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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of "colluding" with teachers unions to spread COVID "hysteria" and promote school closures after the former NIAID director tried to absolve himself of responsibility in a recent interview.

Fauci struck a defensive tone during a New York Times interview this week in which he reflected on his and the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic while deflecting blame for lockdowns and school closures, the consequences of which have become a congressional focus with Republicans at the helm.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 01: Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President, gives an update on the Omicron COVID-19 variant during the daily press briefing at the White House on December 01, 2021 in Washington, DC. The first case of the omicron variant in the United States has been confirmed today in California. ((Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images))

"This is hysteria, and it comesfrom the top down, and Fauci wasessentially the top dog in town,"Paul said Wednesday on "America Reports.""He was giving the information,wear a mask, one mask, two mask,cloth masks, he was giving the information that natural immunitydidnt make any senseDr. Fauci discounted naturalimmunity none fo those policies happened and then we went overboard andclosed the schools with noevidence of children were gettingsick or dying."

Paul made the comment inside the U.S. Capitol where just moments earlier, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), one of the nations most powerful teachers unions, was grilled by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on her unions role in influencing public policy on school lockdowns.

RAND PAUL TORCHES FAUCI: 'ONE OF THE WORST JUDGMENT ERRORS' IN HISTORY OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Paul said Fauci's guidance on lockdowns and school closures was widely determined by Weingarten and other union leaders, who were "self-interested" and saw an opportunity to "getpaid for not working" while causing immeasurable harm to U.S. students.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., questions Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical adviser and director of the NIAID, during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing to examine the federal response to COVID-19 and new emerging variants on Jan. 11, 2022 at Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo by GREG NASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (GREG NASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"Without question, our kids have beendamaged, and some of them will be a long time in therecovery.But also without question, there was collusion between Fauci andgovernment public health experts and the internet, there was collusion with the teachers unions," he said. "We cannot stop theteachers union from giving theadvice they dont think theteachers should work, but we canstop the government from colludingwith them in secret, to the detriment of our students."

Addressing critics like Paul and other Republican lawmakers demanding accountability for school and business closures, Fauci insisted that his recommendations were merely based on the CDC's public health guidance and that he in no way dictated public policy.

"Show me a school that I shut down and show me a factory that I shut down. Never. I never did," Fauci told the New York Times. "I gave a public health recommendation that echoed the CDCs recommendation, and people made a decision based on that. But I never criticized the people who had to make the decisions one way or the other."

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten speaks as U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) listens at the AFL-CIO on June 22, 2022 in Washington, DC. The AFL-CIO held an event to discuss "the importance of student debt cancellation for American workers." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) ((Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images))

Paul said Fauci's recommendations carried "the force of a mandate" in the United States, adding that the outspoken White House task force member was well aware of the weight his words carried.

DESANTIS TAKES SHOT AT TRUMP FOR FAUCIS ROLE DURING ADMINS CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

"If Dr. Fauci says you need towear masks, and its against the bestpractices not to wear a mask andI own a hotel,Im fearful if I dont followDr. Faucis recommendations,which are not really a mandatebut they become a mandate," Paul said. "Imgoing to be sued for notobserving best practices, so hisedicts did have the force of amandate.Democratic governors largely throughout the U.S. followedthem, schools followed them.

"You can look at the transcriptwhen I challenged him on openingschools I gave him theinformation," Paul continued, referencing an earlier exchange with Fauci on the topic. "We put up six different chartsof European countries and hadgone back to school withoutincrease or exacerbation ofinfection and it just went right by him.

"Hes been on both sides of the schoolissue two dozen times,"Paul continued. "Several articles summarized hesbeen on both sides of the issuealmost [in] the same day some daysso people who have a self-interestin not working should not be theones guiding usin what kind of policy we shouldhave for having the schoolsopen.Bad science, bad for students,once again, the teachers unions isconcerned with themselves andnot necessarily with thestudents."

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"Everything they told us waswrong. It was a lie." he concluded.

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Sen. Rand Paul accuses Fauci of colluding with teachers union to promote 'hysteria' around school reopenings - Fox News

Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) reintroduced a bill that would eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) introduced a similar motion in the House.

The CFPB is an utter and complete waste of government spending and should be eliminated, Cruz said. It is entirely ineffective and does very little to protect consumers. The only purpose of this sham, [Barack] Obama-mandated organization is to stifle economic growth by enforcing burdensome, unnecessary economic regulations. The last thing our economy needs under Bidenflation is further hinderance by government bureaucrats. Ending the CFPB will spur economic growth at a time when Texans and Americans sorely need it.

The entire text of the bill reads, The Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (12 7 U.S.C. 5481 et seq.) is repealed, and the provisions of law amended or repealed by that act are restored or revived as if the act had not been enacted.

The CFPB has been met with contention since its inception in 2011 and has been the focus of several court decisions in recent years. Among them were Selia Law, LLC v. CFPB in 2020, where the court determined the for cause removal provision for the bureaus director unconstitutional, but reparable. In October 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit determined the bureaus financial structure also to be unconstitutional. A second circuit court held the opposite, and the issue is scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in the fall.

Look no further than the CFPB for the epitome of the Washington Swamp: an unconstitutional, unaccountable, and overreaching government agency with no Congressional oversight, Donalds said. In addition to the drain of federal resources, the CFPB hinders economic prosperity by imposing burdensome and unnecessary regulations on American consumers. Its high time to eliminate the CFPB once and for all and ease the overarching financial restraints established by Dodd-Frank that permitted unfettered power to unelected activists and the obstruction of fiscal ingenuity and growth.

Cruz has regularly introduced a bill to eliminate the CFPB since 2015. He also introduced the same bill in 2017, 2019, and 2021.

Original post:
Senators introduce bill to eliminate CFPB | News by Edition - RESPA News

WASHINGTON Heres a look at how Lawrence Countys representatives in Congress voted over the previous week.

HOUSE VOTES:

House Vote 1:

CHINA SURVEILLANCE BALLOONS: The House has passed the Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace Act (H.R. 1151), sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., to condemn Chinas surveillance balloon flights over the U.S. since 2017 and have the State Department work with other countries to oppose such flights as invasions of sovereign territory. Meeks said of the flights: Such a violation of international law and U.S. sovereignty will not be tolerated and must not happen again. The vote, on April 17, was 405 yeas to 6 nays.

NOT VOTING: Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16

House Vote 2:

RUSSIA DRONE ATTACK: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 240), sponsored by Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., to condemn Russias recent destruction of a U.S. military drone said to have been flying in international airspace over the Black Sea. Williams said the resolution would reassure our allies that we are committed to defend ourselves and our friends, and together, we will ensure the peace through deterrence in unity. The vote, on April 17, was unanimous with 410 yeas.

NOT VOTING: Kelly

House Vote 3:

REGULATING WATERWAYS VETO OVERRIDE: The House has failed to override President Bidens veto of a resolution (H.J. Res. 27), sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., that would have voided an Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency rule issued this January that defines Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Such waters would be subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act. Graves said the rule favored radical environmental activists over Americas families, small businesses, farmers, builders, and property owners. A resolution opponent, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said: This resolution represents a step backward for clean water, increases uncertainty for businesses, and doubles down on fighting and on chaos. The vote, on April 18, was 227 yeas to 196 nays, with a two-thirds majority required.

YEAS: Kelly

House Vote 4:

D.C. CRIME POLICIES: The House has passed a bill (H.J. Res. 42), sponsored by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void the Washington, D.C., Councils adoption of a law changing policing policies for D.C. police officers. Clyde said the action was necessary because the D.C. Councils misguided legislation has driven out men and women in blue who protect us, while disincentivizing individuals to join the force. An opponent, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said the Council was only trying to promote accountability for police officers who use excessive force or abuse their power, a goal that the vast majority of Americans share. The vote, on April 19, was 229 yeas to 189 nays.

NOT VOTING: Kelly

House Vote 5:

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECURITY: The House has passed the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act (H.R. 1149), sponsored by Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., to require the State Department to assist telecommunications infrastructure installments that promote U.S. national security, and require other measures to address security risks from telecommunications. Wild said: Securing these networks is imperative when it comes to national security and human rights, as well as for our economic security. The vote, on April 19, was 410 yeas to 8 nays.

NOT VOTING: Kelly

House Vote 6:

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GENDER AND SCHOOL SPORTS: The House has passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 734), sponsored by Rep. Gregory W. Steube, R-Fla., to condition federal funding of school athletic programs on those schools not allowing people whose biological sex at birth is male to take part in female athletic programs. Steube said the bill preserves womens sports and ensures fair competition for generations of women to come. An opponent, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said: Congress has no business targeting transgender women and girls and imposing a nationwide ban on their participation in school sports. The vote, on April 20, was 219 yeas to 203 nays.

NOT VOTING: Kelly

SENATE VOTES:

Senate Vote 1:

MILITARY OFFICIAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Radha Iyengar Plumb to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Plumb, currently chief of staff to Defenses deputy secretary, was formerly an executive at Google and at Facebook, and a national security staffer at several federal agencies. The vote, on April 18, was 68 yeas to 30 nays.

YEAS: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey D-PA, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA

Senate Vote 2:

JUSTICE PROGRAMS: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Amy Lefkowitz Solomon to be the Justice Departments Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). A senior official at OJP since the start of the Biden administration, Solomon was in similar roles at OJP during the Obama administration as well. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called Solomon a devoted public servant whose policy expertise and commitment to the rule of law will serve the Justice Department and communities across America. The vote, on April 18, was 59 yeas to 40 nays.

YEAS: Casey, Fetterman

Senate Vote 3:

COVID VACCINES: The Senate has rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870), that would have made grants to local fire departments contingent on those departments not having imposed Covid vaccination requirements on their employees. Paul said: Firemen and EMTs who chose not to be vaccinated were never a threat to anyone, never a threat to their communities. On the contrary, these firefighters served their communities bravely and made their neighbors safe. An opponent, Sen. Gary C. Peters, D-Mich., said: This amendment would interfere with state and local governments ability to determine health policies for their own employees and how to best keep their communities safe. The vote, on April 18, was 45 yeas to 54 nays.

NAYS: Casey, Fetterman

Senate Vote 4:

FUNDING FIREFIGHTER GRANTS: The Senate has rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870) that would have used unspent Covid relief funds to help cover the cost of the bills firefighting grants program. Scott said that given the more than $31 trillion of government indebtedness, it would be financially prudent to redirect unobligated funds to support firefighters, rather than add to deficit spending. An amendment opponent, Sen. Gary C. Peters, D-Mich.., said: Redistributing this funding could weaken our nations ability to continue responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and would pull funds from a program that is supporting our communities, families, and small businesses in important ways. The vote, on April 18, was 47 yeas to 49 nays.

NAYS: Casey, Fetterman

Senate Vote 5:

FIGHTING FIRES: The Senate has passed the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870), sponsored by Sen. Gary C. Peters, D-Mich., to reauthorize through fiscal 2030 several federal firefighting and fire management programs. Peters said: Fire departments depend on these programs to address staffing needs, replace outdated equipment, fund fire training and education programs, and invest in health screenings for firefighters in the line of duty. The vote, on April 20, was 95 yeas to 2 nays.

YEAS: Casey, Fetterman

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Eye on the Capitol: How Casey, Fetterman, Kelly voted last week - New Castle News

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing him of being culpable of "one of the worst judgment errors" in his handling of COVID by pushing for the funding "gain of function" research in China. Paul joined "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday to discuss the investigation into the origins of COVID as a new report suggests two lab leaks in Wuhan could have led to the pandemic.

THESE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AGENCIES HAVE ADMITTED COVID LAB LEAK IS PLAUSIBLE

RAND PAUL: I think Fauci deserves culpability and history is going to judge him very poorly because he made the judgment to fund this research. It's dangerous research. He doesn't want to call it gain of function, but most other scientists do call it gain of function in Wuhan in an opaque totalitarian country. And in the end, there was a leak from the lab and millions of people died worldwide. And this didn't happen sort of accidentally. The leak may have been accident, but the funding wasn't accidental. Tony Fauci actually went around the system. We had set up a system where there's a committee, they're supposed to go before a committee to judge whether this was dangerous and whether it should be funded. Tony Fauci exempted Wuhan from the committee. They never went before the committee. And this is extraordinary. The committee that was supposed to provide safety and review this, never looked at the research in Wuhan because Tony Fauci gave them exception. So the thing is, yes, he does bear responsibility for maybe one of the worst judgment errors in the history of modern medicine or modern public health to fund this dangerous research.

Dr. Anthony Fauci accusing the GOP of "character assassination" masquerading as oversight. (Getty Images)

FOX NEWS POLL: MAJORITY SAYS BIDEN TRYING TO COVER UP ORIGINS OF COVID-19

Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe says the "only explanation"and "plausible assessment" for the COVID-19 global pandemic is a leak from a Chinese Communist Party-controlled lab, citing U.S. intelligence and "numerous, diverse and unassailable" sources for the information.

Fox News testified Tuesday before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

"My informed assessment as a person with as much access as anyone to our governments intelligence has been and continues to be that a lab leak is the only explanation credibly supported by our intelligence, by science and by common sense," Ratcliffe told the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Continued here:
Rand Paul torches Dr. Fauci: 'One of the worst judgment errors' in history of public health - Fox News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:April 19, 2023Contact:Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov,202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the Senate voted on U.S. Senator Rand Pauls (R-KY)Support the Reinstatement of Trained and Effective Firefightersamendment which makes funding available to fire departments that terminated firefighters for refusing vaccination or voicing opposition to COVID-19 mandates only if they offer full reinstatement and backpay to those who lost their jobs. The amendment was considered as part of S.870, the Fire Grants and Safety Act.

Ahead of the vote, Dr. Paul delivered remarks on the Senate Floor. Below are excerpts from his remarks. You can also watch his full remarksHERE, and find full text of Dr. Pauls amendmentHERE.

It seems bizarre and contradictory to provide financial support to increase fire department staffing when decisions were made to terminate trained and effective firefighters for no good reason. Firefighters tend to be young and fit, the very people who had the least to worry about COVID-19. They also tend to be male, and young males are the group most likely to suffer the severe side effect of myocarditis.

These people were never a threat to their communities. On the contrary, they served their communities bravely and made their neighbors safer. What was done to them, what was done to police, what was done to first responders was shameful and we should stand together to make sure it never happens again.

To that end, I offer an amendment that will restore sanity and compassion to government.

My amendment would make any agency that punished firefighters for refusing a COVID vaccine or for exercising First Amendment rights to oppose the mandates ineligible for these grants.

But my amendment also includes an important exception a department can receive these grants again if the department offers full reinstatement and back pay to any firefighter or medic who was punished.

If you want to support firefighters, if you want to support your communities, if you want to support safety, you should support my amendment.

Background:

One of the purposes of the Fire Grants and Safety Act is to fund the hiring of more firefighters. But over the last few years, even as these grants were awarded, firefighters around the country found themselves with a choice: submit to COVID vaccine mandates and forgo your First Amendment rights to voice opposition to them or lose your livelihood.

InNew York,Los Angeles, andSeattle, among other places, firefighters lost their jobs simply because they insisted upon living according to their conscience. Firing trained and effective firefighters for no good reason is dangerous, particularly when serious shortages of firefighters are reported throughout the country.

Dr. Pauls amendment would make the grants provided by this bill available to fire departments that dismissed or discharged firefighters for refusing COVID vaccination or voicing opposition to COVID mandates only if they offer full reinstatement and back pay to firefighters who lost their jobs.

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Senate Votes on Dr. Rand Paul's Amendment to Protect Firefighters - Senator Rand Paul - Senator Rand Paul