Mock Con Republican Party Platform

MOCKCON Republican Party Platform

Published January 15, 2024

Copyright © 2024 by Mock Convention All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without express written permission of the publisher except in the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA, United States of America Published by the 28th Washington and Lee Mock Convention

Publishing 1

A note from Platform Chair, Claire Cerone To the Platform Committee, thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to this project and towards the predictive outcome of Mock Convention. Palmer, Drew, Clare, Will and John, you all made for an amazing team. Your work is appreciated, and you are all brilliant! I could not have done it without any of you. To the Political Department, especially Political Chair Foster Harris, thank you for the support, extra set of eyes, and advice throughout the platform writing process. You are a great team and I have really enjoyed working with all of you. To the rest of the Mock Con executive team, thank you for help with editing and formatting the platform – you all rock!

To anyone on the platform committee or myself spoke or met with to help inform the policy content of the platform, thank you endlessly for your expertise and time. Whether it was W&L alumni, Hill staffers, think tank experts, trade association staff, and much more, your knowledge is much appreciated and was essential for helping write the platform.

With thanks,

Claire Cerone Platform Chair

Many thanks to all those who contributed to the writing and editing of this platform.

Claire Cerone ‘24 Platform Chair

John Lee ‘24 Platform Committee

Clare O’Brien ‘24 Platform Committee

Foster Harris ‘24 Political Chair

Will Martin ‘24 Platform Committee

Drew Thompson ‘25 Platform Committee

2 Letter from the Editor

Palmer Van Tuyl ‘25 Platform Committee

TABLE OF CONTENTS Preamble Economic Policy Inflation A Post-Pandemic Economy Simple Taxes Republican Tax Principles Infrastructure Investments Protecting Small Businesses Trade Policy Global and Competitive America

6 6

Decreasing Economic Dependence on China

11

7 8 8 10

The Job Market

10 11

The Federal Reserve Digital Assets

12 13 14 14 15 16

Resisting the ESG Extremism

16

17 18

The Fourth Amendment

21

The Fifth Amendment

18 19 19 20

The Tenth Amendment

21 22

26 26

Energy Policy

28

30 30

Saving Social Security

34

Preserving D.C.

31 32

America in the Territories

34 35

The Constitution We The People The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch The Judicial Branch The First Amendment The Second Amendment

The Housing Market The Federal Workforce Banking Reform

The Electoral College Election Integrity

America’s Natural Resources Agriculture Policy Environmental Policy

Government Reform A Government for the People Balancing the Federal Budget Immigration and the Rule of Law Preserving Medicare and Medicaid

Health, Education, and Social Policy

41

Strengthening Police The Criminal Justice System

42 43

The Drug Crisis

44

Improving Higher Education

39 40

Technological Advancement

Title IX

41

Big Tech

45 45

47 48

China

50

North Korea

48 49 49 50

Asia Pacific

51 52

37

Personalized and Affordable Healthcare 37 Continuing Health Innovation 38 Education Principles

Foreign Policy Supporting Our Troops and Veterans The National Guard and Reserves Supporting Israel The Middle East Russia and Ukraine European Alliances

Attributions

Cybersecurity Cuba

17

23 24

Free Speech on Campuses

Marriage, Family, and Society

4 6

26 30

37

47

52 53

54

Table of Contents 3

PREAMBLE In 1976, Ronald Reagan delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention endorsing President Gerald Ford. In his speech, Reagan profoundly remarked on the importance of a party platform, asserting that “there are cynics who say that a party platform is something that no one bothers to read, and it doesn’t very often amount to much. Whether it is different this time than it has ever been before, I believe the Republican Party has a platform that is a banner of bold, unmistakable colors with no pale pastels.”

The Republican Party platform is a dedication to the American voter. It lays out the policies we will prioritize and accomplish with a Republican administration. It is a road map for the future. It invites every American to participate in a stronger, safer, and sounder America.

We are the party of a strong economy, a strong and safe nation, a future centered around freedom of expression, and a government that works only for the people.

We believe that the United States is a country like no other—a trademark of freedom and a defender against evil. As stated in the Declaration of Independence and our U.S. Constitution, all are created equal and endowed with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The U.S. Constitution is the founding document of our nation. It should never be replaced, rewritten, or reconstructed. It was crafted by the founders in a masterful way, made to withstand the test of time. Its core principles, the three branches of government, checks and balances, federalism, and prioritizing Americans and their rights, are equally as important now as they were generations ago. Today, these values are in peril and must be reinforced.

Political and economic freedom must be protected and should never be impeded by the federal government.

The government was made to work for the people, not the other way around.

American citizens are the ultimate stewards of the country’s natural resources. We vow to look after all of America, including rural communities, to promote economic growth.

We also promote peace. We must keep America safe both at home and abroad. Friendship, alliance, and cooperation are important values to our diplomatic mission, but we are prepared to deal with unnecessary and irreconcilable evil and violence as it may arise.

This platform lays out a path to making the U.S. more profitable, united, and prosperous, especially in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s reckless spending, record-high inflation, and domestic and foreign insecurity.

This platform lays out a path to making the U.S. more profitable, united, and prosperous, especially in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s reckless spending, record-high inflation, and domestic and foreign insecurity.

Our economy has become unfit to support the hardworking, taxpaying American citizen. The price of groceries, gas, and homeownership have all skyrocketed. It has become increasingly difficult to carry out basic tasks that should be easy for all Americans. Especially in a post-pandemic economy, it is important that we rebound and reclaim the vitality we once had under past Republican administrations.

We need an affordable, balanced economy. This starts with the federal budget; it must be managed and lowered. Irresponsible spending is too damaging, and we do not have the finances to support it. Our 4 Cerone

national debt must come down. This is nonnegotiable.

Abroad, the world around us is crumbling. Russia has invaded Ukraine. Hamas has launched a brutal terrorist offensive on our longtime ally Israel. China continues to threaten Taiwan. We must restore world order by maintaining and supporting our foreign allies. America must remain the strongest and most respected country on Earth.

The brave soldiers in our military are the strongest in the world and it is pivotal that we continue to support their camaraderie. It is our duty to serve those who have defended our country, including our revered veterans.

Our healthcare and social security systems are broken, underfunded, and in chaos. They no longer support the population they were written to support decades ago and need major reconstruction and reform.

Moreover, President Biden and the Democrat Party have decided to put their foot in the door and hamper health innovation by trying to negotiate drug prices. We vow to oppose cost-raising measures and to not interfere with the private sector.

The border crisis is another major pitfall of the current Administration. There is virtually no security at our southern border. The Democrats have failed to acknowledge the crisis at the border that is harming our country and our people. Among the first executive actions we will take with a Republican administration will be to secure our border.

As Republicans, we cannot allow this type of leadership to continue governing our country. This is why the platform is so important—it outlines needed changes and how they will be implemented by a Republican president. Reforms include restraining the federal government and allowing the states to fill the gaps the federal government cannot, allowing people’s rights to come before party politics, balancing the federal budget in a fiscally conservative manner, and much more. The remainder of this platform serves as a guide to the type of American growth we will cultivate.

To end where we began, President Reagan famously declared that “those who would read this letter a hundred years from now will know whether those missiles were fired. They will know whether we met our challenge.” So, to the American people, let this platform be a letter of accountability. Let it be the framework upon which the country will be governed for the next four years under a strong, principled, and trustworthy Republican President.

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ECONOMIC POLICY Inflation President Ronald Reagan once said that “we don’t have inflation because we are living too well. We have it because the government is living too well.” The bloated bureaucracy now threatens Americans’ well-being like never before. Democrats in Washington have passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) —senseless spending sprees which tore into the pocketbooks of Americans across the nation. The combined $2.6 trillion in spending is largely responsible for the record level of inflation which every American has experienced, causing everything from a rise in year-over-year rates of 8.6 percent to an astronomical 13.5 percent increase in food prices. While projecting that the ARP would create four million new jobs, its aimless spending has actually cost 1.8 million American jobs. The Biden Administration has increased spending by $9 trillion since President Biden’s inauguration, and the national debt has seen an enormous increase under his watch.

As our nation’s economy struggles to return to its Trump-era boom, President Biden’s actions have only worsened the recovery. Staggering levels of inflation now undermine American workers as real wages have gone down and prices have gone up due to reckless government spending. The Republican Party believes reducing such reckless spending and promoting policies of enterprise are the keys to spurring economic growth; combating Democrat-devised inflation is a key part of this endeavor.

The Republican Party believes reducing such reckless spending and promoting policies of enterprise are the keys to spurring economic growth; combating Democratdevised inflation is a key part of this endeavor.

The influence of Green New Deal radicals has led to anti-growth energy policies. The price of gasoline and oil, for transportation and heating, has skyrocketed in the wake of increasing dependence on imports for energy; our nation has become beholden to the whims of OPEC nations and subject to turmoil abroad.

The energy independence achieved by the Trump Administration has been gutted by naive and downright destructive liberal policies. By choosing to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline and focusing on unrealistic energy policies, the Biden Administration has outsourced our energy production and has helped hold the American people hostage to foreign conflict and influences. The average American is decimated by the result of these policies; paying more at the pump on their way to the store where they are then burdened by the “silent tax” on the most important household goods and food.

As Republicans, we believe that by focusing on curbing excessive government spending, initiating progrowth tax policies, and achieving energy independence we can straighten out the mess that this Democrat administration created. Biden’s overspending has mortgaged the stability of our nation’s economy for radical and futile ventures that disincentivize hard work. By passing disciplined budgets and targeted relief measures, as well as reinvigorating our domestic energy production, we can reverse the economic malaise caused by Biden’s bureaucratic bloat.

A Post-Pandemic Economy America’s economy is one of our most valuable assets, traditionally providing our country with jobs, prosperity, and economic independence. We believe a vibrant and unregulated free-market economy 6 Van Tuyl, Lee

gives all Americans the opportunity to succeed and live freely. However, in recent years Biden and the Democrats have carelessly managed the economy, instituting harmful COVID-19 lockdowns, and stifling its development and growth.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrat lockdowns, and aggravated by Biden’s presidency, the United States economy is still floundering. Since taking office, Biden’s economic measures, spearheaded by the massive American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, have only exacerbated the strained economy and hampered growth. The Democrats’ irresponsible spending plans increased inflation, decreased real wages, and caused Americans to suffer. Moreover, much of the relief funding—nearly $123 million of it—was lost, stolen or misused, resulting in a stunning ten percent of relief aid down the drain because of oversight shortcomings and an over-abundance of aid.

When America re-opened in the wake of the pandemic, it had the opportunity to recover from the devastating effects on our economy. Once businesses began to open, the unemployment rate dropped and people returned to the office, paving the way for a return to normality. However, the Biden Administration’s reckless spending and draconian COVID-19 policies have continued to jeopardize the economy.

Biden’s first major fiscal policy failure was the ARP, costing a whopping $1.9 trillion dollars. Rather than reduce extreme COVID-19 regulations and allow more Americans to return to work, the ARP’s irresponsible spending drastically increased inflation. The following year, Biden and the Democrats passed the IRA, another rash spending bill that did more harm than good to the American people and the economy. Both plans enacted by Biden and the Democrats have been catastrophic for the economy as their rash spending increased inflation by 14.9 percent. Combined with a 3.3 percent decrease in real wages since President Biden took office, Americans are worse off now than before the pandemic, and will continue to suffer economically.

The Republican Party understands the importance of a strong economy and calls for policies that restore responsible spending, save taxpayer dollars, put America first, and create prosperity for all. Biden and the Democrats’ continued spending has slowed our economy’s growth, to the detriment of Americans everywhere. We believe that a strong economy benefits all Americans and will implement measures that reduce superfluous government spending and regulations, allowing Americans to prosper, put more food on the table, and worry less about the price of gas.

Simple Taxes Republicans are proud to be the party of responsible spending that keeps hard-earned money in American pockets. We have long advocated for a simplified tax system to foster broad-based growth of the American economy. Republican leadership experienced a great victory for the American people when they helped pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 under President Trump. Implementing common-sense measures to decrease the tax rate on families and corporations improved American competitiveness and generated wealth for lower-income families.

Republican leadership experienced a great victory for the American people when they helped pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 under President Trump.

Implementing common-sense measures to decrease the tax rate on families and corporations improved American competitiveness and generated wealth for lower-income families.

O’Brien 7

After these Republican tax cuts, families’ tax rates went down, their wages increased, and income inequality decreased. The American job market grew and saw the lowest unemployment rate in fifty years and underemployment fell to its lowest recorded rate. Reimagining the previously broken tax system was not easy but was necessary to restore the economic opportunity that makes America exceptional.

Recent legislation has once again complicated the tax system and undone the strides made to uplift the economy. Higher taxes on corporations and individuals have not increased tax revenues, but instead put a larger burden on American families and stifled business growth and innovation. Inflation has made necessary expenses like groceries and utilities more expensive and stressed middle- and low-income households. Furthermore, it is irresponsible to increase the number of agents in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and complicate an already painfully inefficient and expensive bureaucratic agency. To bring back the flourishing economy of the Trump presidency, we must return to what we know works. We propose ending the expensive taxes on petroleum products that get passed on to consumers. We will ensure a fair tax system that does not excessively burden a few. We will help Americans understand where their taxes are going and streamline a backlogged process. By working together to prioritize growth and prosperity, we can return the strength of the American economy.

Republican Tax Principles First, we will resist efforts to impose a “wealth tax” on high-income individuals as well as any attempt to tax unrealized capital gains. Proposals favored by top Democrats—including President Biden—would raise revenue by taxing unsold investments. Under their plans, appreciation on an asset (e.g., stock in a company) would be taxed before the asset is sold, when the owner lacks the cash to pay a large tax bill and still faces the risk of depreciation. This would disincentivize investment and innovation because savers would be continually taxed for putting their money to work in the economy. Americans should not be punished for making investments and receiving returns—behavior essential to a prosperous economy. Instead, people should be encouraged to use their money to invest in startups, innovative businesses, and companies creating new jobs. Additionally, Americans have a right to bequeath hard-earned resources to heirs upon death. The estate tax puts multi-generational family farms and businesses in jeopardy of being broken up to pay a hefty tax bill to Uncle Sam. Because of this, we oppose increases in the estate tax rate and any attempt to lower the estate tax exemption.

Americans should not be saddled with excessive taxes during every economic transaction.

Americans should not be saddled with excessive taxes during every economic transaction. The federal government should not double tax people. Accordingly, any proposal for a federal sales tax or another method of taxation outside the current system of income taxes should be paired with the elimination of income taxes and the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment. Republicans also believe that participation in civic and religious life is important to a flourishing nation. To encourage that environment, Republicans will ensure that religious organizations, charities, and fraternal benevolent societies remain exempt from taxation and that any donations to those organizations will continue to be tax-deductible.

Infrastructure Investments America has always been a country on the move. Traveling by car, train, plane, and boat, Americans have seen and settled every part of our vast country, from sea to shining sea. Today, Americans rely on transportation infrastructure, like highways, bridges, and airports, built up over the past century. President Dwight D. Eisenhower pioneered America’s great cross-country road structure by creating the interstate highway system. President Ronald Reagan continued in the footsteps of Eisenhower by continuing to prioritize transportation investments. Since then, Republicans have a tradition of reforming and innovating 8 Thompson, Lee

America’s diverse transportation infrastructure to ensure that all Americans can continue to rely on our vast networks of transportation.

The highway is America’s preeminent transportation infrastructure system, and we must continue to develop, maintain, and expand it. To effectively upkeep and develop the highway system, the financing of the Highway Trust Fund must be reformed. Currently, the Highway Trust Fund—responsible for financing most of the federal government spending for highways and mass transit—derives its revenue from federal taxes on motor fuel, commonly known as the gas tax.

However, the revenue generated by the gas tax is not sufficient to fund the Highway Trust Fund and we must find better ways to finance the trust fund to ensure Americans can use their roads in the years to come. Furthermore, we must ensure that all Americans have access to good roads, especially those in Rural America, which contains seventy-one percent of public road lane-mileage and often lacks the same access to resources as urban communities.

Beyond the highways, we must ensure Americans can fly safely and reliably. Members of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are charged with safeguarding our national security and must always protect the safety of the American people. When traveling in the air, Americans deserve dependable and safe flights.

In December 2022, thousands of Americans were left stranded as major U.S. airlines canceled hundreds of flights—a crisis exacerbated by the Biden Administration’s lacking oversight and slow response. We will revise the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) guidelines to facilitate the responsible growth of the aerospace workforce and ensure the reliability, safety, and competitiveness of our aerospace industry.

It is also imperative that we do away with unnecessary spending and regulation. In many instances, states are better situated to address their specific transportation needs, often partnering with local private investors. Such collaboration is more effective and efficient. In the same vein, Amtrak is a massive burden on the taxpayers. It has operated at a loss since its creation in 1971 and is estimated to lose one billion dollars annually. We call for increased privatization of Amtrak and other similar ventures to end needless spending and reduce reliance on the federal government.

Moreover, we are the party for all of America, not just the urban parts. Republicans are dedicated to bringing economic growth to areas which the Democrat party routinely ignores. There is no flyover country in the eyes of the Republican Party; Rural America is the backbone of our nation.

Moreover, we are the party for all of America, not just the urban parts. Republicans are dedicated to bringing economic growth to areas which the Democrat party routinely ignores. There is no flyover country in the eyes of the Republican Party; Rural America is the backbone of our nation.

We will continue to close the rural-urban divide, particularly underserved areas with respect to industrialization and broadband expansion. One of our main policy points will be to continue to expand and improve national broadband maps and encouraging coordination between the federal, state, and local governments in providing broadband support to all parts of America. No matter where you live, you should have access to the internet. Access to the internet can lead to employment opportunities, better communication, expanded Telehealth options and better educational outcomes. It is as much of an economic issue as it is a technological one.

Rural America’s access to broadband is crucial. President Biden promised to bring affordable, reliable, and high-speed broadband to every American through his wasteful and failed American Jobs Plan (AJP). His Lee 9

priorities were skewed—the goal should be complete geographical access before high internet speeds. If even moderate internet speeds can reach the most rural parts of America, then there is a significant change and societal gain. As Republicans, we commit to eliminating any other barriers to broadband currently in place, and will push for local, state, and federal cooperation in securing competition and broadband access.

Protecting Small Businesses The Republican Party is largely known for its appreciation for and dependence on small businesses. Small businesses employ nearly half the entire American workforce, representing 43.5 percent of America’s GDP. During the 1920s, President Calvin Coolidge famously declared that “the business of America is business.” Small businesses have been the backbone of the American economy and are vital for prosperity in turbulent economic times. However, the Biden Administration’s record-high inflation and poor handling of the pandemic have been detrimental to the fate of small businesses in the U.S. Nearly seven in ten small business owners say that they have had to raise consumer prices to deal with rising input costs. The Federal Reserve has exercised its power in cooling the economy, but only a Republican administration can introduce policy that will address price hikes, workforce challenges, and COVID-19 hybrid policies.

As Republicans, we will introduce legislation to strengthen the Small Business Administration’s voice in small business policy, trade, and economic issues and limit federal government oversteps. The SBA, created in 1953 with the authority to assist small businesses, should operate in a more efficient, effective, and responsible manner. The IMPROVE the SBA Act and its many provisions will ensure proper oversight and guidelines for the organization.

Beyond financing and oversight, the importance of entrepreneurship should not be understated. The SBA’s many training and counseling programs should continue to provide low-cost, beneficial programs that inform individuals on financing, technology, exports, human resources, marketing, and other essential components of running and maintaining a successful franchise. Our economy would not be where it is without small businesses. Facilitating small business success will continue to create jobs and create competition in our free market economy.

Trade Policy A pillar of the Republican Party’s ideology is the commitment to both free and fair trade, which is critical to the health of the economy. As the party of free-market capitalism, we understand that the path to a strong economy is not barred with the roadblocks of irresponsible government interference. Unnecessary government intervention stifles innovation and prevents American prosperity. However, in our everglobalizing world, it is vital that the interests and security of the American people are protected and prioritized. The American worker is the cornerstone of American success, and it is the purpose of our institutions to protect their right to work and to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Additionally, we must protect ourselves from foreign actors, like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), who look to bring about our downfall through economic means. We must also utilize our trade policy as a means of preventing the theft of American intellectual property. This can only be accomplished through calculated protective tariffs placed upon malicious entities, such as those placed upon the CCP by the Trump Administration. Along with tariffs, it is important to negotiate better trade agreements with our partners and allies.

Better negotiated trade agreements does not mean a removal of the United States from the international economic community. We desire open and bountiful trade with partners equally committed to our ideals of freedom and liberalism. We believe this can be done in a mutually beneficial way with countries that share our values and commitment to fair and transparent trade. An example of this, the United States-MexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA). was adopted under the Trump Administration to replace the aged NAFTA. The USMCA—featuring clauses designed to protect our intellectual property and the American automotive 10 Cerone, Martin

industry—showcases the benefits fair trade agreements with reliable partners have on our economy.

Global and Competitive America Republican values include a steady reliance on businesses, both big and small. Increasing competition within the corporate world spurs job creation, innovation, research and development efforts, and economic growth.

Republican values include a steady reliance on businesses, both big and small. Increasing competition within the corporate world spurs job creation, innovation, research and development efforts, and economic growth. To help the economy flourish, we must encourage private investment to catapult American corporations and the power of our role in global markets. Alongside these improvements, we must remove the high corporate taxes and tariffs Democrats advocate for and remove strict and unnecessary price controls and regulatory burdens. Additionally, as new technologies emerge, it is both crucial and urgent we maintain our status as a competitive nation and come out ahead of other countries on these pressing issues.

Corporate taxes set back American businesses in the international community. We support the lowered tax rates of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which generated sound growth for the American public, small businesses, and larger corporations. These record low corporate tax rates resulted in an economic boom and a more competitive global America. Emerging technology, healthcare products, and energy developments are just a few of the examples where we lead in innovation. These tax reforms directly reject the high taxes the Biden Administration is promoting, which do nothing more than recklessly blow through hard-earned American dollars and finance wasteful government expenditures.

Higher corporate tax rates also discourage investment. Corporations and small businesses are financially hindered when they cannot use their revenues to increase wages, spur research and development programs, and expand their workforces. This also puts American corporations at a competitive disadvantage, on the ever-changing world stage where the threat of China is looming. We believe that the government should follow in the footsteps of other global advanced technologies that have significantly lowered corporate tax rates. The Biden Administration’s proposed 32.8 percent tax rate is dangerously compared to other countries rates. We must choose to prioritize American businesses and global competition by removing all unnecessary, Democrat-backed barricades and tariffs.

Decreasing Economic Dependence on China The 20th century was often called the “American Century.” As we’ve moved into the new millennium, various rapidly developing nations have put our predominance and prestige at risk. In no case is this truer than with the People’s Republic of China. Ruled with the oppressive, iron fist of President Xi Jinping and his Chinese Communist Party government, China has emerged as a formidable, severe threat to the United States, the Western World, and freedom.

Ruled with the oppressive, iron fist of President Xi Jinping and his Chinese Communist Party government, China has emerged as a formidable, severe threat to the United States, the Western World, and freedom.

The salience of this threat is due to the enormous leverage China wields vis-a-vis the United States. China serves as a critical source for consumer goods and commercial imports, and it also contains the hottest Cerone, Van Tuyl 11

market for multinational companies to take advantage of. The danger of our reliance on China and the Chinese economy is amplified by the rogue, oppressive actions taken by its government. It is for these reasons that the Republican Party seeks to end our nation’s dependence on China—and by extension the CCP—through policies that promote economic independence, self-sufficiency, and expanded domestic production capabilities to shore up our own nation’s strength.

Since 2010, our imports from China have increased by twenty percent, totaling nearly half a trillion dollars in 2019. A look back ten years further reveals a jaw-dropping statistic that underscores the speed at which China has developed a foothold in our economy: since 2001, American imports from China are up 325 percent. Our leaders—from both sides of the aisle—have failed to address this growing reliance and the burgeoning threat it entails. The approach that free trade leads to free people was a valid assumption in the 80s and 90s; but as China shows, it has not worked.

What we need now is not just free trade, but fair trade. NAFTA and like agreements have allowed American manufacturing and production to be hollowed out from the inside, fleeing overseas to nations like China and bringing good-paying American jobs with them. Furthermore, American investment in China has come at the cost of not financing growth at home. China also controls much of the global supply chain structure, possessing a significant chunk of shipping and ship-building capability which has the potential to hold America and the rest of the world hostage. Lastly, China’s intelligence apparatus has progressed rapidly, outpacing our own and even expanding into the United States in the forms of insidious organizations and spy capabilities. As Republicans, we believe that it is imperative for America to take more aggressive action to curb the pervasive influence of China and the anti-democratic ideas which accompany it. Imposing tariffs on Chinese goods and providing tax incentives for corporations to invest in the United States, as implemented by President Trump, provide a good starting point, but more needs to be done. Moreover, we need to reduce the ability of China to interfere with global shipping and supplies, interference which causes delayed goods and higher prices for Americans.

By investing in maritime infrastructure at home and working with cooperative allies abroad, we can help to mitigate the extent of China’s malign influence in global shipping networks. We also need to ramp up our cybersecurity defenses and capabilities, and we need to be swift and decisive in shutting down potential Chinese subversive efforts in our sovereign territory. These actions, in tandem with similar responses from America’s allies, can help stem the tide of Chinese economic stranglehold and expansionist aggression.

Dependence on China imperils our ability to stand firmly against threats to free nations, such as Taiwan and other East Asian democracies, as well as human rights in the case of Uyghurs and political dissidents.

We Republicans propose a vision for developing a strong, updated policy with respect to China, consisting of modern proposals for the modern economic and diplomatic terrain.

The Job Market The Republican Party has long been the party of empowering workers. A strong economy provides opportunities for those Americans seeking occupation - a fact shown by the successes of Republican-led governments at the state level. All ten of the states with the job markets that have recovered the most since the COVID-19 pandemic have majority Republican legislatures, and eight have Republican governors.

Additionally, ten of the twelve states with the lowest unemployment rates have Republican governors.

President Biden and Democrats have falsely lauded the cooling of the American economy and the corresponding decrease in job growth in recent months as a solution to solving their self-induced inflation problems. However, the President forgets that millions of Americans are still looking for work, including many recent college graduates, as employers are drastically decreasing their number of employees to keep up with the rising costs of doing business.

The current administration offers no solution to this growing crisis. Democrats believe that this slowed growth is the best that America can do. We refute this claim. Through business-friendly economic policies 12 Cerone, Martin

and sound leadership, American workers can flourish. They deserve flexibility, better education, and fair wages. We can bolster the American economy, creating many more jobs for Americans.

Through business-friendly economic policies and sound leadership, American workers can flourish. They deserve flexibility, better education, and fair wages. We can bolster the American economy, creating many more jobs for Americans.

Additionally, we will continue the “right to work” laws championed by President Reagan, that are designed to limit unions from forming and to ensure workers have privacy of work rights. The Biden Administration cannot keep workers in order. His pro-union attitude is detrimental to the economy. Over the past four years, we have seen waves of worker strikes that have plagued several industries during his presidency, from autoworkers to screenwriters. We need policies that will move power out of union hands. The more power unions have, the more damaging it is to the economy—as evidenced by President Biden’s presidency ridden with strikes and worker discontentment. Biden’s industrial policies are too lenient and his appointees to the National Labor Relations Board give unions too much autonomy, including holding elections and less power for the companies to block their actions. We must restore the company-friendly rules passed under the Trump Administration.

The Housing Market President Biden vowed to reduce the cost of housing when he took office and has done the very opposite.

Instead, he brought inflation to a forty year high which hit all hard-working Americans. Nearly half of all renters are struggling because they spend at least thirty percent of their income on housing. Of the nearly 1.2 million rental owners today, 1.1 million spent over half of their income on housing. Mortgage rates are through the roof, at their highest level since 2007. Construction of new homes, particularly in the south and the west, has slowed since January 2021. These statistics are frightening. The American people are struggling the most from these soaring prices, especially the middle class.

Biden’s $2 trillion COVID stimulus bill—the American Rescue Plan—hit the housing market particularly hard and failed to do any “rescuing.” It shoveled trillions of federal dollars into the economy, which distorted housing demands. This caused too much money to chase an insufficient number of properties.

Average home prices have skyrocketed to around $100,000 a home since Biden assumed office. This is troubling because it hits families earning lower incomes the hardest. As Republicans, it is our duty to provide Americans a safe place to raise children, to retire and to live. These ideals go all the way back to the idea of the American dream, and the success brought along with the 2017 Republican tax cuts, which lowered inflation, spurred real wage growth, and prompted housing affordability. Americans deserve to experience the American Dream—raising children, safe retirement, and caring neighborhoods.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) must pull its weight in reforming and more efficiently regulating the housing market to meet consumer demands. It needs more authority to increase the quantity of homes and rentals, whilst decreasing costs. The current system—with government enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—support more than $13.4 trillion in outstanding single-family residential mortgage debt and $1.9 trillion in multi-family residential mortgage debt. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are responsible for a large portion of the debt and have already been bailed by taxpayers before. Their role in the housing and securities markets should be decreased; it is wasteful and no longer self-sufficient. They do not prioritize the taxpayer and instead prop up wealthy investors and shareholders.

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The Federal Workforce The federal workforce has been hobbled by the band-aid policies for the better part of three years. Fully unshackling our government from the burdens of remote work and archaic COVID-era policies is the only way to ensure that federal agencies and administrations can adequately serve the American people. We must take this first step to remodel our nation’s civil service to become more efficient, competent, and accountable. Through greater oversight and common-sense reforms, we can trim the fat of the federal bureaucracy, saving our taxpayers time at the Social Security office and money in their pocketbooks.

We believe that it is necessary for a government to provide essential services and needs that would otherwise be left unfulfilled by the market. The value of some governmental services is not a blank check for profligate spending and bureaucratic expansion. While we admit that this problem was a bipartisan creation, we are currently the only party willing and able to tackle this insidious development. There has been an inverse relationship between the efficiency of the government and its size. From 1952 to 1972, for instance, employment at the Department of Agriculture increased by about fifty percent while the number of farms in the country fell by half. This trend manifests across nearly all federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service. Identifying this problem is one step, but solving it is another.

We Republicans have put forward plans for accomplishing these goals. The first step, as we have said, is to root out the remnants of remote work in the federal government. The pandemic—by the Biden Administration’s own admission—is over and so should come the end of work-from-home in the federal workforce. Taxpayers ought to receive prompt and quality service from federal employees, not a perpetual voicemail and offices disjointed by remote work. Therefore, House Republicans have passed legislation, namely the SHOW UP Act, which aims to revert our workforce policies to a pre-COVID era, and to commission studies to examine the efficiency of remote work policies.

We have proposals that will address the administrative bloat and endless red tape that have hampered our government’s ability to function. Our government needs to work smarter, not harder. By eliminating non-essential government positions like the agents mentioned above, we kill two birds with one stone.

We are both decluttering the working process of the federal government and removing excess weight for our taxpayers to carry. Furthermore, entrenched bureaucrats like Anthony Fauci benefit under our current system, which allows for officials to coast through decades in the government and into a retirement padded by a generous pension with little to no oversight and accountability. Americans should not be lining the pocketbooks of bureaucrats with their hard-earned money. Strengthening limits on bureaucratic salary and working limits can continually bring new, innovative life into the federal workforce, leaving behind the stale status quo created by complacency.

As Republicans, we firmly believe that the government that governs best governs least.

As Republicans, we firmly believe that the government that governs best governs least. That said, we recognize the importance of many services which the government provides, and the millions of citizens who rely on them. That is even more reason to ensure that our government runs efficiently and attentively, with genuine care to the needs of constituents. This is why we must engage in common-sense reforms to facilitate a functional system.

Banking Reform Republicans believe in preserving a diffuse, robust banking system capable of meeting the financial services needs of the American people. Worryingly, last year saw the second, third, and fourth largest bank failures in U.S. history. The turmoil was driven by a variety of causes, namely poor bank management and 14 O’Brien, Thompson

interest rate increases exacerbated by the persistent inflation unleashed by Democrats’ spending frenzy.

Unfortunately, the post-bank-failure self-assessments produced by the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) came to exactly the wrong conclusion: that more failures can be prevented by increasing the regulatory burden on banks of all sizes.

Their findings ignore that financial regulatory agencies already possessed the powers necessary to correct wayward banks. Indeed, a report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that regulators did not “take adequate steps to address” dangers of which they were fully cognizant. The Federal Reserve System and FDIC could have prevented the failure. Rather than entrusting inept regulators with further power, Republican leadership will hold regulators accountable by requiring additional transparency and a return to the core principles of safety and soundness regulation. Accordingly, Republicans will support bills requiring Federal banking agencies to submit regular reports to Congress detailing their supervisory activity.

Republicans oppose any efforts to further regulate banks, especially proposals that apply one-size-fits-all regulation. Under the current regulatory regime, bank supervision and reporting requirements are tailored to the size of the bank, an approach that provides important relief to community and regional banks and allows them to compete with larger money center banks. Additional regulation will increase bank consolidation and create a banking system wholly dependent on a few too-big-to-fail banks, institutions which often engage in riskier behavior than smaller competitors. Preserving regional and community banks is therefore critical to ensuring a healthy U.S. financial system.

America’s 3,900 plus community banks extend credit crucial to small businesses and farmers. These important institutions provide thirty-six percent of small-business loans and thirty-one percent of farm-sector debt. Unlike larger banks, they can better use relationship-based information when judging whether to grant a loan, making them important lines of credit for small and local businesses which may face difficulties in securing affordable financing from larger financial institutions. Their importance is underscored by recent research that finds lower levels of small business lending in areas without community banks. Besides diversifying the U.S. financial system, community banks provide crucial on-theground credit coverage to America’s small businesses, making their protection a Republican priority.

The Federal Reserve Republicans believe that the Federal Reserve System was designed to steward the economy based on two principles: maintaining price stability and achieving maximum employment. Meeting both goals creates conditions of economic prosperity for all Americans, and the Fed cannot accomplish its core mission when distracted by partisan political issues. The Fed’s mission focus, concerningly, is being disrupted by wokeists inside and outside the Federal Reserve. Liberal activists, frustrated by the unpopularity of their beliefs and inability to shepherd their policies through Congress, are attempting to hijack the Fed and other financial regulators to advance their policy priorities.

In 2022, for example, House Democrats passed the Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equality Act, a proposal—endorsed by President Biden—which would provide special benefits to minority-owned banks and require consideration of racial equity in Fed decision making.

Even more concerning is the woke sentiment within the Federal Reserve itself. Amidst the racial uproar of 2020, many Fed officers / governors (?) prioritized securing maximum employment for minority groups, contributing to their inability to accept that persistent inflation was not “transitory.” More recently, the president of the San Francisco Fed was too infatuated with leftist trends to foresee and prevent the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank—an institution she was charged with supervising. Rather than pursuing research related to their legal mandate, America’s Federal Reserve banks are increasingly devoting research to activist fads: twenty percent of Fed research papers examined activist topics in 2021, a fifteen percentage-point increase from 2007.

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Americans must be assured that the economy’s stewards are not susceptible to the whims of the political left. Republicans will accordingly provide extensive oversight to ensure Fed officials remain on task.

Additionally, Republicans will consider ways to improve Fed transparency as well as broader restructuring to make wayward regional banks more accountable to the American people whom they serve.

Digital Assets The U.S. has long been dominant in global finance. U.S. preeminence is being undermined, however, by an unclear digital assets regulatory structure that is actively pushing financial innovation overseas.

Republicans support legislation to clarify digital asset regulation, giving innovators and consumers alike the confidence needed to make the U.S. home to the next generation of financial services. Digital assets, namely stablecoins, are currently plagued by a regulation by enforcement mentality at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other federal financial regulators. Both problems inhibit consumer trust and create uncertainty for innovators, driving them away from the U.S. and into foreign markets.

Stablecoins, unlike more volatile forms of cryptocurrency, are backed by other financial instruments such as the U.S. dollar or a commodity. Although they are unlikely to wholly displace the present financial system, stablecoins could perform useful niche functions in the U.S. economy. With the economic role of cryptocurrency yet to be determined, the U.S. must support an environment open to further innovation.

To create a sound regulatory basis for innovation, Republicans will provide regulatory clarity to stablecoin issuers, including requirements to back stablecoins with high quality assets on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Moreover, Republicans will clarify that stablecoin are not securities, ending the overreach of the SEC. With sensible regulation, Republicans will facilitate effective, well-run stablecoin markets that will encourage innovation.

Resisting the ESG Extremism Americans should rest assured that their savings will not be involuntarily hijacked by activists advancing their own social and political preferences rather than the tried-andtrue goal of capitalism—profits for shareholders.

Americans should rest assured that their savings will not be involuntarily hijacked by activists advancing their own social and political preferences rather than the tried-and-true goal of capitalism—profits for shareholders. Many fund managers have recently become unmoored from that traditional focus; instead, when deciding where to invest, they fixate on measures of how well firms meet the vague and conflicting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals set by progressive elites. Satisfying a woke agenda unsurprisingly imposes costs unrelated to firms’ core business activities, making dubious any claims that strong ESG performance boosts profits.

Republicans will ensure that Americans’ savings are not being put to alternate uses that harm the interests of everyday investors. Accordingly, Republicans will change Department of Labor rules to prevent pension fund managers from investing based off ESG criteria. Republicans will also stop the complicity of the Security and Exchange Commission in advancing ESG interests. Under Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC has proposed rules which would expedite coups by activist investors and thereby hold other shareholders hostage to their woke agenda. Furthermore, the SEC is pushing to require firms to submit extensive climate-related disclosures, a move which oversteps their authority. The SEC is a financial regulator, not a climate regulator. Republicans will oppose their recent proposals and nominate commonsense commissioners who appreciate the limits of regulatory authority.

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THE CONSTITUTION We The People For more than two centuries, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence have been the guiding documents for the administration of our republic. Over the course of U.S. history, the broader principles and ends of government have been understood by our elected executives and legislators. Government was the instrument of the people, the concentrated locus through which our will could be fully executed.

However, the past four years of Democrat governance have shown us that this is no longer the case.

Democrats in Washington have repeatedly sought to trample on Americans’ constitutional rights, showing little regard for our founding documents and even less regard for their authors. They fail to pay even customary lip service to the heroism of our founders, who are now relegated to “colonizers” and “enslavers” in a revisionist effort to reject their timeless wisdom and, by extension, invalidate the American experiment.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we restore the ideas of good governance and limited government to our nation. We must stand firm for the principles for which millions died and millions more can live, and that starts with recognizing the role and scope of government in the United States.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we restore the ideas of good governance and limited government to our nation. We must stand firm for the principles for which millions died and millions more can live, and that starts with recognizing the role and scope of government in the United States.

In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan: “We are a nation with a government—not the other way around.”

This recognition is essential to understanding how our country is uniquely designed to function. The Democrats prefer submission to vaguely defined “experts” operating well outside their narrow areas of knowledge. Entrenched in their opaque bureaucracy, government agencies have become the vehicles through which our freedoms have gradually been whittled away, along with the proper channels to ensure their accountability. This is evident in so-called “public health experts” exercising expanding jurisdiction over areas as wide-ranging as rent control, border security, and race relations—all in the name of “public safety” during the COVID-19 pandemic. John Adams once said that our country is “a nation of laws, not men.” This truism is under threat if we cede more and more of our individual choices to the higher power of bureaucratic expertise. This is just one of many examples illustrating a government run amok.

One of the essential principles of our system, imagined in the Federalist Papers and enshrined in the Constitution, is the separation of powers. James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 51 that “ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” For the first two years of his administration, President Biden found a Democrat-controlled Congress willingly hand over much of its power over to the Executive. Even now, with a divided government, the President is attempting to circumvent both Congressional and Judicial authority.

In no place is this more evident than in the executive orders President Biden has signed, from the disastrous student loan bailout to the suspension of funds to states that are unwilling to go along with the Democrats’ radical gender ideology. The guardrails of our Constitutional system have not stopped a fanatical agenda from attempting to achieve its destructive results.

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The Executive Branch Article II of the Constitution places the President of the United States as the chief executive of our government. When designing the executive branch, the founders tactfully balanced the powers of the president with the other branches to ensure that he would not overstep his prerogative nor abuse his power.

As the Republican Party, we advocate for Presidents to honor the powers set forth by the Constitution and serve the people of the United States. The current executive has not honored this commitment. The weaponization of the executive departments and agencies under the Biden Administration is unacceptable and is a clear overreach of executive authority.

Under the Constitution, the President is responsible for executing and enforcing the laws, appointing federal officials, leading the military, and representing the country on the world stage. Presidents must be diligent, for their position involves many distinct responsibilities including acting under pressure, time management, and most importantly, strong leadership. Over time, executive authority has grown, as past Democrat presidents have sought to bypass Congress and act on their own accord.

Look no further than the Biden Administration, which acted unilaterally with disastrous consequences on important issues, such as securing the border, expanding public health, and forgiving federal loans. A surge in illegal immigration that erupted after Biden’s election resulted in a border crisis, yielding increased drug smuggling and human trafficking. Rather than address the issue and secure the border, President Biden has abused his power by using parole to allow millions of foreigners to enter the United States without consulting Congress. Up until May 2023, the Biden Administration used the pandemic as an excuse to overstep its constitutional authority to force masking, establish vaccine mandates, and increase consumer dependence on the federal government. Lastly, Biden’s student loan bailout, signed without the consent of Congress, would have cost Americans billions of dollars and was rightfully ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. These issues affect all Americans and should be solved via the legislative process set forth by the Constitution, not by a despotic Biden Administration seeking to usurp the will of the people. It is imperative that the President sticks to his prescribed duties in the Constitution and acts in accordance with the value of “for the people by the people.” A Republican president will no doubt honor this commitment.

The Legislative Branch As prescribed in the Constitution, Congress is the “first branch,” of our government and is the sole entity responsible for enacting legislation, declaring war, confirming or denying presidential appointments, and launching investigations. We must restore Congress to a body that can carry out these functions, and in a way that is timely and efficient. Considering the many recent international and domestic crises the U.S. now faces, it is even more imperative that Congress operate as it is outlined in the Constitution.

Congress once was a bipartisan, collaborative, and participatory institution. Now it is in shambles, tainted by its failure to get much done and its low public approval ratings. Additionally, members of Congress are much less satisfied now than they ever have been, causing lower return rates for running for reelection.

Public disapproval is particularly alarming because the American people should want to preserve and protect the system upon which our country was founded. As Republicans, we believe it is important to restore public faith in Congress. The more Americans who do not trust the government, the more challenging it is to restore lawmaking power in the hands of elected officials.

As Republicans, we believe it is important to restore public faith in Congress. The more Americans who do not trust the government, the more challenging it is to restore lawmaking power in the hands of elected officials 18 Lee, Thompson, Cerone

Supporting and trusting the body that is responsible for passing legislation will facilitate the efficiency of our Republican government.

Going forward, Congress must make several changes to restore legitimacy and public trust. This includes reacting to crises in a timely and appropriate manner, keeping the budget balanced and in check, and responding to longer-term items as well as urgent ones. Section 9 of Article I mandates that the power of the purse belongs to Congress. We must keep it this way, and away from agencies staffed with bureaucrats.

The executive branch must be limited to its prescribed constitutional duties and not have the ability to collect and spend money from fees and other revenues.

There are structural changes to be made as well. Following 1994, our party has called for the installment of term limits upon Members of Congress. Time and time again, our calls for a vote have been shot down by the Democrat Party. In response to consistent obstruction, we have taken it upon ourselves to implement regulation upon our own party leadership by placing term limits on our own committee chairs. If the Democrat Party holds significant power in Congress, the ideal of a citizen legislature will be confined to our party’s leadership.

The Judicial Branch Republican-appointed judges and justices are ending courts’ activist posture, returning issues to our elected representatives. In so doing, Republican appointees restore balance amongst the three branches of government, and Republicans will continue selecting judges who respect legislative and executive authority.

Restored balance, however, enrages the left because they know that the American people do not accept the radical policies once imposed by the courts. Upset by long-overdue rulings, progressives are engaged in a deliberate, admitted attempt to undermine the Supreme Court. Leftists illegally picketed outside justices’ homes, attempting to intimidate our highest court after the unprecedented leak of the opinion that eventually overturned Roe v. Wade. One man attempted to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh. Fortunately, law enforcement captured him before he could commit physical harm. We unequivocally condemn illegal intimidation of any justice, unlike President Biden and his fellow Democrats. We applaud justices who apply the law without bowing to pressure or fear tactics.

The left also seeks to delegitimize the court through a smear campaign aimed at conservative justices. They reuse long-dismissed accusations to convince people that the Supreme Court is unethical and corrupt. Yet, all nine justices signed a strong statement explaining how they submit themselves to ethical scrutiny like that faced by federal district and circuit judges. The left’s aspersions are unreasonable and unsubstantiated, and Republicans will protect the court by setting the record straight.

But most insidious of all is the Democrats’ attempt to pack the court. Their proposal to add four new liberal justices would overtly politicize the Supreme Court and destroy its legitimacy as an impartial body.

Ensuring the high court’s integrity is important to Republicans, and Republicans will accordingly oppose all court-packing efforts. The current nine justices do just fine.

The First Amendment: Freedom of Speech and Religion “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Our nation was founded on the fundamental right to practice one’s religion, and many of our forefathers fled their native lands to escape the persecution of their beliefs. The Republican Party remains a firm O’Brien, Martin 19

defender of the right of Americans to practice their beliefs as they see fit. In contrast are the actions of President Biden, who has restricted our right to religious freedom by limiting funding for religious community facilities to undergo infrastructure renovations while at the same time cultivating a climate that puts religious Americans at a heightened risk of violent attack.

Our forefathers understood that the right to freedom of religion was inherently connected to the right to freedom of speech. The Democrat Party, using its “woke” agenda, seeks to infringe upon Americans’ right to freedom of speech. As the party of freedom, we stand against these attacks on free speech. We understand that an important aspect of free speech is the right of Americans to donate to causes or campaigns they deem worthy. Political speech is speech nonetheless and should be protected as such. Restrictions on campaign funding only benefit well-known and incumbent politicians and do not allow lesser-known figures to compete in national elections. As strong believers in free competition, we believe that restrictions on campaign financing hinder our electoral system, which promotes competition that allows for the best candidates to win.

As supporters of free speech, we stand against the use of union dues and other compulsory payments for political funding. Every American possesses the right to contribute to the candidates they support and thus cannot be forced to fund the candidates they do not. Every American has the right to choose how they spend their earnings, and compulsory campaign funding is a direct violation of our First Amendment right to free speech.

The Second Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

America was founded by gun owners who understood it was their duty as free individuals to stand against the forces of tyranny. The removal of the right to bear arms is the first step an authoritarian government takes to seize power over its citizens.

Americans hold the right to defend themselves, their loved ones, and their property from those who wish harm upon them. We stand against attempts to limit the ability of law-abiding citizens to purchase and possess firearms. We also stand with sellers and manufacturers who have had unjust lawsuits filed against them. The Republican Party advocates for constitutional carry statutes. Additionally, we recognize magazine capacity bans for what they are: unconstitutional. We stand against attacks on the AR-15 and similar rifles, understanding them to be semi-automatic sporting rifles and not the weapons of mass destruction that pundits and propagandists make them out to be.

President Biden’s attacks on the Second Amendment are outright unconstitutional and should be seen as a threat to our democratic system.

President Biden’s attacks on the Second Amendment are outright unconstitutional and should be seen as a threat to our democratic system. His administration’s constant spread of misinformation regarding firearms infers either a complete lack of understanding of the subject on the part of the President or the malicious attempts of a would-be despot to exert further control over the American people. Further, President Biden’s attempts to instill red flag laws, designed to take firearms away from American citizens, along with the ATF’s reclassification of pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles, are not only unconstitutional and a violation of due process but also a slippery slope towards an illiberal government. As free Americans, we abhor these attacks on our freedom and stand firmly against them.

Throughout our nation’s history, it has been the rifle that has defended the ideals of democracy and liberty 20 Martin

from those who have wished to do away with them. As proponents of freedom and our constitutional rights, we understand the importance of the Second Amendment and will do whatever is within our power to ensure it can remain our nation’s greatest bulwark against tyranny.

The Fourth Amendment: Privacy “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.”

Government overreach and interference come in many forms. Our founders knew this and adopted the Fourth Amendment to assure the “right of the people to be secure in their houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” Technology has made our lives more efficient and opened our horizons but has simultaneously made new vulnerabilities. We must continue to apply the principles of the Fourth Amendment in the modern economy and online social sites. We believe in balancing American citizens’ inherent and unbreakable rights with legitimate government interests to secure our nation.

Our financial system has substantially changed, and banking is now often done online. The Data Privacy Act proposed by House Republicans will create new regulations to protect consumers for years to come.

It will ensure that the consumer is educated on how their data is collected and give them the option to end collection at their discretion. When consumers share private information with one institution, they have a right to know if it is subsequently reshared. They must also be assured that there is no unnecessary collection and that their information is used only for the purpose stated by the institution. This is possible by making the privacy terms understandable rather than purposefully confusing with complicated legal jargon. Passing this bill into law would assure citizens that no matter where they are or conduct their financial business, the entire country will be a safe place for their information.

Consumers are not the only ones who need protection in this age. Tech companies have developed predatory algorithms to addict children to their platforms and collect information on them. We must not allow companies or other foreign powers to prey upon American children for their gain. We believe in stricter regulations on these tech companies that actively violate the privacy rights of innocent children. We call for legislation that would restrict the addictive properties of online sites and add data protections for minors. We must stand up for the security of Americans as a part of ensuring national security.

The Fifth Amendment: The Right to Life “Nor person shall be (…) deprived of life, liberty, or property.”

Since the 1920s, over 1 billion lives have been lost to abortion, with 73 million lost annually. Innocent, unprotected, and unborn lives must be protected. As Republicans, we celebrate Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization as a victory for life and a return to the values stated in the Constitution. We are vehemently against any efforts from the Democrats to destroy innocent life and violate the Constitution.

We must protect the unborn.

The Biden Administration has made it its mission to advance radical and extreme abortion policies since assuming office. Some of Biden’s efforts to thwart pro-life policies include using the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to provide abortion pills, undermining federal power by restricting state’s rights, and introducing legislation that risks the health of children and mothers by promoting abortions. President Biden is also using other tools— the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and executive orders to fund abortion measures. This is unacceptable. The government should not be providing any sort of subsidy for over-the-counter abortion medicine or birth control, nor should it assist with state-to-state travel. The Dobbs decision reverted the legality of abortion back to the state level. We support and commend the Supreme Court for the Dobbs’ decision to give it back to the states, and we are committed to continuing the O’Brien, Cerone 21

fight for life at the state and local levels.

As Republicans, we must adhere to our values of protecting mothers, children in need, families, and individuals. We will focus on prioritizing and facilitating adoption and motherhood, rather than ending innocent lives. We commend the heroic individuals, families, and organizations that provide resources for expecting mothers and their children. With this, we strongly support federal funding to be redirected to programs that promote family health and raising children safely, instead of going towards Planned Parenthood. Similarly, any physician, nurse, doctor, or medical personnel who does not support abortion should be protected and allowed to express their pro-life beliefs in the provision of care.

The Fifth Amendment: Intellectual Property “No person shall be (…) nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

Guaranteed ownership is essential for a prosperous economy. When ownership is not respected, trade becomes meaningless, production becomes pointless, and technological advances will cease. Ownership— the right to derive value from a good—is fortunately protected by the 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Republicans will ensure that protection is upheld as property rights face foreign and domestic challenges.

Foreign markets provide an incentive for U.S. firms and inventors to develop new products and ideas for sale abroad. Unfortunately, the value of American ingenuity is diminished when foreign actors— particularly those in the People’s Republic of China— poach the fruit of our labors. Chinese firms steal American research, pirate American software, and counterfeit the products of American brands, all costing American firms between 250 and 600 billion dollars per annum. Republicans will confront the Chinese Communist Party and demand that Chinese firms respect—and pay for—the intellectual property of hardworking Americans.

At home, American’s right to property is challenged whenever localities, states, or the federal government seize land under eminent domain or impose environmental regulations which devalue a property.

Republicans believe that landowners should receive just compensation when their property is taken for a compelling public benefit, and Republicans support legislation which would prohibit the seizure of land for economic development projects.

Artificial intelligence presents another challenge to Americans’ property. Although use of copyrighted materials to train large language models likely falls under fair use doctrine, AI-generated parodies of songs, images, and other forms of intellectual property may violate copyright law. Republicans are committed to further studying the issue, providing regulatory guidance and legislation to ensure that the fundamental framework of the creative economy remains in place.

The Tenth Amendment: Federalism “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Across our nation’s history, the tension between local and federal governments is a recurrent theme.

Deciding what is the prerogative of officials in Washington and what should be left to representatives at home is a difficult balance to strike. While some matters, such as national defense and international agreements are undeniably the purview of the federal government, most problems facing Americans, from 22 Thompson, Van Tuyl

education to protecting the right to life, are local issues which require local solutions.

This strand of thinking extends back to our founding documents, mostly prominently in the 10th Amendment which states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution... are reserved to the States... to the people.” This centuries old statement of federalism is not a relic of a bygone era but rather the observation of a universal truth in societies: some tasks need collective action, but most are most easily resolvable in a considered, cognizant, and caring manner. And these qualities are most apparent in people who are at the front lines— people who are affected by these issues and are most qualified to address these issues.

Not only is federalism the most practical response to issues of power delegation, but it is also the most principled. As Republicans we believe that the ultimate source of power in government is derived from the people, who invest authority in a collective body for the end of their own security, prosperity, and liberty. It is therefore only right that the government wields only the power needed to complete its most urgent and fundamental tasks, and not anymore.

Unfortunately, today in America our elected officials no longer recognize the sanctity of the 10th Amendment nor the essential purpose of government which it underpins. The ever-expanding state now sticks its nose into issues which it is not needed and not wanted. A one-size-fits-all policy on social issues, economic issues, and other domestic matters have been either implemented or proposed by Democrats and their bureaucratic counterparts. This must end. We believe that the tide of government growth must be stemmed. One potential remedy for the problem lies in funding. Money talks and funding has the power to coerce and cajole those who are dependent on it. This is why we support a “block grant” program of doling out funding back to the states as they know how to best allocate it.

We Republicans are firmly anchored to the principles of federalism and the acknowledgment of the important role state and local governments play in shaping the best policies for their citizens. Furthermore, federalism does not only serve to separate government power but also to dilute it; returning influence and a seat at the table to the people, without whom there would be no government in the first place. President Reagan put it best when he said that “the power, the money, and the responsibility in this country begins and ends with the people and not with some cinder block building in Washington, D.C.” We must remain committed to this principle if our country is to function as a democratic republic and not a technocratic experiment.

The Electoral College Representation was one of the core values instilled in the Constitution by the Founding Fathers during the creation of our great nation. In crafting the Constitution, the Founding Fathers sought to balance popular sovereignty with the prevention of tyranny of the majority and the protection of minority rights. The result was the Electoral College, a representative system of electors that ensures smaller states and rural areas have a voice while effectively weighing the size of larger urban cities and states.

The Electoral College was a carefully planned system designed to ensure proper representation for Americans everywhere. The founders intended to preserve Federalism, giving each state the chance to have a fair impact on choosing the president. The Electoral College also ensures that presidential candidates address large portions of the American electorate rather than singularly focusing on large population centers. Since its establishment at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Electoral College has served as a foundation for American democracy, contributing to the stability and legitimacy of our elections.

The Constitution outlines the procedures for the election of a president with the Electoral College. The number of electors each state gets is determined by the state’s Congressional representation, which includes two Senators per state plus the number of House members from the state. After Election Day, the electors for each state meet and vote, and the candidate who reaches 270 votes, a simple majority, is elected Lee 23

president. Any questions about election integrity must be brought forward, adequately investigated, and debated in full. If no candidate achieves a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives chooses the President, while the Senate selects the Vice President.

In recent years, the Electoral College has been attacked by extremist Democrats in favor of the popular vote. The Electoral College can only be modified with an amendment. Yet, proponents of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and other plans to alter the procedures seek to bypass the Constitution.

These attacks undermine the electoral system, stability, and fair representation set forth by the founders in the Constitution. The current electoral system best represents the American electorate, representing rural voters, balancing state populations, and bringing stability to our elections. We, the Republican Party, seek to uphold the Electoral College and ensure proper representation for Americans everywhere as promised in the Constitution.

Election Integrity Trust is a fundamental component to a free society. A nation that has begun to lose the confidence and trust of its people is a nation that has begun the long slide to tyranny. The cornerstone of this trust is the belief that the men and women elected to serve the people have rightly ascended to that office— that the government is in fact legitimate.

Trust is a fundamental component to a free society. A nation that has begun to lose the confidence and trust of its people is a nation that has begun the long slide to tyranny. The cornerstone of this trust is the belief that the men and women elected to serve the people have rightly ascended to that office— that the government is in fact legitimate.

This legitimacy is derived, as the Declaration of Independence makes so clear, “from the consent of the governed.” The results and the aftermath of the 2020 elections showed that many Americans no longer have confidence in the integrity of our elections. The shadowy practices of mail-in balloting, state legislators circumventing their own laws, and an unwillingness to be transparent about vote counting have led to a critical loss of faith in our elections. This alarming development must be halted.

Trust and transparency go hand in hand. The lack of clarity about mail-in voting, drop-off locations for ballots, and early voting only serve to dissuade Americans from understanding the mechanisms of our elections. Audits and accountability as well are essential to honest vote counting. It is the fundamental right of every American to know who is voting in our elections, to know how our votes are counted, and that tabulations are done out in the open— not behind the closed doors of a city backroom. The recent actions taken by numerous state legislatures to implement election security and election integrity measures is an important first step to creating a bulwark of legitimacy in the most sacred act of the democratic process.

We cannot afford to repeat the errors of the past. With ballot harvesting and constant contradictions from election officials, the distrust sewed by the shadowy process of 2020 is at an all-time high. Elections will not return to safe and secure processes with proactive efforts. By leaving our states open to fraud in 2024, we are leaving our nation open to weakness and collapsing faith in the democratic process.

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At a time when it is imperative that we have secure elections and restore Americans’ confidence in the process, Democrats have proposed radical legislation which would not only stymie attempts at reform but open the floodgates to greater questions about the integrity of the vote.

At a time when it is imperative that we have secure elections and restore Americans’ confidence in the process, Democrats have proposed radical legislation which would not only stymie attempts at reform but open the floodgates to greater questions about the integrity of the vote. H.R. 4, The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, is an explicit attempt to undermine the confidence in our electoral system. This legislation severely restricts the extent to which states can implement their own voter ID laws and would amount to a federal takeover of our electoral system. We reject this and similar attempts to subvert the ability of states to set reasonable standards for conducting elections.

Furthermore, the current infrastructure of our elections is susceptible to foreign adversaries who wish to sow discord and distrust at home. Numerous reports have found that China has attempted to hack into our electronic election systems. Such attacks are unacceptable. We must have a paper backup to all ballots and tabulations in federal elections.

Lastly, far too many states leave the door open to fraud with lax voter ID laws. More than a dozen states across the nation do not even require identification to be shown at the polling place. With public polling consistently showing that a super majority of Americans support voter ID laws, it is readily apparent that our citizens and voters want their elections to be fair and secure, whether that be in the form of signature match verification or ensuring that unelected judges cannot circumvent their state’s own election laws.

Safe elections are the only way to ensure free elections. The legal gymnastics and shady practices implemented in the 2020 election are just the most potent symptom of a democracy in decline. Above all else, we must ensure that elections are fair and honest for the sake of our collective confidence in representative government. While Democrats claiming to stand for democracy have illegally attempted to remove political rivals from the ballot, Republicans are committed to ensuring that our democracy can thrive again as a central tenet of American equality. We abhor the Democrat Party’s pervasive election interference. As Republicans, we recognize the tenuous nature of democracy and are willing and able to put forward policies which will protect the sanctity of our elections for future generations.

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AMERICA’S NATURAL RESOURCES Agriculture Policy The embodiment of American exceptionalism is the American farmer. A single American farm produces on average enough food to feed 166 people. Because our farmers produce a surplus, they ensure not only the United States’ own self-sufficiency, but also, in a world with an ever-increasing population, that our global partners are fed as well. For this reason, it is crucial to support our agriculture workers and not hinder their efforts. Historically, the efficiency of the American farmer and rancher has helped keep the price of food low for the American consumer. However, due to the Biden Administration’s inflationary policies, food prices have increased. By leaning on the capabilities of America’s farmers through the implementation of tax reforms and the elimination of senseless regulations, an effective administration can help overcome these price increases.

Few in the world can rival the quality of American-produced food. However, the Democrat Party’s attempts to implement further regulation on food production will only drive prices higher. Price increases affect all Americans, but those already facing food insecurity will be greatly impacted if these policies are implemented. The Republican Party stands against these arbitrary regulations. House Republicans have introduced legislation to increase crop yields, from which all Americans will benefit. We believe that hard working Americans should not struggle unnecessarily to put food on the table.

The Democrat Party has continuously hindered the passing of previous farm bill legislation not over agricultural concerns themselves but due to the packaging of welfare policy into the farm bill. The majority of farm bill spending is allocated to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). One does not need to think critically to question why a welfare program is bundled into agriculture policy. We see the absurdity behind the current arrangement and are committed to divorcing SNAP from the farm bill. Further, we believe that the Biden Administration’s increase in the food stamp program should be examined, and that further provisions, such as stronger work requirements, should be implemented for those receiving welfare.

We know that America’s agriculturalists are committed to caring for the land. After all, the longevity and prosperity of the land impacts no one more than those who live off it. We believe in promoting preservation practices in a way that encourages private citizens to care for the land. Our party stands against the highly restrictive measures of the radical left’s Green New Deal - proposals that will destroy the American agricultural industry and dramatically increase the cost of living within the United States. We support the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (2023) and believe it paves the way for more commonsense water conservation efforts that focus on encouragement. Encouragement, not restriction, is the most effective way of promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Environmental Policy As Republicans, we believe that we can simultaneously preserve the environment and protect the American way of life. A well-researched and well-planned policy is always the best way to move forward. Alarmists throw accusations of apathy when we give arguments of reason and promote deliberation. It is in everyone’s interest, no matter the party, to ensure a clean and safe planet for future generations. It is the Republican Party’s belief that we can utilize our conservative principles to create a policy that helps, not harms, Americans and the environment.

Radical environmentalists have created a culture of fear surrounding the future to perpetuate their 26 Martin, O’Brien

expensive and extreme agenda. They blame fossil fuels and tout new energy sources such as solar and wind as a cure-all. New technology in the energy sector is certainly exciting and essential, but we believe that it is a mistake to dismiss fuels such as gas, oil, and carbon completely. The everyday American is paying the price for the Biden Administration’s attack on fossil fuels, with energy prices increasing by 38 percent during his first two years in office. Furthermore, the termination of the Keystone XL pipeline extension by executive order cost 10,400 new jobs and $2 billion in wages. If this is the plan for the left, American workers will inevitably be left behind for benefits that are yet to be well defined. Particulate matter in the air has decreased since 1980 despite energy consumption increasing by twenty-eight percent, but increasingly stringent regulations have caused us to overlook and forget this fact.

The Green New Deal (GND) is a manifestation of the unattainable and unreasonable goals being promoted by the Democrat Party. By completely upending the American economy, the GND would not significantly change the difference in temperature from now to 2100. Coming at a $90 trillion price tag, minute changes that necessarily employ federal government overreach are not acceptable.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior have imposed regulations in the name of protecting the environment from increasing carbon emissions. They have succeeded, however, not in decreasing oil and gas production but in increasing the burden on everyone involved. Companies have grown their production since 2008 by shifting from operating on federal land to state and private land despite the heavy regulations. This causes the federal government to lose out on potential income while simultaneously leaving states and private owners wanting for their revenue when it is delayed by excessive bureaucratic rules. Instead of creating a lose-lose situation with no environmental benefit and doing harm to businesses, governments, and landowners through regulations, we propose encouraging innovative solutions. This should include new technologies such as wind and solar power that can be effectively stored and ways to reduce emissions from fossil fuels. The decision in West Virginia v. EPA (2022) was a great step in curbing the power of the EPA to go beyond its congressionally designated powers. By ruling that Congress had not explicitly granted the EPA license to create and implement carbon emission caps of their choosing, the Supreme Court has given agency back to elected officials rather than appointed bureaucrats.

The EPA does not have the authority to make incredible spending decisions or to dictate how the economy should function around clean energy production. The EPA has grown its power outside its constitutional limits to become a policy-making body, a power that must remain in Congress’ hands. We must contain the EPA to be a body for advice and Congressional policy enforcement– nothing more.

Furthermore, we believe in increasing clarity on how the EPA plans its enforcement of regulations on emissions and how it decides what contributes negatively to air pollution. The EPA has planned to regulate methane production more strictly without establishing its actions within the scope of power given by the Clean Air Act. By stretching the original meaning of the CAA, the EPA will undo work done by the Trump administration to save taxpayer money by not having redundant regulations. This speaks to a larger issue of the EPA trying to expand its own power but not considering how this will increase costs, inhibit business functions, and impede the states’ role in regulation. The EPA does not have the power to regulate pollution in generalized areas, which is instead the responsibility of the states, but they nevertheless have overstepped their authority in places like the Chesapeake Bay. State and local governments are more attuned to their needs and the impact of policy on locals. It is common sense for Congress to stand up to the EPA in these situations and clarify the allocation of power to states.

There is increasing anxiety about the dangers posed to American coastlines by erosion and flooding. This is an issue not just for environmental preservation, but also for those landowners who stand to lose their property. We should continue advocating for living shorelines, the difficulties in federal regulations and jurisdictions, and how we should streamline permit processes for conservation projects by decreasing federal requirements. We should also give states more agency in their own borders. They should have ownership of most of their land and should be well equipped to be good stewards of the lands compared to any job the federal government may do.

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Energy Policy America has better access to natural energy than other nation in the world. As Republicans, we must stop the ineffective and costly energy regulations currently in place to maintain reliable energy for every American. By doing so, we will create jobs, use fossil fuels and other innovative energy sources, increase energy reliability, and avoid the left’s liberal and green agenda. The government has no part in regulating the ways in which Americans use their energy. There are ways to maintain our energy dominance while also encouraging innovation that produces clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

Innovation lies at the heart of energy policy—it is the means in which we remain an advanced nation and reduce our carbon footprint. We must secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other minerals, as they supply our energy. Efforts to modernize pipelines and protect the electric grid from cybersecurity threats and other disruptions are applauded and should be continually at the forefront of innovation efforts.

Critical materials, such as copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese, graphite, and more, must be secured.

They are essential to energy production and are necessary to keeping production at home, as opposed to in the hands of our adversaries. The Biden Administration has blocked mining of these materials in the U.S. for no apparent reason. Additionally, these minerals the Administration have blocked coincidentally are some of the same that power electric vehicles, solar panels and a multitude of other green technologies, all products they are promoting.

Permitting reform is another vital step in maintaining innovation—and Republicans are proud champions of pioneering legislation on this issue. The goal is simple. The time it takes to approve energy projects is too long, making it difficult to innovate and secure new sources of energy. Additionally, the legal limitations of new projects are too restrictive—they need to be scaled back. Legislation for permitting reform would make energy production on federal lands easier, make expediting hard rock mining easier, and would allow for a repeal of the natural gas tax which would make the process of transporting and exporting American natural gases much easier.

We must also overhaul nuclear energy regulation. The regulatory process that licenses and permits nuclear reactors is outdated—it does not keep up with new advancements and causes us to fall behind our adversaries, notably China, in production. Policy and regulations should not prioritize subsidizing costs and overusing the government’s role in securing energy. Safety, exposure, and more disciplined regulation are steps to ensure nuclear energy is well-maintained.

President Biden has severely depleted our energy reserves. The Department of Energy used the petroleum reserves in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) during the record-high inflation rates amidst the RussianUkraine war. Biden released nearly 200 million barrels from the U.S. oil stockpile that reduced SPR levels to their lowest since 1984. SPR is used for mitigating severe energy supply interruptions or fulfilling obligations to the International Energy Agency. The Biden Administration used them for neither of these reasons, instead trying to lower the skyrocketing gas prices before the 2022 midterm election. Using our secure oil reserves as a political ploy is unacceptable and presents a major flaw in our energy system. We must strategically evaluate our reserves, which will inform what new and existing energy sources to invest in and develop domestically.

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Real, workable, and affordable solutions to the energy crisis include unleashing new innovations such as hydropower, nuclear, clean coal, ethanol, and natural gas.

There is no one way to approach energy development – it is multifaceted and is based on how the market reacts to various technologies and materials.

Real, workable, and affordable solutions to the energy crisis include unleashing new innovations such as hydropower, nuclear, clean coal, ethanol, and natural gas. There is no one way to approach energy development – it is multifaceted and is based on how the market reacts to various technologies and materials. As Republicans, we believe in discovering and investing in new, cleaner energy while also realizing our dependence on fossil fuels. The more “green” and expensive new energy is, the less available it will be for lower- and middle-class Americans, a concept many Democrats fail to realize. Moreover, the party and its various agencies—most notably the EPA—fail to realize that coal is a reliable, affordable, clean energy source. Mining it creates jobs, and using it powers homes, businesses, cars, and more. It is an invaluable asset to the American economy that Democrats mistakenly criticize and berate.

Finally, we must protect our electrical grid. As America’s electrical grid ages and technology advances, the grid becomes more obsolete and at a greater risk of attacks and threats. The 2021 ransomware attacks on the Colonial Pipeline show that foreign enemies are willing to undermine our domestic security by attacking our electric grid system. As Republicans, it is crucial that we call for rapid modernization and expansion of our electrical system to protect the grid from both natural and man-made threats, both foreign and domestic. Additionally, the military plays a role in safeguarding the grid system to protect it from adversaries and destruction. Doing so will ensure that American businesses, the government, and society will be able to count on the system, on which we are so heavily reliant.

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GOVERNMENT REFORM A Government for the People As President Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address, “this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Now, many decades later, this message still stands. The federal government was created by the people and is made to serve the people, never the other way around.

We pledge to make the government work for the people.

We pledge to make the government work for the people. Many tasks assigned to the federal government should be returned to the state and local governments. Poor management and weaponization of the executive agencies slow down progress and proper governing. Spending is out of control, and this will limit how much goes to national defense, saving retirement and health programs, and other essential programs with limited funding. Each day under a Democrat Administration the government moves further from respecting the hardworking taxpaying American who loves the country they were born in.

As Republicans, we must govern with fiscal responsibility in mind. We will fight for Congress to adopt a budget cap provision that will appropriate money at a historical average percentage of our nation’s GDP and one that will require a supermajority for any tax increase, except for in cases of emergency. President Biden’s reckless spending is destroying our nation and if we remain on this path, we will continue to teeter on the edge of default. Moving forward, the budget will prioritize the taxpaying American people.

Balancing the Federal Budget It has long been part of Republican ideology that the importance of a balanced and managed federal budget.

Having a bloated, unmanaged budget threatens the function and capacity of our nation. Since 2021, the total amount of government spending has increased by over $9 trillion. The Biden Administration has recklessly spent taxpayer dollars and has caused the national debt to skyrocket starting on the day he assumed office in 2020. Spending is at a historically high average. Overspending jeopardizes not only the economic safety of the entire country, but also the average American. Put plainly, we cannot afford a Democrat administration—it is too costly. Government borrowing has caused interest rates to increase, which devalues bonds and causes turmoil in financial markets.

Moreover, it is imperative that we do not run the risk of defaulting on our debt. The debacles that occurred in the fall and winter of 2023 over federal spending and the national debt were unacceptable and hindered Congress’ ability to pass urgent legislation in other areas of the government. Policy proposals going forward should aim to cut federal spending, restrain fiscal rules, and increase entitlement reform, redistribute domestic programs to the state, local and private levels when necessary, and add accountability and transparency measures to ensure that the budget is managed going forward.

Balancing the budget will be a top priority when a Republican president assumes power. Per the Congressional Budget Office, spending on social security, health care, and interest payments on the federal debt already consume all federal revenues—this must be reformed. This is unacceptable and unsustainable.

Federal programs must be reformed so they do not chew away at the budget, and unnecessary spending must be eliminated.

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Immigration and the Rule of Law The United States is a place of opportunity and prosperity and has been since its founding years. A core component of our society is the hardworking American citizen and their dedication to the country, including the country’s values and laws. Our nation is built on the hard work of law-abiding citizens, both natural-born and immigrants. We have a long history of welcoming legal immigrants from around the world. This can and should continue. We celebrate their hard work, their patriotism, and their commitment to America. Their spirit is admirable and should serve as the basis for all future immigrants and for the benefits a productive, legal immigration system can bring. We must continue to encourage legal immigration into our nation, support and strengthen our economy, and enrich our culture while helping us better understand cultures around the world.

President Biden is funding illegal immigration and is prioritizing illegal immigrants over hardworking and taxpaying Americans. He is paying over $2.5 billion in taxpayer funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house illegal immigrants. The Democrat Party’s mishandling of the border is despicable. It is time to continue construction of the border wall and to tighten and secure the immigration process. A Republican President will make this the forefront of their policy objectives. H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, was a step in the right direction at ramping up border security, interior enforcement and cutting back on taxpayer dollars that support illegal immigrant causes. However, there is still room for improvement.

We have no intention of denying legal immigrants access to our country, but the failure of the Biden Administration to secure the border and allow illegal immigrants to flow into our country calls for a serious change in the system.

We have no intention of denying legal immigrants access to our country, but the failure of the Biden Administration to secure the border and allow illegal immigrants to flow into our country calls for a serious change in the system. Over 3.5 million illegal border crossings have occurred since the current administration took office in 2021. This high number has created a border crisis that can no longer go ignored. Republican leadership must and will treat the crisis with a strategic sense of urgency. The surge in illegal immigration has led to an increase in violence, human and drug trafficking, and crime that runs rampant at the border, fueling concern and outrage in affected border towns and states and throughout the country. We commit to the American people to change the immigration-related failures of the current administration when a Republican President assumes power.

The solutions to the current administration’s failures include enforcing the border with more federal help coordinated closely with the states, weakening sanctuary cities; closing catch-and-release loopholes; dealing responsibly and reasonably with existing illegal immigrants and their children; making the immigration process more transparent and accessible; and holding employers in the U.S. accountable in terms of their hiring processes for immigrants while offering benefits for them by making the worker visa process more efficient and effective.

Sanctuary cities across the United States should no longer receive federal funding for violating the rule of law.

Federal funding should instead be redistributed amongst border states to reinforce border security.

Sanctuary cities across the United States should no longer receive federal funding for violating the rule of law. Federal funding should instead be redistributed amongst border states to reinforce border security.

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Republican governors of border states should not have to spend money to cope with illegal immigrants nor should they have to send buses full of illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities. A Republican president would ensure funding is redirected in an adequate and strategic way to the benefit of their states and the country.

Part of the federal funding would be attributed to the continued construction of the border wall along the southern border to protect all points of entry. The border wall will be constructed in a way that will halt pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Additional funding to border states will be used for increased and effective enforcement strategies, infrastructure improvement, and advanced technology to ensure points of entry are safe and strictly monitored. A Republican President will ensure these criteria are met to improve the integrity and safety of the immigration system and process.

Catch-and-release loopholes should also be closed. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security should be given the authority to detain non-removable immigrants beyond the current Supreme Court-mandated six months. The current law allows illegal immigrants with criminal infractions to be released back into the U.S. after six months if no other country accepts them from their deportation. This is a clear violation of our country’s national security and puts law enforcement and American communities at high risk. Ending such loopholes will ensure that illegal immigrants found guilty of crimes and violence are no longer able to stay in our cities and are held accountable for their failure to abide by our laws. Gang membership, human trafficking, cases of identity theft, and fraudulent or forged documents, are all deportable offenses and must be treated as such. To become a citizen, one must abide by the laws to show respect and honor our nation’s values. If these standards are not met, reentry should not be allowed.

Employment verification should be used by all employers, to ensure only legal citizens are working in our nation. The U.S. should only be protected and reserved for those authorized to work in the U.S. Employers should require and verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all employees, temporary and regular, to ensure they are authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, any welfare programs that provide additional benefits for illegal immigrants should be stopped immediately. Any person or party found guilty of breaking these laws should be held accountable for their actions.

Legal immigration should always be allowed and encouraged in our country. Today’s immigration system, however, is long overdue for necessary changes. The changes should all point to fortifying our country’s economic vitality, boosting our national security, and respecting our country’s values including respect for our laws and citizens.

Preserving Medicare and Medicaid America’s federal healthcare programs Medicare and Medicaid are broken, underfunded and are in dire need of reform. Policy reforms must focus on cost reduction, improved access to care, and better efficiency in delivery of services. To ensure these components are woven into our hybrid public and private system, we must abide by a market-based approach that prioritizes patient choice. Healthcare currently takes up nearly 20 percent of our total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), nearly twice as much as other developed nations around the world. This statistic, coupled with crippling inflation induced by the Biden Administration has created skyrocketing premiums and even higher deductibles and copays. The system has also become overly bureaucratic and stifled—it needs to be streamlined with the goal of prioritizing patients. We must maintain our status as the most medically advanced and innovative nation in the world, but we cannot do that with an inefficient system.

The first reforms must start with federally provided healthcare systems of Medicare and Medicaid. Over 50 percent Americans are on either program, or the number continues to increase annually. The Hospital Insurance fund (HI), which finances Part A of Medicare, is projected to be depleted by the year 2031. Both programs cannot continue to dominate the already too high federal budget and bleed into the national debt. It is unfair to taxpayers that fund programs to not see the benefits later when they later become eligible for the programs. Despite their flaws, there are ways to alleviate the costs and fix the system.

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Both programs cannot continue to dominate the already too high federal budget and bleed into the national debt.

It is unfair to taxpayers that fund programs to not see the benefits later when they later become eligible for the programs Medicare was created for a 1965 America, not a 2024 one. The Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have worsened the system’s dysfunction, by overhauling the government’s role in providing care. Cutting the amount providers pay—as put into place by the ACA—does not reduce overall costs within the program, it merely shifts the burden on pharmaceutical and MedTech companies, hospitals, insurers, and patients. This is why we propose a strict 11 percent cut to the Medicare system as is. This is not to say we are in favor of cutting benefits, in fact the opposite. The Biden Administration has painted a dull and false picture of the Republican Party cutting benefits and reducing access to care. We want to reform the system so it operates better and will expand coverage in the process.

A possible reform to Medicare to ensure the budget cut is to create competing private plans with a premium model that lowers the premium costs and competes with the federally provided plan. This plan would provide the same benefits—parts A, B, and D—as traditional Medicare, but would merge the funds into one singular trust, as opposed to the two that fund Medicare. This singular fund would be responsible for paying premium subsidies to cover most, if not all the premium costs. The cost of the premiums would be benchmarked by the federally provided plan. The Congressional Budget Office has done analysis on this type of private and public plan and found that it would reduce premiums by eleven percent and would reduce the amount that payroll taxes contribute to the fund. This type of policy recommendation will combat the growing program, lower costs, and enable a more fiscally sustainable program.

Medicaid is also in need of dire change, especially as many states are seeing an unwinding after the end of the COVID-19 Medicaid expansion. After suffering several expansions, most notably under Obamacare, Medicaid has become a bloated, unmanageable system. Governors who have taken steps to modernize the system are applauded and are rewarded with block grants. Some initiatives include refundable tax credits, premium support for purchasing insurance, alternatives for hospitalization and opioids for chronic pain, and disease prevention activities. Medicaid is the largest federal means-tested welfare program. It has grown substantially annually, with a projected $897 billion in 2033. Despite its high cost, there is no evidence that it improves physical health or labor market outcomes.

To fix Medicaid’s ineptitude, we are proposing several block grants to repurpose and reallocate funding for federal programs. Separating funds for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) allows Congress to act with more intention and confirms that beneficiaries of the program are working to receive coverage. More importantly, these funding corrections allow for a split in responsibility between the state and federal level. Currently, the federal government accounts for nearly 65 percent of these two programs. The goal is to restore it back to a 50/50 level, as intended by the founders who emphasized the benefit of federalism. We especially support those state governments who choose to omit abortion and family planning programs from their Medicaid provisions.

Moving forward, mental health should be a number one priority for both programs. Because Medicaid covers younger, underprivileged populations, its work in the mental health space is vital and can improve life quality, access to employment and housing, and better health overall.

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Saving Social Security In our rapidly evolving era, American seniors and those approaching their golden years are struggling to keep up. Whether it be the never-ending changes in technology and communications or a culture which no longer values its elders—on whose shoulders they stand—there is no denying that our country today lacks the essential quality of respect for wisdom and experience.

To add insult to injury, Democrats in Washington have followed reckless policies of ignorance and shortsightedness with regards to Social Security; and because of their childish disregard for the consequences of profligate spending the next generation of Americans transitioning out of the workforce no longer has the same guarantees for a secure retirement. Social Security is currently projected to be insolvent within a decade, a time frame accelerated by fiscal irresponsibility from our leaders in government. While we must accept that figures from both parties bear some responsibility for this present dilemma, what cannot be denied is that only one party has come to the table with realistic policies for preserving this essential service and guarantee of dignity.

We Republicans understand the present crisis facing Social Security. What we wish to do is underwrite the assurance that it is protected from bankruptcy. The Republican Party is the only party ready to save Social Security.

We Republicans understand the present crisis facing Social Security. What we wish to do is underwrite the assurance that it is protected from bankruptcy. The Republican Party is the only party ready to save Social Security. Cynics blindly regurgitate the canned line that Social Security is “the third rail of American politics.” As Republicans we recognize that such a third rail is not merely parallel to the functioning of our safety net but rather rapidly converging with it, threatening to electrocute the entire system should proactive action not be taken. Positive steps to create effective oversight of Social Security payments and fresh approaches to sustainable borrowing are the only long-term solutions to an imminent problem. Tax hikes and other haphazard proposals to this intricate problem are merely band aids on bullet holes and will not be entertained by serious policy makers.

It is essential that we take decisive action to ensure that we do not default on the promises made in the past which are due in the present. Seniors who have planned their entire lives around the core promise of Social Security ought not to be left out in the cold because professional politicians want to remain oblivious to pressing matters. Furthermore, we as Republicans, as conservatives, need to take an affirmative stand on behalf of those who came before us. It is the nation that these men and women cultivated which we wish to conserve in the first place. Ben Franklin once said that “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” The next administration will have to prepare, and only the Republican Party is willing to do so. We must not fail those who formed us.

Preserving D.C. Our present political age is characterized by a sharp contrast between the dominant parties and ideologies in the public square. Perhaps nowhere is this divide more obvious than in the issue of practicality. We have seen this time and time again with Democrats in Congress and their elite liberal friends in academia; they are constantly picking fights and splitting hairs on theoretical arguments which have no prospects of tangibly bettering the lives of everyday Americans.

This dichotomy is most apparent over the question of statehood for the District of Columbia. While many on the left see statehood as a black and white, cure-all solution which fixes everything wrong and harms 34 Van Tuyl

nothing already right. The reality could not be further from the truth.

We Republicans resolutely oppose statehood for Washington D.C. Our resistance is borne out of a multifaceted understanding of both the founders’ intentions for the Federal District and the destabilizing effects on our national government that would come as a result—both seeable and unforeseeable.

Firstly, proposals for D.C. statehood fundamentally violate the principles outlined in the Federalist Papers, which serve as the basis for understanding our government. Madison argued in Federalist #43 that it is an “indispensable necessity” for the federal government to have “complete authority” of a prescribed federal district. “Without it,” he remarked, there would be a “dependence of the members of the general government on the State comprehending the seat of the government.” If history is any marker, Madison has been vindicated; the seat of the United States government has remained impervious to any encroachment from the states that border it for the better part of 230 years.

Proponents of DC statehood argue that, to circumvent the 23rd Amendment, the federal district should be reduced to cover only the US Capitol, the White House, and Federal Agencies. Surrounded by a homogeneous state dominated by single-party rule, our nation’s government would effectively become captive to the whims of this fledgling entity. Such a situation would be less than ideal with a level-headed and diverse state government. However, this problem is exacerbated by the fact that the District of Columbia Council—whose members presumably represent the interests of DC voters and provide an insight into how the state would be governed—is a radical outlet that has forwarded some of the most outlandish, irresponsible, and destructive proposals of any municipality in the country. From ordinances neutering the effective power of police to criminal code changes that let thieves, murderers, and rapists go wild, the Council has repeatedly demonstrated itself incapable of self-government. These changes have been repeatedly admonished and nullified by bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate—and even President Biden himself.

All in all, we Republicans recognize the grave consequences that would result from granting statehood to the District of Columbia. We understand and respect the wisdom of the founders, and we wish to see that their desires remain fulfilled in this scenario as we strive to live up to their ideals in every other facet of government. Some proponents of statehood may argue that “[the district] should be allowed to make its own mistakes,” but this tacit admission of DC’s own incompetence overlooks a critical fact: in a place so important and a time so precarious, America cannot afford avoidable mistakes for the sake of abstract virtue signaling. Democrats, outraged at a situation in which a majority-elected body exercises authority over a minority of the people, would rather invert this dynamic with a tiny sliver of the country holding hostage power over representatives of the entire country. Effective governance requires a prudent management of costs and benefits, and as Republicans we stand maturely on firm ground saying no to DC statehood.

America in the Territories As the party of doers, the party of results, we Republicans believe that actions speak louder than words. We believe that commitment is demonstrated through action and that you get out of something what you put into it. In no case is commitment to the idea of a United States more prevalent than in her territories across the globe. These territories have demonstrated their commitment to the American experiment through their decades of loyalty and patriotism. Nowhere is this fact more obvious than in the military enlistment rates by state and territory. American Samoa has the highest enlistment rate per capita across the United States and in fact all the major outlying territories have military service rates far outpacing the 50 states.

Our territories have held up their end of the bargain, it is imperative that we continue to maintain our commitment to ensuring their protection and prosperity.

This commitment starts with recognizing the vital role the territories play in our national security. Many of the territories—Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands in particular—are in fact closer to Asia than the continental United States. But their physical distance should not equate to distance

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in our minds. Their proximity to foreign adversaries such as China means they are the first line of defense and consequently the last place we should ignore with our current geopolitical dilemma. This fact extends to our Caribbean territories—Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands—as they are our window to South and Central America. Human trafficking and drug smuggling originating from the Southern Hemisphere have the potential, as we have seen from the scourge of fentanyl, to impact the average American as much as the malevolent actions of the Chinese Communist Party.

We Republicans believe that the prudent policy approach to the territories is one which balances the nuance and complexities of geopolitical strategy with a strong backbone of principle. We recognize the precarious position of our Pacific territories; China’s dominance in East Asia and the territories subsequent reliance on it for energy and trade is the most prominent example. While we understand that there are economic and energy necessities for these territories, we risk letting foreign influence cripple their selfsufficiency. We believe that these issues can be mitigated and reversed by unleashing the full might of American venture capital for economic development. Furthermore, enabling these territories to specialize in local industries without the burden of excessive federal regulation is paramount to ensuring the success of our territories.

As Republicans, we fully recognize the value and contribution of America’s territories to her security and success in the 21st century. Furthermore, we applaud the territories’ dedicated response to the clarion call of service and protection of freedom across the world, which manifests in those staggering service numbers.

While Democrats in Washington seek only further red tape to stifle local industries and economic policies which exacerbate the difficulties already present in these areas, we Republicans seek policies which are inclusive of the territorial situations and dynamics and honor their steadfast commitment to the American cause.

36 Van Tuyl

HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL POLICY Marriage, Family, and Society The nuclear family is the most important building block of civil society in the United States. Strong families advance our democracy and decrease our dependence on the government. The nuclear family requires less government intervention and aid in their daily lives. Marriage too, is an important societal component, because it promotes cooperation, patience, mutual respect, responsibility, and facilitates the protection of life.

The strength of the American family has dwindled in the past decades. Its importance is now understated, thanks to the Democrats. Children raised in a strong, close-knit family have a stronger likelihood of getting a good education, a better chance at growing emotionally and physically healthier, a lowered risk of using alcohol and drugs or engaging in criminal activity. Plummeting birth rates do not help this matter – they are only contributing to the problem of a lack of trust in marriage and family life. Marriage too has collapsed. For Republicans, this is a key concern. Marriage can remedy and prevent several social problems such as high suicide rates, sexual abuse, drug usage, low employment, and poor mental and physical health.

The data is out there – marriage and family bonding benefit society in fruitful ways.

Progressives and Democrats continually put down and fail to emphasize the role of marriage and family.

They falsely believe the way to strengthen social outcomes comes from government intervention, not from family bonding and personal connections. The family is what drives positive social interactions and community trust, not the government.

Year after year, it is proven that children with the best social and emotional outcomes are those raised in a close-knit family. The children are the new generation. It is imperative they have the benefit of a positive upbringing and society can subsequently reap the benefits.

As Republicans, we must continue to emphasize the role of families and marriage in a world where the message has dwindled and lost meaning.

As Republicans, we must continue to emphasize the role of families and marriage in a world where the message has dwindled and lost meaning. Family and marriage can reduce poverty, increase outcomes for children, and save taxpayer dollars. Civil society and American individuals must continue to play their part and contribute to society through marriage and promoting family unity and closeness.

Personalized and Affordable Healthcare The Biden Administration continues to ruin the U.S. healthcare system by attempting to subsidize the cost of care. The Inflation Reduction Act is the clearest example of this, where Biden wrongfully meddled with controlling drug prices. This act goes against everything it has promised, much like Obama with his Affordable Care Act (ACA), and has not improved patient choice, health affordability, or the urgent provider shortage. The ACA has since doubled the cost of insurance premiums in the individual market, decreasing patient choice drastically. In fact, twenty-eight percent of counties in the U.S. have two insurance carriers or less, leaving virtually no options for consumers to price shop for the most cost-effective option.

Healthcare has become overly socialized under a Democrat Administration as well. Gender mutilation surgeries have no place in our healthcare system, nor are they a Constitutional right. Children should not Cerone 37

be coerced against their will by their parents or educators into life-altering surgeries. It is imperative they have full knowledge of any major procedures or surgeries before consenting. It is wrong for a parent to injure their child without their consent, especially if they are a minor. As Republicans we will reject socalled gender-affirming care and call for the defunding of any Planned Parenthood’s decision to fund these types of mutilation surgeries.

Individuals with disabilities should continue to be prioritized in our health system. As Republicans, we care deeply for those with pre-existing conditions and vow to keep them at the center of health insurance coverage. These individuals should have guaranteed coverage pools, access to competitive markets of care for top-notch products, and more personalized care from providers.

Technology has the potential to be a powerful tool for increasing health coverage and the scope of services.

Access to telehealth in primary care can limit emergency visits or invasive, extensive surgeries down the line. Other technologies, such as wearable products for managing and tracking various health conditions, provide physicians with necessary data and instant communications with patients. These products should continue to be developed as they cut costs and promote patient health.

Regardless, consumers must have the ability to purchase health insurance for themselves. Better insurance options can be facilitated by putting patient’s needs first always, allowing for better saving opportunities, such as Health Savings Accounts, expanding innovative medical technology, and rejecting federal government mandates. Consumers need affordability and options, and the federal government is interfering with both.

Continuing Health Innovation Medical research, advancement, and innovation is an undeniable strong suit of the United States. We rank first out of all other developed nations in medical innovation. It is essential we continue as an advanced nation in pursuit of the highest medical innovation levels because it changes patient lives, creates competition amongst researchers and corporations to continue investing in creating new cures and solutions, and promotes public health.

Unfortunately, medical advancement, drug development in particular, is extraordinarily expensive. It costs anywhere between $1.7 billion and $3.2 billion annually. Moreover, there is little guarantee for success during first trials – good medicine and advancement take time. Despite these setbacks and high room for error, innovators continue to work at finding cures, diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. During the pandemic, the vaccine creation process had to be sped up to confront a global public health emergency.

Critical times like these illustrate the importance of quick, efficient medical advancement and the importance of the private sector in leading these efforts.

It is imperative that Congress protect the biopharmaceutical and medical device innovation process and refrain from hindering development of advanced products. The government cannot give away innovation and coveted intellectual property to foreign competitors, regulate drug prices, or block the search for new cures. Congress ought to support local and large innovators, promote our status as front runner of medical innovation, and allow businesses to own the rights to their own discoveries. If the pandemic demonstrated one thing, it is that researchers, developers, and lawmakers can work together in the healthcare space.

Congress must continue to appropriate necessary funds to medical research, which seek to find cures to several illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDs, various cancers, and opioid addictions. It is imperative that research organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others use their money for development and research, not for other means. Additionally, the federal Food and Drug Administration must continue its fast approval process and not succumb to any bureaucratic bloat that may hinder this process.

Innovation is what positively changes patients’ lives. Some examples of medical development in 2023 38 Cerone

include the advancement of mRNA technology, an increase in telehealth services, data integration into AI products, more secure health data, new pharmaceutical products, and an expansion of at-home care. As Republicans, we will continue to prioritize telehealth access throughout the country, particularly in rural areas where broadband access is sparse. Prioritizing these advancements is vital to patient health and the health of our nation, especially as physicians and surgeons flock to more urban areas. Overall, as our foreign adversaries continue to use artificial intelligence and other machine learning systems to broaden the scope of their capabilities, it is crucial that the United States stays on top of the technological advancements, not only in the healthcare space, but in all sectors of the economy.

Education Principles Quality education is at the core of a strong democracy full of civic-minded individuals. As we look to America’s future, we must think about how we are preparing our children and young people. Education is undoubtedly about learning the necessary skills to move through life, but also about teaching ethics, values, and pride. It should never be weaponized to promote certain politics or lifestyles over the wishes of parents, who have a right to access information about their children’s education. We should be promoting excellence, not settling for mediocrity. We must turn away from generalized federal standards and towards state and local governance. Helping American children reach success should always be at the forefront of our minds.

We condemn the disservice done to our children during the COVID-19 pandemic when Democrat lawmakers extended school closures. Basic skills like reading comprehension and math have considerably fallen, and we must change our approach to recover. We witnessed how teachers’ unions held our children’s education hostage during the COVID-19 pandemic to further their left-wing agenda. Republicans demand answers and accountability for the flagrant misuse of ESSER funds and the radicalization of schools by unchecked teachers’ unions. The pandemic dramatically impacted the quality of K-12 education across the country. The shortcomings from the pandemic are why we must reiterate our support of the parental right to school choice.

The shortcomings from the pandemic are why we must reiterate our support of the parental right to school choice.

No child should be subject to a failing school district due to government mandate. We support states that have enacted means of such choice, such as education savings accounts and vouchers. The Supreme Court’s decision in Makin v. Carson (2022) was an important step in assuring that parents can use their education vouchers as they see fit, including in sending their children to religiously based schools. We further believe in codifying a Parents’ Bill of Rights to give them access to what their child is taught, the ability to give feedback on school policies, and clarify how money is spent in schools. Parents are the best advocates for their children and need a means to voice their opinions.

It is imperative that we have protections against radicals trying to indoctrinate their beliefs into children through the education system. No student should be taught to feel bad about the color of their skin, nor should they be exposed to content inappropriate for their age level. Critical Race Theory has no place in our schools. It presents a fictional version of history and the contemporary world that only serves to foster division. We believe in prohibiting federal funding in elementary schools, secondary schools, and places of higher education that teach CRT. Extremists want our children indoctrinated with their ideas rather than taught how to think critically. Mindlessly repeating wokeist talking points about Critical Race Theory is no replacement for a substantial and rigorous curriculum. Radical leftists also want to corrupt and confuse by “educating” on gender ideology from a young age. Elementary students should never be questioning such critical parts of their identity when they should be learning the basics of democracy and citizenship. We will O’Brien 39

not stand for the sexualization of our children in the classroom and we vehemently believe in removing any teaching of gender ideology. Our focus should always be on teaching American civics and history to develop well-informed young people who will go on to be leaders in our country.

For too long, the federal government has fumbled its influence in education by imposing national standards that did not help our students improve their performance. We are glad to see that the Common Core standard has become almost obsolete through rejection by the states. It is inevitable that one-size-fitsall federal mandates will fail to account for the myriad needs of children across the country. We reiterate our belief in state- and local-level decision-making to achieve an excellent standard of education. When students graduate from the K-12 system, there should be exciting choices and opportunities available. We believe in invigorating the Registered Apprenticeship Program to give Americans wider career options and decrease the skills gap. Supporting industry employers who are already in tune with the skills they need is crucial to ensuring successful apprenticeship programs.

We believe that the teachers, administrators, and aids working in education should be held to the highest standard. Tenure does not foster improvement and leaves talent wasted. We therefore believe in a system with an emphasis on merit and achievement. We believe in diminishing the superfluous number of administrators so that this money can be allocated for the good of students. Emphasizing STEM education remains important for preparing our kids for a world full of technology. Our focus should also be on teaching American civics and history to develop well-informed young people who will go on to be leaders in our country.

Improving Higher Education America’s colleges and universities are the best in the world. Most of the world’s top universities and research institutions are located within the United States - no doubt due to our nation’s traditions of individualism and market competition. American universities are the world’s premier incubators of thought, ensuring America’s place as a technological and intellectual leader and increasing the extent of our soft power. Our higher education institutions are places where all peoples can contribute and develop their knowledge both for their own and for their nation’s benefit. For this reason, we are pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions. Our nation is founded on the ideal that all men are created equal. Our country’s long history has been witnessing to the struggles of Americans to overcome laws designed to segregate them along racial lines. Our highest legal authority has now ruled that race has no place in the application process. College applicants will now be judged based on their skill sets and not their race.

We stand against the ‘wokeism’ propagated by university administrations. Our colleges have a strong tradition as places of free thought. The woke policies put in place by both administrations and students are contradictory to this tradition. Schools must not work to censor their students - especially if they receive government funding. We will work to implement regulations on universities that receive federal funding to ensure students’ right to free speech. Public funding for universities should only be used for further development of American students’ educations. Similarly, we support the restructuring of the accreditation process to limit these organizations’ gatekeeping powers. Accreditors should not be able to use their influence to instill their political agendas on campuses. We support a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act with provisions designed to prevent accreditors from forcing their political beliefs upon students.

The prestige of our higher education system naturally draws the attention of our foreign rivals. The CCP uses entities such as their infamous Confucius Institutes to steal American intellectual property and conduct espionage. To protect the intellectual property rights of Americans as well as for our national security, it is important that we combat the CCP’s infiltration of our universities.

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Title IX Whether in the classroom or athletics, Republicans value the achievements of the over thirty-six million women and girls enrolled in U.S. schools. Republicans will therefore uphold Title IX rules—protections which ensure that women and girls have the space needed to excel in schools and sports.

The left, however, has embarked on a regressive campaign to erase female achievement. The Biden Administration, for instance, believes that a biological male, claiming to be a woman, has the right to compete against biological females in women’s sports. Under a regime of leftist gender ideology, top female athletes stand to be bested by transgender competitors, as happened to University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines.

Republicans will not tolerate the left’s delusions. Women’s sports are for biological females and men’s sports are for biological males. Republicans thus support legislation and regulations which proscribe biological males from women’s programs, protecting women’s spaces.

Republicans will also ensure that, as used in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the protected category of sex remains strictly biological. Democrats are wrong to conclude that the Supreme Court expanded the definition of sex in Bostock v. Clayton County.

In fact, the Court followed “the assumption that ‘sex’ signified … biological distinctions between male and female.” Republicans will pursue further litigation to clarify the implications of Bostock and deny the left, yet another tool used in undermining the achievements of female students and athletes.

Free Speech on Campuses Now more than ever we must protect the sanctity of free speech in both K-12 schools and in higher education. Speakers on campuses are getting shouted down before they get a chance to speak, and students are being “canceled” for daring to question the left-wing mantra imposed by their peers and professors.

Institutions of education were once the figureheads of free speech; now, they are the antithesis of their own former democratic ideals. The interest in exchanging ideas has ended in favor of silencing dissent and disagreement. Free speech has defined us as a nation since our founding. We cannot and must not abandon it in the face of adversity. We therefore stand strongly for lively, balanced, and free debate on all campuses.

The adoption of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices across the country has led to an increasing mandate that all students and faculty adhere to the prescribed views. By requiring signatures on “diversity statements,” these offices have gone beyond their purpose of expanding opportunities to forcing a singular mindset onto a group. These actions are unconstitutional and violate the basics of free speech.

As Republicans, we outright oppose compelled DEI speech. It is detrimental to America’s future to let this censorship continue permeating our country.

As Republicans, we outright oppose compelled DEI speech. It is detrimental to America’s future to let this censorship continue permeating our country.

Tax dollars should never be sent to universities that inhibit free speech and we must stop bolstering DEI programs that promote intolerance of opinion. We must hold institutions accountable for when they accept federal tax dollars and then make programs that violate free speech. Instead, we can incentivize institutions to protect and promote this most sacred right.

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Strengthening Police and Protecting Public Safety As crime continues to rise under a Democrat Administration, many Americans feel less safe in their homes, communities, and cities, and look for a solution to this lawlessness and crime. We advocate for a top-tobottom approach, implementing strict polices at the federal level while supporting local law enforcement.

We will always back our men and women in blue.

We will always back our men and women in blue. Efforts to reduce crime must start at the local level, by supporting the men and women of law enforcement and applying measures that curb crime. Recent reforms by radical progressives severely limit law enforcement’s ability to uphold laws, identify lawbreakers, and detain criminals. Many cities and urban areas have been afflicted with rampant crime, hurting workers, business owners, and endangering the public. Public safety can be maintained by prosecutors that enforce the law effectively yet fairly, imposing appropriate punishments for crimes, safeguarding victims’ rights, and placing reasonable restrictions on prison sentences. These types of precautions keep dangerous criminals incarcerated and off the streets.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, must be reformed and held accountable for its current liberal, partisan agenda that deeply threatens the rule of law. Instead of using its power and influence to combat crime, Garland’s DOJ has conducted politically motivated attacks on Americans. Under Garland’s leadership, the DOJ has unfairly targeted parents speaking out at school board meetings as “domestic terrorists” while undermining and eroding America’s ability to address threats to the US such as the crisis at the Southern border. Biden, Garland, and the DOJ have weaponized federal law, as seen in the politically motivated charges leveled against former President Donald Trump. These abuses of power erode our civil liberties. The Republican Party calls for strong reforms and oversight to compel the DOJ to return to impartial administration of justice and serve all Americans equally under the law.

We support rehabilitation and advocate for constructive correction facilities. Jailed persons should have a safe environment free from violence or cruel treatment. All levels of government should collaborate with organizations that have successfully helped young, first-time, nonviolent lawbreakers avoid criminal activity. These institutions’ focus on restorative justice aims to compensate victims and reform offenders.

This restorative approach gives law enforcement appropriate discretion to handle various degrees of criminality and partners with proven programs that steer young people away from crime, we can build safer communities.

Lastly, any attempts addressing the rule of law at the Federal level, requires reining in over-criminalization.

Today, it is estimated that 5,000 federal laws and over 300,000 regulatory provisions include the possibility of criminal punishment. Congress ought to review, reform, or revoke criminal statutes that are repetitive, unnecessary, or outdated.

Americans deserve to feel safe.

Americans deserve to feel safe. Tackling crime is of utmost priority to the Republican Party. We support local law enforcement while reforming federal agencies like the DOJ to combat crime rather than pursue political vendettas. With common-sense policies that back the police, ensure fair prosecutions, protect victims, implement appropriate sentencing, and foster rehabilitation, we can curb crime, uphold justice, and restore peace of mind across our communities. The path to public safety starts with Republicans’ commitment to equal protection under law.

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The Criminal Justice System Across history, the greatest and most durable nations in the world have been countries based on a common code of conduct. And, as the greatest power on Earth, the United States is a nation founded on the rule of law. The principles enshrined in our founding documents have endured in large part because of an adherence to the legitimacy and justness of our legal code. Despite the fundamental soundness with which our legal system operates, we Republicans believe that we can do better in adjudicating both crime and punishment in this country. While Democrats in Washington and throughout the country have sought to burn down the entire system, we seek actual, substantive reform which will lead to greater justice for victims and their families, improved prospects for criminal rehabilitation, and more stable communities altogether.

As Republicans, we proudly take up the moniker of being the “law and order” party. We recognize that there have been missteps in past legislation regarding criminal sentencing. We have proven that being tough on crime works, but we have also come to see that, when it comes to criminal sentencing, a one-size fits all approach is an approach that fits no one. While Democrats pass along platitudes about the injustices of our criminal system, it is Republicans who have made substantive progress on this complex issue. One of the tenets of our legal system is prudence, and giving judges greater sentencing leeway when it comes to non-violent offenses—softening some of the excesses of some mandatory minimums—is essential to ensuring that our criminal justice structure dispenses fair rulings. For non-violent crimes, most mandatory minimums are not deterrents from a life of crime but rather an accelerant. Most individuals convicted of a crime will serve approximately 75 percent of their sentence. Mandatory minimums preclude this possibility of early release and, by extending the amount of time spent in prison, increase the likelihood of encountering and engaging in violence—especially with the dilapidated state of prisons in America. This is not to say that mandatory minimums should be disposed of en masse, but rather that the application of criminal sentencing requirements be selective. We cannot allow for grievous acts of violence and malice to slip through the cracks, granting criminals the ability to slip away from all but the most watchful eyes.

Governance requires nuance, and it is only in the Republican Party that careful consideration is given to the complexities of criminal sentencing to ensure that the needle of justice is threaded between the rhetoric of radicals. Retaining some crucial tools, like cash bail, while also taking steps to reform aspects of the justice system is the Republican approach; it is the sensible approach.

In the United States, it is far too common to hear stories of violence between inmates, corrupt guards, and insufferable living conditions. Prisons should be a place where criminals go but where crime does not follow. Bloated bureaucratic administration often means that much of the funding for these facilities is wasted or misdirected. Keeping the prison problem open to the market means a more efficient and humane form of incarceration.

While courts and laws may vary from state to state—a federalist principle for which we are thankful—it is undeniable that the federal judiciary has an outsized role in both the public conscience and legal world. It is therefore essential that we ensure the federal courts serve as a model for the rest of the country. One of the most important areas for leadership on our nation’s benches is the adequate treatment of victims and their families. We recognize—and celebrate—that in the United States the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a fair trial. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we do not forget those who live with the consequences of criminal actions, actions which will have reverberations regardless of the outcome of the trial. The accused may not always be the guilty party, but victims and their families invariably suffer their losses. As Republicans, we stand firmly with victims and their families in guaranteeing that they have the right to access all materials germane to the case, possess the ability to attend the trial if they so choose, and have their voices heard and considered in sentencing deliberations. This consideration ought to extend to the ultimate penalty, capital punishment.

Despite recent back-and-forth in policy and discourse surrounding the death penalty, we remain resolutely Van Tuyl 43

committed to this principle: For the most heinous and depraved crimes, capital punishment is a viable and constitutional option. Some 20th century legal sleights-of-hand may have lent credence to the notion that the death penalty is unconstitutional, but we recognize that the Fifth Amendment explicitly permits the use of capital punishment in some extenuating circumstances. Those who peddle the narrative that the death penalty is a violation of the “cruel and unusual punishment” stipulation of the Eighth Amendment seemingly fail to recognize that the Bill of Rights was ratified concurrently meaning that the Founders didn’t consider execution for capital offenses cruel and unusual, and neither do we.

Lastly, we must understand that the purpose of criminal punishment is two-fold. Obviously, the primary purpose is to achieve a measure of justice for victims, but the issue of criminal rehabilitation is also a noble, though less glamorous goal of incarceration. It is not merely the concept of rehabilitation which we are advocating however, but also the concept of a state-based approach to this problem. It is partially a question of economics and demographics, to be sure. Work possibilities for convicts in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Missouri will surely differ from opportunities to be found in New York or California. Different states, with different values and competing beliefs on the severity of a criminal act, will deem some individuals worthy of re-entry into society and others, having committed acts perceived as unforgivable, unwelcome in perpetuity. We support a state-based approach to criminal rehabilitation and reintegration.

President Biden, his administration, and Democrat sycophants across the country have sought to undermine our system through dangerous rhetoric, condemning our laws as irredeemably racist. Such an ideology does not permit even the discussion of meaningful and impactful reform, rather reducing our solid judicial foundation to rubble and leaving chaos in its wake. Conversely, the Republican Party puts forth a criminal justice platform that seeks to balance the concepts and ideals of justice to which we hold as a country, while also remaining aware of the real-world practical impacts our policies have in attempting to form a more perfect union.

The Drug Crisis Recent decades have seen an increase in the abuse of illicit drugs in our country. The recent discovery of cocaine in the White House shows the severity of the crisis - the illicit drug trade has permeated into even our nation’s highest offices. In 2021, 106,000 Americans died in drug-related overdoses, the highest number there have ever been. All the while, many jurisdictions across the country have moved to decriminalize or legalize illegal substances, despite their ban on the federal level.

In recent years, a new substance has exploded onto our nation’s mainstream drug scene: fentanyl. Synthetic opiates, primarily fentanyl, accounted for over 70,000 reported drug-overdose deaths in 2021. Much of opiate addiction stems from the misuse of prescription painkillers and affects all layers of our society. To combat the rise in opiate abuse, our party introduced the HALT Fentanyl Act. If it passes both houses, it stands to recategorize fentanyl as a Schedule I drug and mandate minimum sentencing for anyone charged with possessing, distributing, or producing the drug.

Fentanyl and drug abuse also presents a national security issue to our country. Much of the fentanyl consumed in our country is unregulated and produced in Chinese factories and smuggled into the country through the usual drug smuggling channels. This foreign attack pointed at the American people is every bit as much a foreign policy concern as it is a domestic policy crisis. To keep synthetic opiates and other illicit substances off our streets and out of the hands of our nation’s youth, increased enforcement of our country’s borders is needed. The current administration’s negligent view towards border security, operating under an evil open borders mentality, has allowed the drug crisis in our country to proliferate. If it does not stop, the number of Americans from all walks of life dying from drug overdose will continue to rise, and China will continue to contaminate our country with fentanyl.

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Technological Advancement As technology becomes further ingrained in our country, it is imperative that the government keeps pace with the new challenges that we face. Technological advances have changed life overall– from the job market to social interactions to digital security. America is unique in its capacity to build upon these technological markets. We must continue our support of fair competition to ensure that the best ideas come to fruition. Supporting American goods and services in a global market is of the utmost importance, which requires a fine balance between over-interfering and allowing problems to go unmanaged. The rise of artificial intelligence will become a top priority for a Republican administration. It is vital to the health of our nation that we stay on top of regulating artificial intelligence in a way that addresses privacy-related issues that may arise while also promoting innovation and being the leading nation in AI advancement.

We believe that consumers should know when they interact with AI. There must be a clear framework for classifying AI impact and a reliable standard for non-compliance with these standards.

It is vital to the health of our nation that we stay on top of regulating artificial intelligence in a way that addresses privacy-related issues that may arise while also promoting innovation and being the leading nation in AI advancement.

There are necessary precautions we must take surrounding Big Tech companies that have impeded the rights of Americans. These companies, which include social media platforms, have detrimentally censored conservative political opinions. We will pursue equal protection for free speech on these platforms by fighting to change the 1996 Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. § 230) which provides broadband protections for these companies. Moderation should only be allowed on speech that is not protected under the First Amendment. Users should be protected from arbitrary hindrances to their speech and are entitled to a fair appeals process. These restrictions are not to impede entrepreneurship, but to protect the most basic rights that our country was founded on. We believe that transparency in the terms of service is necessary moving forward and that Americans should know about any data collection or content moderation.

There are further concerns about the safety of children on the internet and what they are potentially exposed to. We believe in increased reporting by these tech companies on what advertisements are shown to young people and ending targeted advertisements for minors. Social media’s impact on children and teens’ mental health cannot be ignored. Higher usage of social media by minors correlates to decreased happiness. We must mitigate cyberbullying and online harassment. We will continue fighting against algorithms that target children and to protect their privacy.

Although we must pursue these goals, internet connectivity remains important for many rural Americans.

For small businesses to remain competitive in a modern market, they need access to reliable internet connection. Many more rural than urban adults report that internet access is a major issue they face.

Public-private partnerships are an essential part of improving this situation.

Big Tech The useful ubiquity of online platforms has also left our nation with several problems which have come into sharp focus over the last few years. Most critical to our democracy is the tendency of X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook to censor content deemed “misinformation”—a euphemism for facts or views which challenge the prevailing leftist mores. In 2020, for instance, Big Tech censored the New York Post’s coverage O’Brien, Thompson 45

of the scandalous Hunter Biden laptop. Even liberal media bigwig Bob Woodward admitted the story was important news, yet it was shut down by Big Tech, arguably affecting the outcome of the 2020 election.

Perhaps more concerning is the Biden Administration’s willingness to pressure Big Tech into deplatforming contrary views of the COVID-19 pandemic, coordination that may violate the First Amendment.

Republicans support ongoing lawsuits alleging that the Biden Administration violated users’ rights by pushing their removal or restriction. Republicans will pass legislation to clarify that federal officials may not censor or encourage censorship while acting in their official capacity. Additionally, Republicans will reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to require that companies allow access to all lawful content. These actions will ensure that the public forum remains free for debate and discourse, allowing our democracy to flourish.

Americans also deserve to have their online privacy protected. When Americans use an online service, they should be confident that they retain control over their information, that there is a limit to the exchange made with the provider. Republicans accordingly support legislation which will restrict the extent to which online platforms may use consumers’ data. Consumers should have more control over their data, including the right to delete it. Data collected on minors must be used with especial sensitivity.

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FOREIGN POLICY Supporting our Troops and Veterans The United States military is the strongest in the world. Maintaining a powerful and strong military is key to preserving our nation’s safety and national defense. Without it, we are defenseless, and our world is less secure and peaceful. The only way to ensure our military is well-suited to protect our country is by ensuring the defense budget is large enough to support enough troops and weaponry. Additionally, the military should maintain traditional values, not ludicrous, left-leaning ones. The military’s goal should be ensuring the safety of our nation, not adhering to social standards or the Democrat’s woke objectives.

We must also maintain and support a national missile defense system. This keeps America ahead of any adversaries and protects against any possible launches or attacks on our nation.

The military’s goal should be ensuring the safety of our nation, not adhering to social standards or the Democrat’s woke objectives.

A Republican leader will also end the politicization of the U.S. military. A recent survey of U.S. military members revealed that around 70 percent of individuals in the military have witnessed or experienced significant politicization of the military. This diverts the military’s core objective of defending the nation and discourages the next generations from joining the military. Put plainly, this is unacceptable. Our military must increase its readiness and strengthen its ability to fight, not promote the liberal, left-wing politics of the Biden Administration. Additionally, military healthcare cannot prioritize social issues either. Sex-reassignment surgeries, abortions, and related care will not be part of the military health care provision under a Republican Administration. Again, the military is not a platform for promoting social or environmental goals.

Our nation’s veterans will forever remain a valued and respected population to the Republican Party and our country. Their service and commitment to the U.S. should never be understated and our duty to protect them, their families, and their dignity shall never falter. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the primary vehicle in fostering these protections, but it must be reformed to adequately support our Veterans physically, emotionally, and mentally. The VA provides health benefits, education, disability, survivor, home loan, and memorial services, but the department needs a restructuring and a better allocation of funds to properly carry out its duties.

The VA needs major reform to ensure its leaders and subordinates are responsive to veteran needs and are fulfilling their prescribed obligations. For its provision of healthcare services, the VA has an obligation to protect veterans and staff and support public health during disasters, emergencies, and under all circumstances. Medicine for the military and veterans must be of utmost importance, especially for mental health, traumatic brain injury, trauma, loss of limbs and PTSD. These injuries are severe and require immediate and adequate medical attention, in and outside of the VA facilities. We, the Republican party, are committed to strengthening the VA health system and to improving the provision of care to a status of individuals so important to our nation. Provider shortages, primary care failures, long wait times, and mental health physicians are in short supply at the VA. We commit to fixing these shortcomings, so that veterans can have the apt care they deserve. We also honor our fallen men as well, in veterans’ cemeteries where they lay to rest in cemeteries around the world. It is vital to honor their sacrifice and comfort their families by ensuring their place of rest is well taken care of, using Arlington Cemetery as the standard for upkeep and service.

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The homelessness crisis among veterans is also a problem that we seek to fix as a party, with a Republican leader at the forefront. We must continue to urge the private sector to prioritize hiring veterans and implement company policies to ensure they have equal access to finding and securing jobs. Having a job for a veteran is more than a source of income. It is a new beginning, a source of fulfillment and opportunity.

For their service, they must be rewarded with an easy and effective process to find employment.

The National Guard and Reserves The Reserve and National Guard have a proud history of serving our country when we have needed them the most in both domestic and foreign spheres. They are great defenders of freedom who are deserving of gratitude and their due compensation for their willingness to answer the call to serve after the events of September 11, 2001. Even today there are more than 20,000 National Guardsmen deployed in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and South America. Their experience helps them provide training for the troops of our allies. At home, they showed unprecedented dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing supplies and meals to those in need while also logging a record number of service days fighting wildfires, responding to severe weather events, and giving civil disturbance support.

Maintaining the National Guard and Reserve’s important functions requires that we continue their funding. Straining their resources through cuts would not only put the men and women of the Guard and Reserve at harm but has the potential to hinder the military that relies on their assistance. We support fully funding the National Guard and Reserve, especially for their work on the southern border to inhibit criminal activities from entering our country. We believe in providing them with up-to-date resources for their defense and humanitarian missions to be a success. Their role in the safety of the United States, and their own well-being, is too important for their funding to be held hostage.

The National Guard has become invaluable in analyzing data for the Army and Air Force and working with sensitive information. Recent events have shown, though, that there needs to be more precautions and safety measures to ensure that our gathered intelligence is only in the hands of the most trustworthy. We believe in more stringent screening of personnel with access to our most sensitive defense documents.

Supporting Israel As the greatest example of prosperity and democracy in the Middle East, Israel is an invaluable ally to the United States. From both a geopolitical and moral perspective, it is imperative that the United States maintain its steadfast support for the Jewish State, especially considering the recent rises in anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment both at home, particularly in the fringes of the Democrat Party, and abroad in the form of radical Islam. Even though the threats and challenges facing Israel have never been graver, the past couple of years have shown the United States shirking from its responsibility to protect this most crucial ally. We Republicans proudly reaffirm our support for Israel and its status as an anchor for democracy in one of the world’s most turbulent regions.

We Republicans proudly reaffirm our support for Israel and its status as an anchor for democracy in one of the world’s most turbulent regions.

Joe Biden’s tenure in the White House has been nothing but a disaster for Israel. Consistently emboldening its aggressors, the administration has stooped to moral equivalence between terrorist acts of aggression and Israel’s self-defense. Furthermore, we have seen the naivete of President Biden’s foreign policy, time and again giving away money to the Palestinian Authority in the name of humanitarian aid only to see that return on investment in the form of attacks on Israeli towns and homes. This has all taken place amidst the backdrop of increasingly polarized opinions on support for Israel in the United States. Democrats in the 48 O’Brien, Van Tuyl

United States now express a more favorable opinion of Palestinians than Israelis. This is not a party serious about resolving Middle East disputes logically.

We need a return to sober and smart policy with regards to Israel, which includes a clear-eyed assessment of the threats that Israeli citizens face every day. This is more apparent than ever with the escalating brutality of terrorist attacks by Hamas, declaring war on Israel. The last Republican administration provided hope for a stable future in the Middle East, paving the way for the first substantive steps towards peace in decades with the Abraham Accords while also maintaining steadfast support for Israel with the critical gesture of moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem. The present administration lacks the ability to conduct such deft diplomacy, and as Republicans we urge the nation to seek a new direction towards peace in the Middle East.

The Middle East The embodiment of the current administration’s foreign policy is President Biden’s botched August 2021 evacuation of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Biden’s sudden and reckless withdrawal of American forces quickly allowed the Taliban to seize control of the country. Their resurged emirate of terror has brought back the violent oppression of ethnic and religious minorities, women, and liberal minded Afghans and the harboring of terrorists, such as ISIS and elements of Al-Qaeda, that were the reason for American intervention in the first place. The President’s handling of the situation resulted in over 200 U.S. citizens and thousands of Afghans partners being left in the country. In addition, the immediate reckless withdrawal left over 600,000 small arms, 76,000 vehicles and 208 aircraft in the hands of the Taliban. Our enemies will now hunt our allies with American weapons. The current administration ended America’s longest war in a defeat, making us appear weak to our enemies and unfaithful to our allies. With the Taliban in power in Afghanistan, persecution will continue, and our enemies will maintain an important refuge from which to conduct acts of terror.

As the situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, its western neighbor remains a threat to American interests and our way of life. Tehran continues to subsidize terrorism worldwide. The continued funding of groups like Hezbollah and others by Iran is a significant roadblock towards peace and democracy throughout the region. The Iranian threat is felt not only in the region, but beyond it, as Tehran continues to supply Iranian-made drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The Biden Administration has repeatedly been outfoxed by Iran regarding a nuclear deal, with the regime again and again stalling the talks and demanding further concessions whilst simultaneously expediting progress on its own nuclear program.

Additionally, President Biden’s willingness to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets to facilitate a prisoner swap will no doubt encourage the wrongful detainment of Americans in the future. A Republican president will take a harder stance against Iran to put an end to its reign of terror across the Middle East and throughout the world and promote democracy in the country, which recent protests prove is what the Iranian people desire.

The Republican Party stands with our allies in our continued fight against global terror and extremism.

Many in the region who see terrorists for what they are - misguided fanatics who spew false interpretations of their faith—are united with us in our efforts to bring peace to the area. We remain supportive of our Kurdish allies in their fight for representation and against our common foes. We will continue to support ethnic and religious minorities in their struggles against oppression.

Russia and Ukraine We stand in solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people in their fight against Russian aggression. Their determination for the protection of their sovereignty is an example to us all. The Biden Administration must be held accountable for not preventing Russia’s invasion. A stronger president would have deterred Putin from engaging in the largest war on the European continent since the Second World War—one that has already killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. We abhor this violence and are Martin 49

committed to bringing the conflict to a close so that Ukrainians may return to their homes. If Ukrainians are to begin rebuilding their lives, a deal must be brokered with Russia to put an end to the war. If this deal is to be advantageous to the Ukrainian people, it must be brokered by a strong American president.

The current administration’s lack of an exit strategy will only lead to a prolonged conflict - an outcome that only benefits Putin and his imperialist desires. The longer this conflict persists, the likelier it is that the Russian horde will overpower Ukraine’s defenders, and Russia’s border will grow further West, closer towards NATO and our European allies. The American people have spent far too much funding the defense of Ukraine. President Biden’s lack of an exit strategy only propagates this waste of our tax dollars that could be used to benefit Americans at home. It will take a president who displays our strength to our enemies and is committed to brokering a deal advantageous to Ukraine to bring peace to the region and keep U.S. tax dollars from funding a foreign war.

European Alliances Since the Truman Administration, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has served as the primary alliance for western democracies. In an era of continued conflict, particularly the Russia and Ukraine war, NATO remains an essential force to promote democracy. However, the other members of NATO need to abide by the nature of the contract and maintain their fair share in defense spending as the United States does. We stand with Ukraine in this war but cannot be the only nation carrying the weight— other NATO countries must step in and fulfill their commitments and meet the need for greater investment in defense.

Per history and tradition, we stand with many of the same core goals and values as Europeans. Despite the continent’s various economic and political conflict, we commend the dedication to the goals of democracy.

We do not approve of any sort of Russian repression or violence. We remain committed to respecting, supporting, and strengthening our relationship with the United Kingdom and our other European alliances we support.

We also profusely thank any nations helping and contributing to the war efforts in Ukraine, Israel, and elsewhere. The support and sacrifice against Russian and Islamic terrorism cannot go understated. We encourage and would like to increase greater cooperation amongst the United States and other Eastern European nations. For Russia, we support maintaining a cordial relationship between its people and ours.

However, we deeply condemn the acts of violence in Ukraine. We deny and do not accept any territorial change in Eastern Europe or elsewhere and will continue to support the Ukraine war effort alongside the Russian aggression.

U.S. diplomacy is key to maintaining planning and coordination amongst all nations. Encouraging more cooperation amongst all nations—European, Asian, African and all elsewhere, can facilitate trade, political reforms, and better rule of law in both the U.S. and other countries.

China As the reach of the Chinese Communist Party grows ever closer to the shores of Taiwan, the Republican Party affirms its strong support for Taiwan. The United States and the rest of the world benefit from a free Taiwan that can engage in trade, self-protection, and democracy. The future of Taiwan should be determined peacefully by the people of Taiwan, together with the international community, free from coercion or threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

For over seventy years, the people of Taiwan have built a vibrant democracy that reflects shared values with the United States. However, the CCP has desperately sought to gain sovereignty over Taiwan in recent years. First, the CCP has pressured foreign countries into accepting the non-recognition of Taiwan, leaving the island state with just thirteen diplomatic partners. Second, the CCP has attempted to block Taiwan 50 Cerone, Lee

from engaging in international relations. Third, the CCP has actively tried to interfere in Taiwanese and U.S. relations, most recently conducting illegal military maneuvers in Taiwanese airspace when President Tsai Ing-we met with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. government recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “sole legal government of China” and acknowledged, but did not endorse, “the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.” The Taiwan Relations Act still allows the United States to provide weapons and defend the island nation when its national security is threatened. While acknowledging the U.S. position, the Republican Party strongly supports Taiwanese freedom, trade, and self-defense.

The United States and the rest of the globe rely on Taiwanese technological production. Taiwan is the eighth largest trading partner of the United States and the source of ninety-two percent of the world’s highest-end semiconductors, critical for electronic comments in consumer, industrial, and military products. An interruption to the Taiwanese production of highest-end semiconductors would significantly threaten the free world’s critical infrastructure, electronics, and military preparedness.

Furthermore, Taiwan’s location on the South China Sea makes it a key ally for the United States, defending against any incursions by the CCP. Taiwan serves as an essential line of defense against the CCP’s increasingly aggressive use of its military forces in the South China Sea. Losing Taiwan to PRC control would undermine America’s position in the region, provide China with a favorable position to interdict U.S. forces, and jeopardize access to global shipping lanes in the area. Without the support of Taiwan, our other allies in the South China Sea, like Japan and the Philippines, would be left vulnerable to further pressure or actions by the CCP.

To this end, we Republicans support deepening diplomatic, economic, and military ties with Taiwan. We endorse trade with Taiwan, and economic integration will benefit both countries.

To this end, we Republicans support deepening diplomatic, economic, and military ties with Taiwan. We endorse trade with Taiwan, and economic integration will benefit both countries. The U.S. must continue to furnish Taiwan with any tools and services needed to defend against incursions by the CCP. Additionally, the United States should strengthen its military positions in the Indo-Pacific region, apart from Taiwan, to ensure the area is well defended. By committing to Taiwan, the United States can ensure stability, freedom, and peace in the South China Sea and beyond.

North Korea In a world beset by the complicated geopolitical posturing of China, the U.S., Europe, and non-aligned countries, rogue regimes can easily wreak havoc. For that reason, the U.S. must continue pressuring one of the world’s most flippant rogue regimes, Kim Jong-un’s North Korea, to improve its behavior. North Korea has repeatedly violated U.N. resolutions prohibiting development of nuclear weapons, perpetrates millions of cyberattacks per annum, and holds conventional armed forces that are an active threat to America, South Korea, and Japan. Each challenge requires a robust U.S. response.

Republicans will thus resolutely enforce international sanctions against North Korea, including punishing firms that enable money laundering and other illicit activities. Republicans will also work to support allies and improve coordination against North Korean cyberattacks. Republicans will strengthen military preparedness of conventional military forces on the Korean Peninsula by working closely with South Korea and Japan. Most importantly, the Republicans will continue opposing and countering North Korea’s nuclear weapon program, ensuring that East Asia and the continental U.S. are protected against any threat posed by North Korean nuclear aggression. Building on the landmark diplomatic milestones reached by the Trump Thompson 51

Administration in North Korea, a Republican President will maintain peace through strength through all necessary means.

Asia Pacific As America continues to be a major force on the world stage, it is imperative to ensure that we remain on solid footing in the most dynamic and important regions around the globe. Right now, there is no region more integral to global stability than the Asia Pacific theater. Composed of many of the world’s burgeoning economic and military superpowers, the United States—itself a part of this region with its territories—must continue to cultivate positive diplomatic and economic relations with our allies in this part of the world while standing for freedom, democracy, and all the values that make America great. Assuaging the threats posed by rogue nations like North Korea, working with our allies on mutually shared goals, and setting standards for global integration for nations like India requires a confident and competent foreign policy— policies which the Biden Administration have not only failed to deliver but whose actions have made the situation in the region far worse.

We must maintain and further cultivate the alliances that have enabled regional stability and international cooperation for the past few decades. Namely, our economic relationships with Japan and South Korea must be strengthened if we are to ensure that democratic nations with free markets retain the leading edge in a 21st century economy. President Biden’s failure to advance economic and security cooperation together at recent summits between the three nations is proof enough that piecemeal politics is not the way to success in the Asia Pacific.

One of the world’s fastest growing countries, India is also a key component to American strategy in the region. We must work to ensure that this economic powerhouse is firmly integrated into the democratic world order and on good terms with the United States. It is, however, incredibly important that we also make sure that an allied India is a nation whose moral and economic interests line up with ours. Recently, India has muddied the waters regarding the war in Ukraine, a disturbing sign from a nation that is increasingly close to Russia and by extension China. We must do everything in our power to guarantee that India does not allow itself to fall into collaboration with these adversaries from both an ethical and economic perspective. Regarding nations in the vicinity, such as Myanmar, we believe that a robust commitment to safeguarding democracy and democratic governance is paramount; this is especially true considering recent events in the region.

We Republicans are dedicated to implementing a forward-looking and conscientious approach in South Asia and the Pacific region. By abiding by steadfast commitments to economic cooperation, human rights protections, and military de-escalation, we are providing a cohesive Republican solution to a problem exacerbated by both the Obama and Biden Administrations. A foreign policy of strength, strategy, and smarts is in order and Republicans stand as the only ones ready to deliver.

Cybersecurity The digitalization of the U.S. economy and critical infrastructure reliant on digital systems means that the U.S. is highly vulnerable to cyberattacks—both by cybercriminals and hostile nation-states. Cyberattacks are costly; experts estimate that in 2018, cybercriminals cost the global economy $600 billion. Indeed, cyberattacks may even imperil U.S. technological supremacy if cybercriminals manage to steal the advanced A.I. algorithms developed by American firms. Cyberattacks also disrupt Americans’ lives. For example, the 2021 ransomware attack on the East Coast’s Colonial Pipeline led to fuel shortages in several states. Several cyberattacks have been linked to foreign governments, with 24 foreign officials indicted for cybercrimes thus far.

With rising exposure to cyberwarfare, the U.S. must act swiftly to deter and defeat cybercriminals.

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Republicans support legislation which would broaden the ability of the U.S. Cyber Command to respond to attacks and conduct offensive operations in retaliation. Republicans will also support a clear deterrence policy which outlines to would-be cybercriminals the consequences of their actions, putting force behind the stance that the U.S. will respond proportionally.

The U.S. government must also partner with developers and the American private sector to ensure that cybersecurity best practices are widely adopted. Republicans will ensure that firms are not overburdened by regulations, which instill complacency and compliance costs, instead encouraging them to take the initiative with cybersecurity. Republicans will provide oversight to ensure federal agencies do not overstep their bounds and, at the same time, consult extensively with industry leaders and cyber experts to implement the best policies and legislation. Through a broader response capability, clear deterrence protocols, and robust private-sector initiatives, Republicans will stop cybercriminals in their tracks.

Cuba Since Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S. backed government in Cuba over 60 years ago, we have had a strained relationship with Cuba. Cuba has since been plagued by communism, infiltrated by our adversaries, and ripe with economic conflict and human rights violations. Former President Donald Trump rightfully reignited the important debate over U.S.-Cuba relations. He successfully reversed the lenient and irresponsible polices President Obama enacted during his presidency. Obama’s lifting of the Cuba embargo was catastrophic—it deregulated trade, created poorly monitored travel agreements, and removed Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

With a Republican President in power, we will continue to enact President Trump’s tighter regulations and restrictions on Cuba. Commerce should be tightly regulated, travel should be limited, and conditional, and economic sanctions should be reenacted. After unexplainable and ruthless attacks on U.S. embassy staff in Havana and Cuba’s involvement with Venezuela’s socialist regime, it is clear the country has many democratic reforms to make before the United States restores a strong relationship with the country. The Cuban government does not have the best intentions and governs against U.S. values of freedom, the free market, and human rights protections.

President Biden has also not helped with reform in Cuba. Though he vowed to restore human rights and to create a democratic government, he has failed. In just the last few years, Cuba has seen some of the largest civilian protests and worst economic conditions in its history. In 2021, just a year after Biden assumed office, thousands of Cuban citizens protested the poor economic conditions of their country – mass power outages, food and medicine shortages, and crippling inflation. The Cuban people need help, and it must come from a democratic leader.

The most recent, jarring development in Cuba is yet another reason why it needs to be closely monitored.

Recent revelations of Chinese spy equipment, military bases, and deployments in Cuba demonstrate a serious threat to our national security. This discovery is unacceptable and resembles the Soviet influence in Cuba during the Cold War. Cuba is just 90 miles off our coast, situated dangerously close to home.

Better yet, the Biden Administration did little in response to this discovery and even rejected the reports as inaccurate. It is time to take a tough stance on Cuba. A Republican administration will take a more serious and direct approach to countering our adversaries’ meddling in Cuba and in other parts of South America.

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ATTRIBUTIONS Over the course of the past two years, members from every department of Mock Convention have contributed to and edited the platform. Below are the breakdowns of the specific planks for which Mock Con members are responsible for.

Claire Cerone, Platform Chair Preamble, The Job Market, Protecting Small Businesses, Global and Competitive America, The Housing Market, The Legislative Branch, The Fifth Amendment: The Right to Life, Energy Policy, Government for the People, Balancing the Federal Budget, Immigration and the Rule of Law, Preserving Medicare and Medicaid, Marriage, Family and Society, Personalized and Affordable Healthcare, Continuing Health Innovation, Supporting our Troops and Veterans, European Alliances, Cuba John Lee, Platform Committee Post-Pandemic Economy, Infrastructure Investments, The Executive Branch, The Electoral College, Strengthening Police and Protecting Public Safety, China Will Martin, Platform Committee Trade Policy, The Job Market, The Second Amendment, Agriculture, Energy, Improving Higher Education, The Drug Crisis, The Middle East, Russia and Ukraine Clare O’Brien, Platform Committee Simple Taxes, Federal Workforce, Judicial Branch, Fourth Amendment, Environmental Policy, Free Speech on Campuses, Education Principles, Technological Advancement, National Guard and Reserves Drew Thompson, Platform Committee Republican Tax Principles, Banking Reform, The Federal Reserve, Digital Assets, Resisting the ESG Extremism, The Legislative Branch, The Judicial Branch, The Fifth Amendment: Intellectual Property and Privacy, Balancing the Federal Budget, Title IX, Big Tech, North Korea, Cybersecurity Palmer Van Tuyl, Platform Committee Inflation, Decreasing Economic Dependence on China, We the People, Federalism and the 10th Amendment, Election Integrity, Saving Social Security, Preserving D.C., America in the Territories, Criminal Justice, Supporting Israel, Asia Pacific

An additional thank you to everyone who helped to edit the platform over the course of the cycle, especially Foster Harris, Ramsay Trask, Carly Snyder, and the Communications Team.

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MOCK CONVENTION 2024 Republican Cycle | Washington and Lee