WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Saturday Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) called on House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy to hold a hearing to investigate reports that the U.S. Army is discharging noncitizen service members.

“As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, I respectfully request that you hold an oversight hearing to examine credible reports that the Department of Defense is summarily discharging noncitizen U.S. reservists and recruits who enlisted to serve our nation in the U.S. military as part of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program,” wrote Lynch.

On Thursday the Associated Press reported that at least 40 Army reservists and recruits who enlisted as part of the MAVNI program were discharged or had their immigration status questioned. Some of these service members said the Defense Department had labeled them as “security risks” because of relatives living abroad or uncompleted background checks by the Defense Department.

“As underscored by the Department of Defense in its description of the MAVNI program, the ‘law ensures that the sacrifice of non-citizens during a time of national need is met with an opportunity for early citizenship, to recognize their contribution and sacrifice,’” wrote Lynch. “An oversight hearing to examine the reported failure of the Department of Defense to abide by its commitment to MAVNI program participants would serve to better ensure that we live up to the promises made to these brave service men and women.

“It would also serve to further our national security and force protection operations going forward by strengthening our efforts to recognize the service of those noncitizens who enlist in the U.S. military when our national interest most demands it,” Lynch continued.

Read the full letter here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, sent a letter to Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy urging him to hold a bipartisan oversight hearing to examine the so-called “Quiet Skies” program. The program, which is administered by the Transportation Security Administration, reportedly tracks ordinary air travelers, including U.S. citizens, through surveillance conducted by undercover federal air marshal teams.

“In stark contrast to the deployment of federal air marshals for Special Mission Coverage flights on which a known or suspected terrorist is ticketed, ‘Quiet Skies Selectees’ are not under investigation by any agency and are not listed in the U.S. Terrorist Screening Database,” wrote Lynch.“These travelers are nevertheless subjected to enhanced screening and security measures because they display travel behavior fitting ‘risk-based passenger targeting rules’ developed by the TSA and have entered the United States from a foreign location.”

The proposed hearing would examine the purpose, scope, and legality of the “Quiet Skies” program and how the TSA is taking steps to safeguard the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. In addition to privacy concerns, the procedure for removing names from the list in cases of misidentification or other error is unclear.

“While I strongly support the critical mission of the Transportation Security Administration to ‘protect the nation’s transportation systems,’ the administration of a covert surveillance program that targets nearly 20,000 air travelers, including U.S. citizens, per year without probable cause must be subject to robust congressional oversight,” said Lynch.“In furtherance of our national security, a meaningful examination of the purpose, scope, and legality of this program will enable us to assess the effectiveness of the Quiet Skies program and better ensure the protection of American civil liberties.”

Read the letter here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to nominate qualified ambassadors to U.S. diplomatic posts that are critical to U.S. counterterrorism and national security efforts in the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other regions. According to the American Foreign Service Association, nearly 40 key U.S. embassies are vacant due to a lack of nominations by President Trump.

“The absence of U.S. ambassadors at our diplomatic missions in Jordan, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia poses a serious challenge to the effectiveness of our counterterrorism operations and diplomatic efforts in the Middle East,” wrote Lynch.“This region is defined by a heightened state of conflict stemming from ongoing civil wars in Syria and Yemen, the escalating use of guerilla tactics by the remaining pockets of the Islamic State, and other destabilizing events. It is also marked by the deployment of more than 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria and an estimated 6,000 troops still deployed in Iraq. National security demands the presence of permanent U.S. diplomatic leadership in the region.”

The U.S. also lacks ambassadors in Pakistan, where Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliate activity remains an issue, and in Mexico, where bilateral cooperation on security, counter-narcotics, migration, and economic issues is critical. President Trump has also failed to nominate an ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which coordinates global economic policy, combats the threat of terrorist financing and money laundering, and is critical to curbing illicit use of offshore tax havens – an issue particularly relevant to U.S. national security given recent revelations related to the “Panama Papers.”

“In furtherance of U.S. national security and our efforts to safeguard deployed U.S. military and civilian personnel worldwide,” continued Lynch, “it is imperative that you fulfill your constitutional duty and name qualified individuals to serve as U.S. ambassadors at these and other critical diplomatic posts with ambassadorial vacancies.”

Read the letter here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, sent a letter to National Security Subcommittee Chairman Steve Russell urging him to hold a bipartisan oversight hearing to examine the state of U.S. pipeline safety and security. 

“As evidenced by the series of hazardous natural gas explosions that occurred in Northeastern Massachusetts and Western Pennsylvania last week, the siting and operation of volatile natural gas infrastructure in proximity to residential communities poses a grave public safety threat that demands robust congressional review.”

“These are not isolated incidents. According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”), last year an estimated 650 pipeline incidents resulted in 20 fatalities and injuries to 35 individuals. In 2018, PHMSA reports that pipeline incidents have already led to at least three fatalities and injuries to 33 individuals.”

The proposed hearing would supplement the efforts undertaken by Members on both sides of the aisle to safeguard the American public against the devastating impact of a pipeline-related public emergency or attack. 

“The vulnerability of residents and communities living in proximity to pipeline infrastructure is even more concerning considering the aging state of U.S. pipeline systems and their increased susceptibility to leaks, spills, and explosions. According to former National Transportation Safety Board chairman and current president of the National Safety Council, Deborah Hersman, approximately one-half of our 2.4 million miles of pipelines nationwide were installed prior to 1970. A 2014 pipeline safety study by USA Today reported that the largest percentage of pipeline systems still operating with deteriorating cast-iron mains “is concentrated in heavily populated areas with a higher risk of catastrophic consequences.”

“Moreover, our pipeline systems have increasingly become the target of cyber and terrorist attacks. As reported by Energy and Environment News in its 2017 series on “Pipelines in Peril,” advanced cyber threats targeting U.S. pipelines have exponentially increased following a pipeline hacking spree undertaken by cyberspies linked to the Chinese military from 2011 to 2012. The theft of sensitive data from at least 23 separate U.S. pipelines constituted the sort of cyber breach that, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, “could allow successful ‘hackers’ to disrupt pipeline service and cause spills, explosions, or fires – all from remote locations.”

Read the letter here.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Stephen F. Lynch recently introduced H. Res. 993, a bipartisan resolution providing that Congress must ensure that the U.S. Postal Service is not subject to privatization.  Cosponsored by 209 Members of Congress, including 40 Republicans, H. Res. 993 reflects strong opposition by both Democrats and Republicans to misguided efforts by the Trump Administration to privatize an agency that Americans consistently rank as their most trusted government institution.  Most recently, in June 2018, the Administration issued government-wide reform and reorganization plan recommending the “future conversion of the Postal Service from a government agency into a privately-held corporation.”

For over 240 years, the Postal Service and its dedicated workforce have performed the essential government function of “providing postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people.”  In furtherance of this mission, the Postal Service and its more than 500,000 clerks, letter carriers, mail handlers and supervisors help deliver the mail to over 157 million residential and business customers six days a week nationwide.

“The presumption that the American people are better served when their government outsources its core functions to private contractors has been disproven time and time again.  A range of congressional investigations have revealed the harmful impact of government outsourcing on the safety and the security of the American people, as well as the responsible expenditure of taxpayer dollars,” wrote Congressman Lynch.  “Whether it is the outsourcing of Iraq reconstruction and military logistics activities to Halliburton and its subsidiaries, the contracting out of management and support services at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, or waste, fraud, and abuse in hurricane recovery and relief contracting in Puerto Rico, it is more than clear that the delivery of essential government services should not be subject to privatization and is best performed by our experienced federal workforce.”

“In order to understand the importance of retaining the Postal Service as a public sector entity, we need only recall the exceptional public service exhibited by our postal workforce in response to the bioterrorism that threatened the integrity of the mail network in the immediate aftermath of 9/11,” Congressman Lynch continued.  “The mailing of anthrax spores claimed the lives of two postal workers, Joseph Curseen and Thomas Morris, Jr., at the Brentwood Processing and Distribution Center that now bears their name.  Under the threat of continued anthrax attacks, our 700,000-strong postal workforce continued to report to work throughout the crisis and make certain that our nationwide mail and commerce would not be subject to disruption.”

In addition to 169 Democrats and 40 Republicans, Lynch’s resolution has been endorsed by The National Association of Letter Carriers, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the American Postal Workers Union, the National Association of Postal Supervisors, the United Postmasters and Managers of America, and the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service.

Link to related article here.

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5036, the Financial Technology Protection Act, which was led by Congressman Ted Budd (R-NC) and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA).  This legislation helps address the emerging threat of terrorist and criminal actors relying on digital currencies, including Bitcoin, to fund their illicit activities.

The Financial Technology Protection Act will establish a public-private sector task force that would research terrorist and illicit uses of financial technologies, including digital currencies, and develop proposals to counter such terrorist and illicit uses.  It will also create a grant program to develop tools to detect terrorist and illicit uses of these currencies, and it would establish a reward for any person who provides information leading to the conviction of an individual involved with the terrorist use of digital currencies.  Finally, the bill would require the government to identify how illicit actors and foreign terrorist organizations evade sanctions, finance terrorism, or launder money using these currencies, and to develop a strategy to counter such terrorist and illicit uses. 

The text of H.R. 5036, the Financial Technology Protection Act, is available here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Sunday, October 21st, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA-08) will host an information session for all high school students interested in applying to one of the United States Service Academies.

Representatives from each of the following academies will make brief presentations and be available for questions:

• United States Military Academy at West Point, NY
• United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD
• United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO
• United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY
• United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, CT
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Buzzards Bay, MA

All students and their families are welcome to attend.

WHAT:          Congressman Lynch’s Academy Day

WHEN:          Sunday, October 21st, 2018 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE:        East Middle School, 305 River Street, Braintree 02184

CONTACT:     Bob Fowkes, (617) 428-2000 

For those unable to attend, more information on the Service Academy nomination process is available on our website: https://lynch.house.gov/serving-you/military-academy-nominations

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to oppose any efforts to privatize essential U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, including the privatization proposal advocated by former Blackwater USA Chief Executive Officer Erik Prince in recent meetings with Afghan Government officials.  The letter has been signed by Full Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) and National Security Subcommittee members Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA).

“The outsourcing of core military functions to a private security force comes at great risk to the safety of deployed U.S. military and civilian personnel in theatre, and will dramatically increase American spending on a war that the U.S. Department of Defense estimates has already cost American taxpayers more than $718 billion since 2001," said Lynch.  

“We strongly oppose the outsourcing of core U.S. military functions and combat missions to mercenaries employed by ‘for-profit’ corporate interests and we also believe that converting the world’s most effective fighting force into a commercial enterprise would tarnish the honor and diminish the sacrifice of those who have served our country.  In total, acquiescing to Mr. Prince’s plan would gravely damage U.S. standing in the world," added Lynch.

Mr. Prince continues to promote his plan to privatize the war in Afghanistan by replacing the estimated 23,000 American and NATO troops on the ground with a much smaller force primarily led by approximately 6,000 U.S. and multinational private security contractors.  This private security force would be supplemented by 2,000 U.S. Special Operations Forces.  According to the New York Times, Mr. Prince recently “made his sales pitch directly to a host of influential Afghans,” from “lowly militia commanders, to former cabinet officials and entrenched regional strongmen to several potential presidential candidates.”

“The outsourcing of core military functions in Afghanistan to private for-profit corporations sends the wrong message about U.S. commitments and will serve to further destabilize the country and degrade the security of U.S. military and civilian personnel stationed in the region,” wrote Lynch. 

Read the letter here.

Washington, DC - On Thursday, Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the House companion of Senator Warren’s (D-MA) Accountable Capitalism Act. 

Senator Warren introduced the bill in August to help eliminate skewed market incentives and return to the era when American corporations and American workers did well together.  The legislation empowers American workers and aims to reverse the harmful corporate trend over the last thirty years that have produced record corporate profits for American companies but stagnant wages for American workers. 

“I’m proud to partner with Representatives Luján, Pocan, Lynch, Boyle, and Schakowsky on this bill to empower American workers,” said Senator Warren.  “With the support of this powerful group of House leaders, we’re one big step closer to helping American workers get the higher wages they deserve.” 

"I am proud to join my colleagues Representatives Luján, Pocan, Boyle and Schakowsky to introduce the House companion Bill to Senator Warren's legislation," said Congressman Lynch.  "Hopefully this Bill will help to rebalance the relationship for workers and give employees a stronger voice in the workplace." 

“Throughout our country’s history, the well-being of our workers has been directly linked to the prosperity we have achieved as a nation,” said Congressman Luján.  “Yet today, working families in my district and across the country face rising costs of living and stagnant wages.  Elevating the voices of workers in our corporate boardrooms will help restore balance in our economy.  The Accountable Capitalism Act is an innovative and commonsense approach to level the playing field.  I thank Senator Warren for her partnership on this effort.”

“Today, it’s more important than ever that we give American workers the opportunity to have a seat at the table to make critical decisions on their rights and their future.  Unfortunately, runaway corporate power is causing more benefits to flow to shareholders and CEOs, while families are struggling to make ends meet,” said Congressman Pocan.  “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the House companion bill to Sen. Warren’s Accountable Capitalism Act to take a strong step forward leveling the playing field for America’s middle class.  Together, we will empower American workers and build an economy that works for everyone.”

“American workers feel the system is rigged against them – and they’re right,” said Congressman Boyle.  “Washington has only exacerbated this trend.  Look no further than the Republican tax scam and the record profits, stock buybacks, and stagnant wages we’ve seen since.  Clearly we can no longer afford to sit back and hope corporations act in the best interests of their employees.  The Accountable Capitalism Act represents a great step toward making that a reality.”

“For the past 40 years, economic growth has gone to the top one percent, and workers have seen their wages stagnate and their jobs shipped overseas,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky.  “Even with high profile examples like General Motors announcing its intent to perversely kill roughly 15,000 American jobs leading to its stock price increasing by five percent, the Republican majority over the last eight years has done nothing to right this wrong.  In fact, Republicans have made things much worse by crafting that misguided tax bill.  That is why I have chosen to be an original cosponsor of the Accountable Capitalism Act, a bill that will ensure the American economy gets back on track and works for everyone, not just the wealthy.  I am proud to stand with my friend and incoming Assistant Speaker, Ben-Ray Lujan, on this important bill.”

Since the passage of the Republican tax bill earlier this year, American companies have done more than $800 billion in stock buybacks, while real wages for workers remain stagnant.  There is an urgent need to end the grip of shareholder value maximization and return to the era when American corporations produced broad-based growth that helped workers and shareholders alike.  The Accountable Capitalism Act:

• Compels company directors to consider the interests of all corporate stakeholders - including employees, customers, shareholders, and communities in which the company operates - by requiring American corporations with $1 billion or more in annual revenue to obtain a federal charter as a “United States corporation.”  This approach is derived from the thriving benefit corporation model that 33 states and the District of Columbia have adopted and that companies like Patagonia, Danone North America, and Kickstarter have embraced with strong results.
• Empowers workers at United States corporations to elect at least 40% of Board members:  Borrowing from the successful approach in Germany and other developed economies, a United States corporation must ensure that no fewer than 40% of its directors are selected by the corporation's employees.
• Restricts the sales of company shares by the directors and officers of United States corporations:  Top corporate executives are now compensated mostly in company equity, which gives them huge financial incentives to focus exclusively on shareholder returns.  To ensure that they are focused on the long-term interests of all corporate stakeholders, the bill prohibits directors and officers of United States corporations from selling company shares within five years of receiving them or within three years of a company stock buyback.
• Prohibits United States corporations from making any political expenditures without the approval of 75% of its directors and shareholders:  Drawing on a proposal from John Bogle, the founder of the investment company Vanguard, United States corporations must receive the approval of at least 75% of their shareholders and 75% of their directors before engaging in political expenditures.  This ensures any political expenditures benefit all corporate stakeholders.
• Permits the federal government to revoke the charter of a United States corporation if the company has engaged in repeated and egregious illegal conduct:  State Attorneys General are authorized to submit petitions to the Office of United States Corporations to revoke a United States corporation's charter.  If the Director of the Office finds that the corporation has a history of egregious and repeated illegal conduct and has failed to take meaningful steps to address its problems, she may grant the petition.  The company's charter would then be revoked a year later - giving the company time before its charter is revoked to make the case to Congress that it should retain its charter in the same or in a modified form.

The text of H.R. 7294, To establish the obligations of certain large business entities in the United States, and for other purposes, is available here. 

Washington, D.C. – Last week the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2315, To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to each of Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith in recognition of their contributions to the Nation, which was led by Rep Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Rep Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Rep Davis (D-CA) and Rep Brian Mast (R-FL).  This bipartisan legislation will posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Navy SEAL Glen Doherty, Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods and U.S. State Department officer Sean Smith to honor their lifetime commitment to the safety and security of the American people.

In view of the recent sixth year anniversary of the September 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate and classified annex in Benghazi, Libya, it is important that Congress recognize those brave individuals who sacrificed their lives to defend America and its values.  For over 20 years, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens served his country through his remarkable career in the Foreign Service.  From his first assignment as a Consular/Economic Officer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to his final assignment as U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Ambassador Stevens never failed to evidence his dedication to upholding America’s most cherished democratic ideals across the globe.  During their decades of service as elite Navy SEALs with tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other overseas wartime deployments, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods embodied the Navy SEAL motto: “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday.”  In continued service to their Nation, they served as overseas security personnel to ensure the safety of American diplomatic officials.  Their bravery and leadership in defense of America’s diplomatic mission in Benghazi in 2012, and other dangerous diplomatic missions worldwide, will never be forgotten.  As a former ground radio maintenance specialist in the U.S. Air Force, Sean Smith served his country with such distinction that he received the Air Force Commendation Medal.  He maintained his commitment to serving the American people throughout his subsequent career with the U.S. State Department and across multiple deployments in Iraq, South Africa, and Libya.   

Amy Carnevale from K&L Gates Law Firm provided assistance with this legislation and is deserving of recognition for her diligent support.

The text of H.R. 2315 is available here.