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Congressman Trent Franks Endorses Steve Chucri for County Supervisor

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2012
CONTACT: Tyler Hudgins

Mesa – Today, Steve Chucri for County Supervisor is happy to announce the conservative endorsement of Arizona Congressman Trent Franks. An experienced, active and senior GOP leader in Arizona for over 25 years, Congressman Franks currently represents the citizens of Congressional District 2 and is well known for his conservative Reagan Republican voice and principled defense of truth and integrity in the halls of the United States Congress.

A passionate advocate of personal responsibility and free enterprise, Congressman Franks’ endorsement follows the key endorsements of U.S. Congressman and former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert, as well as Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane.

“I have known Steve Chucri for over ten years, and I firmly believe that Steve will help get county government back on track by defending truth, protecting the enduring value of life, cutting government waste, reducing taxes, fighting through bureaucracy, and ending needless regulation. I look forward to his staunch conservative leadership that our county desperately needs,” stated Congressman Franks.

“Congressman Franks works tirelessly for the people of Arizona, an example of servant leadership that I wish to follow. The Congressman’s endorsement and support of my campaign is truly an honor,” said Chucri.

Chucri became President & CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association (ARA) in 2002. Under his leadership and strong work ethic, the restaurant industry in Arizona has enjoyed substantial growth and is a nearly $10 billion industry.

As President and CEO of the ARA, Chucri represents business owners and sees firsthand how the actions of local, state, and federal governments can positively or negatively impact restaurants and other small businesses in Arizona. Although he is not a career politician, Chucri’s experiences as a businessman, husband, and father give him invaluable insight into the needs of his community and ensure that, as County Supervisor, he will always place service to citizens before personal political gain.

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Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Elected Officials, Endorsements, Press Release Tagged With: , ,

Rep. Trent Franks Reaffirms ‘In God We Trust’ Resolution

November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.

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Filed Under: Elected Officials, Federal Government, Legislation, Religion Tagged With: ,

Rep. Trent Franks Speaks on the Wireless Tax Fairness Act

November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Before the passage of H.R. 1002, the Wireless Tax Fairness Act, of which Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) is the lead Republican sponsor in the House, he took to the House Floor to encourage his colleagues to support the bill.

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Filed Under: Elected Officials, Federal Government, Legislation, Taxation Tagged With: ,

Rep. Franks Remarks on the Wireless Tax Fairness Act

November 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Before the passage of H.R. 1002, the Wireless Tax Fairness Act, of which Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) is the lead Republican sponsor in the House, he took to the House Floor to encourage his colleagues to support the bill.

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Filed Under: Elected Officials, Federal Government, Legislation, Taxation Tagged With: ,

Rep. Trent Franks Supports H.R. 1904 – Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act

October 26, 2011 By 1 Comment

Later this week, the full U.S. House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 1904, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act. H.R. 1904 facilitates the development of an underground copper mine that will create new American jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy and minerals and generate revenue for federal and state treasuries. In addition, the measure would bring high-value conservation lands into federal stewardship.

Specifically, H.R. 1904 would authorize a land exchange in Southeast Arizona, opening up the third largest undeveloped copper resource in the world and in exchange for lands encompassing endangered species, sensitive ecosystems, recreational sites, and historic landmarks. The mine will provide for over 3,700 jobs equating to $220.5 million in annual wages. According to a recent economic study, the total economic impact of the project is estimated to be over $61.4 billion, nearly $1 billion per year, and another $19 billion in federal, state, county and local tax revenue.

Just as relying on foreign oil imports threatens national security, relying on foreign copper suppliers threatens U.S. industry. The United States must use domestic resources to meet that growing demand and this legislation is a major step in the right direction. The project could produce enough copper equal as much as 25 percent of the current U.S. demand.

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Filed Under: Elected Officials, Federal Government, Jobs/Labor, Legislation, Press Release Tagged With: ,

Rep Franks: Obama Should Give Iran Ultimatum on Nukes; Military Action Should Be An Option

October 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2011
CONTACT: Ben Carnes

VIDEO: Franks Says Obama Should Give Iran Ultimatum on Nukes; Military Action Should Be An Option

Phoenix, AZ — Speaking on the House floor tonight, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) addressed the foiled Iranian-backed plot to attack numerous locations on American soil. Franks noted the attack indicated in the clearest possible terms that Iran has the intent to attack America and is rapidly seeking a nuclear capability with which to do so, stating that the Obama Administration should at long last “make it unequivocally clear to Iran and to the entire world that we will do everything necessary, including direct military intervention, to prevent this rogue nation from gaining nuclear weapons with which to threaten either the United States or our allies.”

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Filed Under: Elected Officials, Foreign Policy, National Security Tagged With: ,

Arizona Republican Party to Co-Sponsor Fundraising Event with Congressman Trent Franks

August 16, 2011 By 4 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 16, 2011
CONTACT: communications@azgop.org

Event: Fundraiser to re-elect Congressman Trent Franks and ensure Republican Victories in 2012.

When: Friday, August 26, 2011
5:30 PM – VIP Reception
6:15 – 8:00 PM – Dinner & Event

Where: Sun City West Foundation
14465 R.H. Johnson Boulevard
Sun City West, AZ 85375 (Map)

Cost: $40 – Dinner & Event
$100 – VIP Reception
$250 – Host Committee

RSVP: Teresa Martinez
(602) 957-7770
tmartinez@azgop.org
Also, visit our website at www.AZGOP.org

 

 

 

Paid for by the Franks GOP Committee, a joint fundraising committee on behalf of the Committee to Re Elect Trent Franks for Congress, and the Arizona Republican Party. ® Copyright 2011 Arizona Republican Party

Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaign Finance, Campaigns & Elections, Conservatives, Elected Officials, Political Parties, Press Release Tagged With: , , ,

Rep. Trent Franks Votes Against Debt Ceiling Hike

August 2, 2011 By 3 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2011
CONTACT: Ben Carnes

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), on the heels of his vote against the debt ceiling plan proposed yesterday, released the following statement, reiterating his remarks last night on the House floor emphasizing the vital importance of a Balanced Budget Amendment:

“It is simply undeniable at this point that Democrats do not grasp the threat posed by our perpetual deficit spending and ever-ballooning debt. Even as the debt ceiling has been raised yet again, Democrats, who claim to support a Balanced Budget Amendment, despite having opposed BOTH Balanced Budget Amendment proposals that passed the House, have again made certain to include numerous exceptions into the debt ceiling legislation, so that a Balanced Budget Amendment to permanently fix our deficit spending problem is not a requirement, but an option they can opt out of at a later date.

“Lip service to a balanced budget it no longer enough. All financial budgets will eventually balance. That includes the budget of the United States government. No individual, family, no business, and no government can indefinitely continue to spend more money than they take in without someone having to make up the difference. The question before our nation now is whether our budget will balance due to proactive work by those of us sent to fix the broken system in Washington, or by financial calamity due to the unwillingness of so many to stop a disaster when we had the opportunity to do so.”

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Congressman Franks is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and is a member of the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and a member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law. He is also a member of the Armed Services Committee, where he serves on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

Filed Under: Debt, Elected Officials, Federal Budget, Federal Government, Press Release, Spending, Taxation Tagged With: , , , ,

Arizona Congressional Republicans Call For Rapid Action To Assist Wallow Fire Recovery Efforts

July 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2011
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Andrew Wilder (Kyl)
Brian Rogers (McCain)
Hannah Loy (Gosar)
Ben Carnes (Franks)
Richard Cullen (Quayle)
Rachel Semmel (Schweikert)
Genevieve Frye Rozansky (Flake)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican members of Arizona’s congressional delegation today sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell urging him to request alternative arrangements for federal regulatory compliance in order to expedite clean up and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Wallow Fire.

“Destruction from the Wallow Fire has exposed large areas in Eastern Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests to the risk of additional damage,” the members of the delegation said, explaining the reason for their letter. “Time is of the essence, especially with the arrival of the monsoon season, in acting to protect life and property, and to reduce the risks for further damage to the environment.”

“While the reviews prescribed in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) might be desirable in certain, less urgent circumstances, we believe the existing procedures are incompatible with the current exigencies faced in the aftermath of the Wallow Fire.”

Council on Environmental Quality regulations permit “alternative arrangements” for NEPA compliance in order to provide flexibility in emergency situations. The members of the delegation who sent the letter believe that the Wallow Fire situation conforms to the very circumstances contemplated for such alternate arrangements, and have urged Chief Tidwell to exercise this option.

The text of the letter to Chief Tidwell follows below and is also attached in PDF form:

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July 20, 2011

The Honorable Tom Tidwell
Chief, U.S. Forest Service
Yates Building, 5th Floor
201 14th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Chief Tidwell:

We write to urge you to request from the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) “alternative arrangements,” pursuant to Section 1506.11, for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 C.F.R §1500 et seq) to respond to the Wallow Fire.

As you are well aware, the Wallow Fire in Eastern Arizona has burned for more than 40 days, across more than 538,000 acres of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and into neighboring New Mexico. The fire is now the largest in Arizona’s recorded history. The damage to the national forest is still being assessed, but it is known that that the fire has killed or severely damaged a large number of trees. The volume of dead and dying trees increases the fuel load for future high-intensity fires, and provides ideal conditions for insect and disease outbreaks. The exposed soil and the arrival of the monsoon rains present an immediate risk of flooding and debris flows that threaten lives, property, water quality, and valuable natural resources throughout the burned area. The State of Arizona has declared a state of emergency and county and local officials have declared the situation a disaster.

Given the post-fire conditions in the Wallow Fire area, swift action is needed by the Forest Service to protect human life and property and mitigate further damage to timber resources and the environment. There is not sufficient time to follow all of the procedures for environmental review under the NEPA of all the actions that will be needed to respond. The alternative arrangements regulation was put in place for circumstances such as this one. As you know, alternative arrangements do not waive the requirements to comply with the NEPA, but instead establish alternative arrangements for compliance in emergencies.

Having seen the devastation for yourself, we are hopeful you will agree that the circumstances of the Wallow Fire warrant the application of alternative arrangements. The communities affected by the Wallow Fire cannot afford needless delays.

Sincerely,

JON KYL
United States Senator

JOHN MCCAIN
United States Senator

JEFF FLAKE
Member of Congress

PAUL A. GOSAR, D.D.S.
Member of Congress

BEN QUAYLE
Member of Congress

TRENT FRANKS
Member of Congress

DAVID SCHWEIKERT
Member of Congress

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Congressman Trent Franks: Obama Administration Arrogance, Lack of leadership on Budget & Debt

July 19, 2011 By 3 Comments

In case you missed it, our own Congressman Trent Franks spoke on the floor of the House yesterday explaining the hubris of the Obama Administration regarding lack of leadership in solving the national debt crisis.

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This is YOUR chance to contact Congress and demand that they Cut, Cap and Balance the Budget. Call TODAY at (202) 224-3121 and demand they support HR 2560.

Filed Under: Debt, Federal Budget, Federal Government, Spending, Taxation Tagged With: , , , ,

Trent Franks to Introduce Seniors Financial Security Act

May 13, 2011 By 3 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2011
CONTACT: Ben Carnes

May 18th: Trent Franks to Introduce Seniors Financial Security Act at Sun City Senior Center

Sun City, AZ — On Wednesday, May 18th, Congressman Trent Franks will be introducing the Seniors Financial Security Act at Banner Olive Branch Senior Center in Sun City, AZ. The Seniors Financial Security Act aims to reduce the tax burden on senior citizens by excluding Social Security benefits from seniors’ taxable income.

Introduction of Seniors Financial Security Act in Sun City

What: Introduction of the Seniors Financial Security Act
When: May 18th, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Where: Banner Olive Branch Senior Center
Address: 11250 N. 107th Ave., Sun City, AZ 85351 (map)

For further information or to schedule an interview in advance, please contact Ben Carnes at ben.carnes@mail.house.gov or, by phone, at 202-579-0005.

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Congressman Franks is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and is a member of the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and a member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law. He is also a member of the Armed Services Committee, where he serves on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.


 

Filed Under: Elected Officials, Press Release, Social Security, Special Event, Taxation, Town Hall Tagged With: ,

Franks Votes to Fund Troops, Cut Spending, Keep Government Running

April 7, 2011 By 2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2011
CONTACT: Ben Carnes

April 7, 2011 – Following his vote in favor of a one-week Continuing Resolution that would keep the government from shutting down at midnight tonight, would ensure the troops continue to receive funding, and would cut $12 billion in spending, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) today released the following statement:

“Quite simply, Democrats today have done precisely what pushed Americans to throw them out of office en masse in the last election.

“Last year, while Democrats were still in control of the House, they failed to accomplish one of their most fundamental responsibilities — to pass a budget. Since that time, Democrats have also refused to support any Republican budget proposal, including the plan offered today to ensure our troops continue to be paid and our government doesn’t shutdown.

“Instead, Democrats overwhelmingly demonstrated today that they would rather allow our military to go unpaid and our government to stop operating than to budge even an inch on their big spending liberal dogma.

“My vote on today’s troop-funding bill was a vote to continue paying our men and women in uniform, to cut $12 billion in excess spending, and to keep our government functioning.”

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Congressman Franks is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and is a member of the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and a member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law. He is also a member of the Armed Services Committee, where he serves on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

 

Filed Under: Federal Budget, Military, Press Release, Spending Tagged With: ,

PR: Trent Franks Addresses Potential Senate Bid

April 1, 2011 By 25 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2011
CONTACT: Ben Carnes

April 1, 2011 – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) today released the following statement addressing the possibility of running for Senator Jon Kyl’s Senate seat:

“For three weeks, there have been numerous press accounts regarding the possibility that I might enter the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated in 2012 by Arizona’s venerable Senator, Jon Kyl. Indeed, I have made no secret about the fact that I was very actively considering the possibility and leaning strongly in the direction of running.

“A decision like this is among the most complicated a man can ever make. One has a duty to measure how to best serve his God, his country, and his loved ones. There is a complex array of factors that must coincide within the right timeframe in order to prudently move forward with such an undertaking.

“After diligently and prayerfully trying to consider every aspect a potential Senate bid would entail, I have sincerely concluded that mounting a Senate bid at this time would not be what is best for my family, nor what would best allow me to serve my country at this critical time in her history.

“It is the nature of Congress that tenure and experience allow Members to have a greater impact than perhaps they were able to have when they first arrived in D.C. To that end, after the Republican takeover of the U.S. House in the last election, I now have the distinct honor of serving as Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, in addition to my roles on the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees and the Strategic Forces Subcommittee; as well as my positions of leadership on numerous vital caucuses, including the EMP Caucus, the Missile Defense Caucus, the International Religious Freedom Caucus, and the Israel Allies Caucus.

“Considering certain critical bills being debated in the house along with ongoing and recent developments in the world, and the overall direction our country is taking, along with my tenure and committee assignments, I believe I can best serve my country at this time by remaining in and running for reelection to the U.S House of Representatives.

“In announcing this decision, I cannot begin to fully relate the abiding gratitude in my heart for absolutely everyone who came together to help and support me. I will never forget their commitment to their country or their kindness to me. And I ask for their continued prayers as, over the next two years, I continue to focus on the same the same issues of national security, border security, free enterprise economic growth, and protecting the constitutional rights of life, liberty, and property for all Americans that I pray have marked and will continue to mark my public service career.

“I am grateful to God, to my family, and to those who have supported me for so long for that profound privilege.”

Congressman Franks is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and is a member of the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and a member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law. He is also a member of the Armed Services Committee, where he serves on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Elected Officials, Press Release Tagged With: ,

Franks Responds to DADT Report

December 3, 2010 By 4 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bethany Haley or Ben Carnes at (202) 225-4576

Calls On President Obama to Refrain from Social Engineering with our Armed Forces During a Time of War

December 2, 2010 — Following a briefing by Jeh Johnson, General Counsel for the Department of Defense, and General Carter Ham, the U.S. Army’s Commanding Officer in Europe, on the Pentagon’s new report on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and in light of recent attempts by Congressional Democrats to overturn current military policy, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) today released the following statement urging Democrats to stop using our military as a test bed for their own radical social agenda:

“It is disturbing to me that despite the fact that an overwhelming number of our commanding generals oppose repealing the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) policy, particularly during a time of war, the Obama Administration is insisting on imposing its ideological commitment to ‘fundamentally transform America’ on the men and women of our armed forces who even today are fighting to keep us all free.

“The DOD report cited as evidence justifying the repeal of this policy was obviously engineered to bring about a predetermined result. It also remains to be seen whether a climate of intimidation helped generate some of the survey findings. The fact is, in repeated Armed Services Committee hearings, our warfighters have raised concerns that the implications of repealing DADT have not been given full consideration as they should, in public hearings as well as in the public forum.

“Just today, a coalition of 40 million Americans sent a letter to Senators urging them not to repeal DADT. Among the concerns they raise is also the potential effect that repealing DADT would have on religious freedom. Those who oppose a repeal of DADT have already been labeled “bigots” by one general, and it is possible that chaplains would be forbidden to teach about their denomination’s position on homosexuality were the repeal to pass. Furthermore, they point out that the time between the release of the DOD report and adjournment is simply inadequate to thoroughly investigate all these related issues.

“Either Democrats’ have not fully realized the negative impact a repeal of this policy would have, or they don’t care. Either way, their blind commitment to social engineering and ramming a DADT repeal through the Congress will have a tangible and potentially dangerous effect upon our service men and women on the ground.”

Attached is a copy of the coalition letter referenced above. It can also be accessed here.

Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

Filed Under: Culture, Homosexuality, Military, Press Release Tagged With: , ,