Free Republic

A group of Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives urged President Donald Trump on Tuesday to reconsider his decision to cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany, saying their presence is the backbone of NATO’s deterrent against Russian aggression. The six lawmakers led by House Foreign Affairs Committee senior Republican Michael McCaul said in a letter that the U.S. military footprint in Germany served Washington’s strategic interests beyond Europe and into the Middle East and Africa, which have seen the growing influence of Russia and China. […] The lawmakers also warned that Moscow and Beijing sought to sow...

The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee joined Democrats Saturday in criticizing President Trump’s failure to send a report to Congress on the murder of Saudi Arabian dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas said he is “deeply troubled” by the administration’s failure to meet the deadline on Friday for submitting a report on the slaying that is linked to the Saudi royal family. The White House said in a statement that Congress can’t force the president to act. “Consistent with the previous administration’s position and the constitutional separation of powers, the president maintains his...

The House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday took an important step toward building President Donald Trump’s wall, advancing legislation containing money for the barrier, along with beefed-up border security. The committee, on a party-line 18-12 vote, sent the Border Security for America Act of 2017 to the full House of Representatives. It has $10 billion for “tactical infrastructure,” including physical barriers where appropriate. It also provides for the hiring of 5,000 additional customs officers and 5,000 U.S. Border Patrol agents. In addition, the legislation would spend $5 billion to improve ports of entry and would fully implement an entry-exit system...

Rep. Michael McCaul, the Texas Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, has scheduled a Sept. 12 hearing to discuss “the dangers posed by domestic terrorists and other extremist groups.” “On September 12th, we will hold a full committee hearing and have invited the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center to discuss the most serious threats America faces,” McCaul wrote in an Aug. 16 letter to Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). “I strongly encourage members of both parties to engage the witnesses on the dangers posed by domestic terrorists...

Donald Trump’s interview Tuesday with Rep. Michael T. McCaul for secretary of homeland security set off alarms for illegal immigration opponents who view the congressman as weak on border security and latently pro-amnesty. Mr. McCaul, Texas Republican and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has repeatedly riled conservatives with what they describe as ineffective posturing against President Obama’s lax enforcement of immigration laws. His chief offense was co-authoring the 2015 Secure Our Borders First Act, which conservatives and activists reviled as a fig leaf to Democrats that included tough language but ignored the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living...

Ted Cruz's image among Republicans had plummeted to a personal low by the Indiana primary — the defeat that forced him from the GOP presidential contest. But he may wish for those heady days of May now... Potential GOP rivals are probing for weakness ahead of Cruz's bid for a second term in 2018. That includes House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul of Austin. The former federal prosecutor is the second wealthiest member of the U.S. House, with access to a family fortune topping $100 million, though he has no obvious base of support to overcome the tea partyers still...

The Talk Shows May 22nd, 2016 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas; Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.FACE THE NATION (CBS): Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.THIS WEEK (ABC): Sanders; Reps. Ed Royce, R-Calif., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif. STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Sanders; Reps. Peter King, R-N.Y., Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

The head of the House Committee on Homeland Security said Monday that members of the Islamic State have explored entering the United States through the refugee resettlement program, a claim that could ramp up additional pressure on President Obama to rethink his plan to resettle 10,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq.Rep. Michael T. McCaul, Texas Republican, said Islamic State members in Syria have tried to “exploit” the system to get into the country.“The U.S. government has information to indicate that individuals tied to terrorist groups in Syria have already attempted to gain access to our country through the U.S. refugee...

Too much is happening at once! It turns out that just as we were reporting that House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) was signing on to the Babin bill, he was introducing a bill of his own. Thanks to Suzanne for spotting this press release from Friday. It is too soon to know what this means, however, it appears to be headed for the House Judiciary Committee (Goodlatte and Gowdy). So far we have not heard a word from that committee since the “consultation” with Sec. of State Kerry was held about ten days ago on the President’s ambitious...

In an announcement made Thursday afternoon, the White House confirmed plans to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the United States. There is no word yet on what the vetting process will be for refugees or how the White House plans to assure Americans the process will prevent ISIS terrorists from making their way into the United States. "The United States, at the direction of the United States, has played a leading role in addressing the dire humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and North Africa," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday during the daily briefing. "One thing that...

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, says the current "threat environment" is as high as he's ever seen it, and although the U.S. has "done a very good job" in preventing terror attacks in the U.S., he doesn't think the Obama administration "has done enough" to counter "homegrown violent extremism." McCaul noted that President Obama's budget "allocates zero dollars towards combating homegrown violent extremism. "In fact, within the Department of Homeland Security, more money, in fact, millions of dollars, are dedicated to climate change rather than combating what I consider to be one of the...

Friend, This year has a chance to be incredible for our country, but after President Obama’s speech last night, it’s clear we have a long battle ahead. He just ensured that he will fight our every move with his go-it-alone agenda of vetoes and executive orders. That’s why we need you to stand with us and renew your membership with the NRCC today. Every dollar goes to building a firewall and supporting Conservatives who will ensure YOUR voice is heard. (SNIP) We still need 284 renewals before midnight tonight! Please renew your membership now and show President Obama it’s time...

Two days after Sen. Jeff Sessions bashed a House border security bill, Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul crossed the Dome Thursday to clear the air and try to secure the support of one of Congress’ most ardent immigration critics. McCaul — with Rules Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas and freshman Gary Palmer of Alabama in tow — met with Sessions, the Alabama Republican, Thursday in the senator’s Russell office for roughly 30 minutes. The discussion centered on the House bill and a round of comments from both men that have played out in press releases and news reports. Asked as...

p>The Talk Shows September 14th, 2014 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): White House chief of staff Denis McDonough; Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C; Michael Hayden, a former CIA and National Security Agency director.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): McDonough; former Secretary of State James Baker; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.FACE THE NATION (CBS): McDonough; Secretary of State John Kerry; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.THIS WEEK (ABC): McDonough; Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Education Secretary Arne Duncan.STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): McDonough; Harkin; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Rep. John...

p>The Talk Shows April 20th, 2014 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s ambassador to the U.S.; Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington. MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukraine’s prime minister; Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.FACE THE NATION (CBS): Gov. Devil Patrick, D-Mass.; Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.THIS WEEK (ABC): Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas; retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Sen. John Walsh, D-Mont.; Lukman Faily, Iraq’s ambassador to the United States; Kim Beazley, Australia’s...

by Gina Cassini | Top Right News Outrageous. Reckless. Senseless. That is what many military families are calling the continuing ban on concealed carry for servicemembers on U.S. military bases. Bases like Ft. Hood, where 3 brave members of our military were gunned down by an apparently mentally-compromised Spc. Ivan Lopez. And the outrage will only grow in light of a new shocking report that Lopez was able to remain free for 15 to 20 minutes -- more than enough time for him to kill 3 and wound 16 -- before finally being confronted by a military policewoman, whereupon he took...

Rep. Mike McCaul said Wednesday’s tragedy at Fort Hood is another reminder that members of the military should be able to carry concealed weapons on base. “I personally think, if you’re trained for combat, you ought to be able to carry a weapon,” the Texas Republican said on Fox News’s “The Kelly File” on Wednesday night in the wake of the shooting that left four dead and more than a dozen injure at the Texas military base.

The Talk Shows March 23rd, 2014 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas; Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Former President Jimmy Carter; Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.FACE THE NATION (CBS): Mitt Romney; Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill.THIS WEEK (ABC): Reps. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and Tom Cole, R-Okla.STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Tony Blinken, President Barack Obama's deputy national security adviser; Reps. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

During his press briefing on Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner said that he's "hopeful" the House will move on immigration legislation before the end of the year. With House Republicans sticking to the mantra of border security before amnesty, it's likely the chamber will soon act on H.R.1417, the McCaul-Jackson Lee "border security" bill. Our legislative analyst Grant Newman has dissected the legislation, and he reports that the bill won't secure the border and even weakens existing law.

The Talk Shows September 7th, 2013 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): White House chief of staff Denis McDonough; Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): McDonough; Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.; Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Peter King, R-N.Y., and Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.FACE THE NATION (CBS): McDonough; Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., Justin Amash, R-Mich., and Elijah Cummings, D-Md.THIS WEEK (ABC): McDonough; Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): McDonough; Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Reps. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Jim McGovern, D-Mass., Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., Barbara Lee, D-Calif.,...