Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons. There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and ignored the urging of the U.N. Security Council.
Years of previous attempts at changing Assad's behavior have all failed, and failed very dramatically. As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region continues to destabilize, threatening the United States and its allies.
Tonight, I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria, and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types. We ask for God's wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. We pray for the lives of the wounded and for the souls of those who have passed. And we hope that as long as America stands for justice, then peace and harmony will, in the end, prevail.
Goodnight. And God bless America and the entire world. Thank you.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/06/statement-president-trump-syria
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Bloomberg: Putin's Syria Gambit at Risk as Trump Challenges With Airstrikes
(Bloomberg) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin risks losing hard-won gains in Syria after the U.S. upended the balance of forces by striking at his ally President Bashar al-Assad in response to an apparent chemical attack that killed scores of people.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/putins-syria-gambit-at-risk-as-trump-challenges-with-airstrikes/ar-BBzw0G7?li=BBnbcA1
WP: Syrian President Assad condemns U.S. missile strike as ‘arrogant aggression’
BEIRUT — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reacted with outrage on Friday to U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian military air base, calling them an “unjust and arrogant aggression” that would only increase his government’s determination to “crush” militant groups in Syria, according to the state news agency.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/syrian-president-assad-condemns-us-missile-strike-as-%E2%80%98arrogant-aggression%E2%80%99/ar-BBzvFZr
CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE HEADLINE NEWS
News from our Congressional delegation to Washington DC:Kilmer, Renacci Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Fix America’s Election Watchdog
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Jim Renacci (R-OH) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to fix the commission charged with enforcing federal election laws. The Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act would reform the Federal Election Commission (FEC) so it can more effectively carry out its original mission to oversee campaign finance laws.
Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Scott Peters (D-CA), Walter Jones (R-NC), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Lou Barletta (R-PA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Ken Buck (R-CO), and John Sarbanes (D-MD) are also original cosponsors of the bill.
In recent years the Commission has routinely deadlocked when it comes to investigating significant cases involving the nation’s campaign finance laws. In 2006, the FEC commissioners deadlocked on just fewer than 3 percent of all major enforcement cases they reviewed. By 2016 that jumped to 30 percent.
“We need to bring people-power back to this Congress,” said Kilmer. “But the Commission designed to be the people’s advocate in our elections has seen more gridlock than Congress. Meaningful, substantial reforms at the Federal Election Commission need to happen so it can get back to weeding out campaign finance abuse and holding those who skirt the rules accountable. Making the Commission work will help us revitalize our democracy and put the focus back on citizens rather than special interests.”---press release issued 4. 6. 17
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-renacci-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-fix-americas-election-watchdog-
Kilmer, Members Lead Bipartisan Letter to President Trump Emphasizing Support for the Federal Programs that Support Iconic Bodies of Water
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), David Joyce (R-OH), and Bobby Scott (D-VA) led a bipartisan letter urging President Trump not to eliminate investments in iconic bodies of water. The letter, signed by 31 other members, warned that the President should reconsider his budget proposal that would completely eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency’s Geographic Programs that provide cleanup funding for Puget Sound, the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, and other major bodies of water.
The members wrote in the letter sent today: “Collectively, the EPA’s Geographic Program funds have been used by state, local, and tribal governments to implement thousands of on-the-ground projects to improve water quality, protect and restore native habitats, enhance fish and shellfish populations, and combat invasive species. Although every region has shown significant improvement as the result of these investments, there is still a great deal of work to do.”
“We know that you are strongly in favor of growing the economy, protecting clean water, and creating jobs. The federal funding provided through the Geographic Programs does just that,” the members added. ----press release issued 4. 4. 17
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-members-lead-bipartisan-letter-to-president-trump-emphasizing-support-for-the-federal-programs-that-support-iconic-bodies-of-water_
Senator Murray on Her Strong Opposition to Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch: Serious Concerns with Record on Women’s Health, Workers Rights, and Disability Rights
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) laid out her concerns with President Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee on the Senate floor, and urged her colleagues to join her in voting no on advancing his nomination. Sen. Murray urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to abstain from using the nuclear option to permanently change Senate rules in order to force through a Supreme Court nominee without the traditional 60 votes. She also expressed deep concern with Judge Gorsuch’s record of not protecting women’s constitutionally protected health care rights, siding with corporations over workers, and ruling against children with disabilities.
“If you believe in transparency in our elections, and upholding the integrity of our democracy—or you believe we need a justice that will protect the rights of all Americans and stand with them and not with President Trump and millionaires and billionaires—the choice is clear,” said Senator Murray. “As I’ve urged my colleagues for weeks, with so much chaos in the Administration and so many questions surrounding this President’s commitment to the rule of law— slow down. Stop playing political games. Respect the families we represent, respect the separation of powers, and stop trying to jam this nominee through—and whatever you do, do not blow up the Senate rules for Supreme Court nominees.---press release issued 4. 5. 17
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=B8388554-5B55-4354-BC92-729512667F67
Following New Reports of Drug-Resistant Outbreak, Sen. Murray Calls on Olympus to Verify Medical Scopes are Safe for Use in U.S.
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray, top Democrat on the Senate health committee, is calling on the President and CFO of Olympus Corporation to provide immediate answers following new reports that its closed-channel duodenoscopes have been linked to a new outbreak of antibiotic-resistant infections. The duodenoscopes at issue had reportedly been rebuilt as part of a recall agreement between Olympus and FDA following an investigation launched by Senator Murray in 2015, which linked these devices to 25 different outbreaks, including one at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.
The latest reported outbreak linked to these devices affected five patients, one of whom died, at a hospital outside the U.S.
“This tragic incident is particularly alarming because your company recalled and reportedly fixed the device in question after an investigation by my staff revealed a dangerous flaw in the design of Olympus duodenoscopes,” wrote Senator Murray. “I write to you today to request information in order to assess whether repaired Olympus closed-channel duodenoscopes are safe, and to understand whether the federal oversight of medical device safety in the United States is operating as it should.”---press release issued 4. 4. 17
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=D4519745-83E9-4FC5-9BEA-1B996B13F464
As Republicans Renew Talks on Health Care Behind Closed Doors, Sen. Murray and other Democrats Urge Trump Administration to Reveal New Details of Plan Meant to Appeal to the House Freedom Caucus
(Washington, D.C.) – Sen. Murray, ranking member of the Senate health committee, joined 20 other U.S. Senators to call on the Trump Administration to release details of the health care plan presented to the House Freedom Caucus. In a bid to win the far right group’s support, reports indicate that the Administration identified specific Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules that the Administration would gut in exchange for the Freedom Caucus’ support. With President Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan determined to push on with their disastrous health care scheme, the release of the Administration’s planned actions is vital.
The Senators wrote, “Rather than continuing down this path, we request that you heed Democrats’ calls to stop working to repeal the ACA and stop taking actions that would undermine our health care system. In order to provide much needed oversight and transparency regarding the Administration’s path forward on the ACA, please provide the document that was presented to Congressional Republicans on March 23, 2017, which outlined ACA regulations the Administration could repeal on its own. We hope you will set aside your plans to unravel these regulations so that we can move forward to improve our health care system, but until you make the commitment, we will continue our efforts to hold you accountable.”----press release issued 4. 4. 17
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=DE03E317-57AD-497C-A50F-DBAB99964A8A
For more Congressional and state headline news see page 2
