all you do. Thank you, Mark, for what you do.

SPEAKER_03 12:57

Well, this mission is about more than just space. It is about American leadership and innovation, inspiring the next generation to dream big once again. And I can tell you firsthand, folks, there's a sense of pride and excitement around this mission that's really hard to put into words. Mankind is going back to the moon, and America is leading the way. All right. When we come back, I'm going to take you behind the scenes here in Washington. Last week was a very busy week. Appropriations hearings, long days, and trying to get some answers on some of these programs we're funding. And as we approach Easter, I also want to share a moment and reflect on what the season means to me. Stay with us. You're listening to Mark Alford's Capital Recap. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_04 13:47

Welcome back to Congressman Mark Alford's Capital Recap. Here he is once again, the voice of truth, Mark Alford.

SPEAKER_03 13:55

Welcome back to Mark Alford's Capital Recap. Thanks for being with us here. It's been a busy week in Washington. We're diving right into the hearings where critical decisions are being made to improve our communities, support our federal workers, our workforce, and make sure our service members have the resources they need. Here's a look at some of the key hearings that we took part in the last week. You might know we serve as the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. We had a hearing on military quality of life, something that's been a big concentration in the last couple of years. Due to falling recruitment and retention numbers, those have now come back up because of our work and others' work on the quality of life. We had some questions for Sergeant Major of the Army Michael R. Weimer, and we talked about challenges facing service members, recruitment and retention, and the backlog of critical construction projects at different bases, especially at Fort Leonardwood, which is in our district. It's pretty simple. Our service members deserve safe modern facilities to live and work in, making sure that these updates aren't just about buildings, but about supporting those who serve our country each and every day. Here's a little clip. This is the central issuing facility. Not only are there no amenities like heating or air conditioning, but the floors are warping under the ever-increasing burdens of the modern Army. We have a photo of one of the floors here. This is a condition of one of the walls in the central issuing facility. The floors are unsafe. They cannot handle the loads of modern forklifts, which have to carry heavy pallets. My fear is that when we get into a force surge position, this central issue facility will not be able to meet the demands. We have got to do something. We need a new central issue facility at Fort Leonard. What is the Army doing to fix issues like this in our DOW?

SPEAKER_00 16:28

Congressman, thank you. Thank you for that. And I appreciate the photos. That is real. And you and I have spoken about that CIF before. The reality is it is a prioritization for us. That is the truth. We don't have the funding. We don't have the predictability with the funding, and we don't have the reliability with the funding to cover down all of our needs across all of our installations. That that's a that's a part army problem, but there's there's other people that are part of that solution also. And so with our with our mission dependency index, that MDI you'll hear, that's how we're trying to prioritize that. Now that CIF at Fort Leonard Wood is a priority, so I don't want you to think it's not a priority. And we are working to figure out how to fix that. But we're gonna have to get creative, and we're gonna have to get creative in some of our MILCON um authorities, which I was I spoke about last year, and and this committee, this subcommittee heard us. And so things like the replace uh replace by uh repair by replace that we're uh piloting down at Fort Hood that has a 40%, potentially a 40% cheaper cost, um, that would help us in a place like that with the with your CIF. Enhanced use lease agreements uh could potentially um they're not silver bullets, but the more tools we put in our toolbox to make our dollar in the in the um infrastructure space actually equal a dollar, um, the better off we're gonna be to tackle places like that CIF at Leonardwood, but also unfortunately a long list of other facilities at other locations, Congressman.

SPEAKER_03 18:06

Well I look forward to working with you and General Beck at our Center of Excellence there to make sure we have a central issue facility that we can be proud of and it's gonna be functional in surge capacity. Thank you so much, and I yield back, Chair. Well, we had another appropriations hearing, uh, this one on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee, where we talked about the National Weather Service with Taylor Jordan. He is the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction. The reason that this is so important is because accurate, timely weather forecasting is not an option. It's critical. Especially for us in the Midwest, it is very critical for public safety. And I'll I'll continue to fight to make sure local national weather service offices like the one in Pleasant Hill are funded and and and fully staffed to make sure that we are safe. And we had another appropriation subcommittee hearing, this one with the Office of Personnel Management. We talked about the efficient use of taxpayer dollars, your money to make sure that unused, dilapidated federal buildings we do away with them. We either sell them or vacate them, do something because they are costing you a lot of money. Some$50 billion in upgrades that need to be made just to make them whole. And that's almost an impossibility. We also delivered a simple message. Federal employees deserve a retirement process that is reliable, efficient, and transparent. Modernization efforts mean that they can retire with certainty and dignity. Well, glad to take you directly inside the critical hearings that we have here on Capitol Hill. I want to change directions a little bit and talk about the importance of this week, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You know, this Easter, we take time to remember the sacrifice on the cross, where Jesus took on the weight of our sins and provided us the grace that we could never earn. While the world saw an ending on Friday, the empty tomb on Sunday revealed the ultimate victory of life over death and light over darkness. And because Jesus is risen, we no longer have to live defined by our past or our fears, but by the promise of his eternal presence. You know, the resurrection power isn't just a historical event, it's a living hope that meets us in our deepest struggles today. And I'm hoping the reality of the sacrifice and the joy of his rising fills your heart with peace and new life this morning. So happy Easter. He is risen. Folks, thanks again for tuning in. Hope you have an amazing Easter week with your family. Remember, I believe in you. I believe in America. And yes, I believe that our greatest days are still ahead of us. God bless those astronauts headed to the moon right now. Say a little prayer for them. Good day, and God bless.