{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://hunter.house.gov/newsletter-you-wont-want-miss", "A Newsletter you won't want to miss...", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Duncan Hunter", "H001048", "hunter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BIG NEWS FOR SAN DIEGO AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION\u2014Legislation I authored to reauthorize the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Maritime transportation\u2014an important piece of the San Diego regional economy\u2014is now awaiting the President\u2019s signature after nearly two years of collaborative work between the House and Senate.\u00a0\nSouthern Californians are very familiar with the mission of the Coast Guard and the economic contributions of our shipyards and commercial operators, and I am especially grateful for the opportunity to represent their interests and fight on their behalf.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nTRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION\u2014In September, four Turkish nationals who identified themselves as members of the Revolutionary People\u2019s Liberation Front/Party (DHKP/C) were apprehended in Texas after crossing the U.S.-Mexico land border.\u00a0 Oddly, a judge recently ordered that two of the individuals be released, which the Secretary of Homeland Security described as not his \u201cpreference.\u201d\u00a0 And there\u2019s no evidence whatsoever that the Secretary either challenged or attempted to resist the order under his authority.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe Department of Homeland Security then lost track of the subjects, who were recommended for terrorist watch lists at the time of their apprehension, only to learn later that they fled to Canada, where they are now requesting asylum. \u00a0Read more on this and my reaction.\u00a0\nSIREN: JUDGE RULES OBAMA IMMIGRATION ORDER UNCONSTITUTIONAL\u2014A federal judge yesterday took a swipe at President Obama\u2019s plan to ease deportations for as many as 5 million illegal immigrants, ruling it unconstitutional.\u00a0 The significance of the ruling cannot be overstated and even though this is the first salvo in a legal battle that is sure to continue, the decision sets the stage and tone for an even bigger clash ahead.\u00a0\nA CIVICS 101 LESSON FOR THE WHITE HOUSE\u2014The judge overseeing the case ruled that by taking executive action to curb deportations, the President is violating the U.S. Constitution\u2019s guarantee of separation of powers and the \u201ctake care clause,\u201d which requires the executive branch to execute and enforce laws passed by Congress.\u00a0\nOMNIBUS CLARITY\u2014Legislation passed by Congress to fund the federal government over the next year, with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security, has been chided for funding the President\u2019s executive order.\u00a0 The bill does not fund amnesty, nor does it clear a lane for the President\u2019s plan.\u00a0\nThe nonpartisan Congressional Research Service\u2014a crucial resource available to members of the House and Senate\u2014stated that the President\u2019s plan could continue in the absence of an appropriation or during a government shutdown, due to the fact that program funding relies entirely on user fees.\u00a0 Either a change in law is required or funding must be withheld through alternate means.\u00a0\nHere\u2019s a bit of a primer, courtesy of the Washington Examiner: \u201cCan Congress defund \u2018executive amnesty?\u2019 It\u2019s not that simple.\u201d\nWORTH MENTIONING\u2014an amendment to deny funding in the Omnibus for the President\u2019s plan\u2014which I cosponsored\u2014was ruled out of order and therefore not offered during floor debate.\nTHE UPSIDE:\u00a0The legislation does fund the federal government through the rest of the fiscal year, but the Department of Homeland Security is funded only through January and February of the coming year.\u00a0\nWith new Senate leadership on deck\u2014and the presumption of favorable court rulings, with one in hand already\u2014the stage has been set for a confrontation on Homeland Security appropriations in the first months of the next legislative session that starts in January.\u00a0 So stay tuned.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nA NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF MT SOLEDAD\u00a0was written this week when legislation was sent to the President that includes a provision I offered to preserve the embattled San Diego veteran\u2019s memorial.\u00a0 For nearly three decades, the memorial has been contested in state and federal courts as a state-sponsored endorsement of religion.\u00a0 My provision transfers the memorial to the Mount Soledad Memorial Association, a private entity, and thus removes any association or ownership by the federal government.\u00a0\nThe Associated Press recently called the Mount Soledad fight one of the \u201cnation\u2019s longest-running church-state conflicts.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Once the President puts pen to paper and signs the legislation, which is on his desk at this very moment, the process for transferring the memorial can begin.\u00a0\u00a0 Is this the end of the conflict?\u00a0 Let\u2019s hope.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\nSERVING YOU:\u00a0Just a reminder, my offices are available to assist individuals and families on many levels.\u00a0 Having trouble with a federal agency?\u00a0 Need assistance navigating a federal program?\u00a0 Planning a trip to DC?\u00a0 My offices can help.\u00a0 All services\u2014with the exception of purchasing flags\u2014are provided at no cost.\u00a0 Check out my website at www.hunter.house.gov\u00a0for more information.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://hunter.house.gov/newsletter-you-wont-want-miss"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.3801110219210386, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}