lib3rtarian
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Please allow me to update you on some of this week's happenings.
Dr. Paul Participates in West Louisville Community Conversation
On Monday, I met with community leaders and citizens at the Plymouth Community Renewal Center to discuss the challenges facing families in the West Louisville community.
One of the issues I heard the most about during this and previous visits is the impact of mandatory minimum sentences in our criminal justice system. We are working at the local, state and federal level to find solutions to these problems. This is not a partisan issue - it is about helping people get their lives back on track, enabling them to provide for their families, and breaking the cycle of violence and poverty.
In an effort to change the current situation in the West End, my office will continue to be active in the community and committed to addressing problems.
(Dr. Paul with Markham French of the Plymouth Community Renewal Center, left, and Shawn Gardner of 2not1 Fatherhood and Families, right - Sept. 16, 2013)
Dr. Paul Responds to Eastern Kentucky Coal Mine Closures
On Monday, James River Coal Company announced that it was shutting down coal production at operations in Floyd, Harlan, Laurel, Leslie and Pike Counties and were laying off 525 coal miners.
President Obama and his Administration have declared a war on coal, and thus declared a war on Kentucky jobs and our economy. In the past few years, thousands of Kentucky coal miners have lost their jobs at the hands of an overzealous EPA. Now, another 525 Kentucky families are facing the same devastating news.
Kentuckians are deeply frustrated and they have a right to be. Coal miners are worried about providing for their families, while all families are worried about a future devoid of abundant, affordable and reliable energy. I will continue to fight for Kentucky's coal industry and for the jobs and livelihoods it provides. If President Obama attempts to kill coal jobs with new regulations, I will organize resistance in the Senate through the Congressional Review Act to stop him.
Click HERE to read my statement in its entirety.
Sen. Paul Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Committee
On Wednesday, I testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on "Reevaluating the Effectiveness of Mandatory Minimum Sentences."
I have joined Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in introducing the Justice Safety Valve Act, a bipartisan effort to improve justice in our nation's court rooms. The legislation amends current law to provide "authority to impose a sentence below a statutory mandatory minimum" if certain requirements are met.
This bill calls to end mandatory sentences for non-violent crimes, and a returns power to judges by allowing them to use their discretion and judgment in sentences for minor drug crimes. Mandatory minimum sentencing has done little to address the very real problem of drug abuse, while also doing great damage by destroying so many lives.
Each case should be judged on its own merits, yet mandatory minimums prevent this from happening. I spoke more about the injustice of mandatory minimum sentencing during Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee.
Click HERE for the video and transcript of my testimony and HERE for an opinion editorial I penned for the Washington Times.
(Sen. Paul speaks with Sen. Leahy before the Senate Judiciary Hearing - Sept. 18, 2013)
Dr. Paul Meets with Members of the International Franchise Association
On Tuesday of this week, I met with Kentucky representatives from the International Franchise Association. We discussed a variety of legislative issues that affect their franchises, specifically the implementation of Obamacare.
(Dr. Paul meets with International Franchise Constituents - Sept. 17, 2013)
Dr. Paul Meets with National Military Youth of the Year
For more than 21 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has partnered with the Armed Services to support children of military families. This partnership has grown over the years and today, 393 military installations serve more than 468,000 military youth throughout the United States and in 15 countries abroad. For the first time this year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is recognizing a National Military Youth of the Year winner.
On Tuesday, I had the honor of meeting RaShaan Allen, the young man who was named Military Youth of the Year. RaShaan is currently a freshman at Western Kentucky University with plans to major in political science. This special recognition is aligned with BGCA's National Youth of the Year program and provides yet another opportunity for Boys & Girls Clubs of America to recognize outstanding youth.
(Dr. Paul with RaShaan Allen, Military Youth of the Year - Sept. 17, 2013)
Dr. Paul Meets with Kentucky Credit Union League Members
On Wednesday afternoon, I met with members of the Kentucky Credit Union League. We talked about regulations and tax issues that affect their businesses.
(Dr. Paul meets with members of the Kentucky Credit Union League - Sept. 17, 2013)
Dr. Paul Speaks on "Freedom, Security and America's Role in the World"
Wednesday evening, I spoke at a foreign affairs forum hosted by National Review Online and the Charles Koch Institute. The debate focused on America's role in the world and I specifically addressed my opposition to U.S. intervention in Syria.
Click HERE to watch my speech.
(Dr. Rand Paul at the "Freedom, Security, and America's Role in the World" event - Sept. 18, 2013)
(Dr. Paul with Peter Van Buren, Chris Coyve, Jonathan Tepperman, KT McFarland and Rich Lowry - Sept. 18, 2013)
Dr. Rand Paul Meets with Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association Members
On Thursday afternoon, I met with Kentucky representatives from the Automobile Dealers Association about a variety of regulations that affect the automobile industry.
(Dr. Paul meets with members of the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association - Sept. 19, 2013)
Media Wrap-Up
This past week, I appeared on Fox's America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Hannity. I spoke with several radio stations across the country, as well as stations in Kentucky including Lee Burke of East Kentucky Broadcasting, Bill Cunningham of 700 WLW, Brian Thomas of 55KRC, Lee Cruise of WLVK, Leland Conway of WHAS, Greg Dunker of WKYX, and Darrell Duvall and Al Arbogast of WKCT. I also penned Op-Ed's in TIME Magazine and the Washington Times.
Dr. Paul Participates in West Louisville Community Conversation
On Monday, I met with community leaders and citizens at the Plymouth Community Renewal Center to discuss the challenges facing families in the West Louisville community.
One of the issues I heard the most about during this and previous visits is the impact of mandatory minimum sentences in our criminal justice system. We are working at the local, state and federal level to find solutions to these problems. This is not a partisan issue - it is about helping people get their lives back on track, enabling them to provide for their families, and breaking the cycle of violence and poverty.
In an effort to change the current situation in the West End, my office will continue to be active in the community and committed to addressing problems.
(Dr. Paul with Markham French of the Plymouth Community Renewal Center, left, and Shawn Gardner of 2not1 Fatherhood and Families, right - Sept. 16, 2013)
Dr. Paul Responds to Eastern Kentucky Coal Mine Closures
On Monday, James River Coal Company announced that it was shutting down coal production at operations in Floyd, Harlan, Laurel, Leslie and Pike Counties and were laying off 525 coal miners.
President Obama and his Administration have declared a war on coal, and thus declared a war on Kentucky jobs and our economy. In the past few years, thousands of Kentucky coal miners have lost their jobs at the hands of an overzealous EPA. Now, another 525 Kentucky families are facing the same devastating news.
Kentuckians are deeply frustrated and they have a right to be. Coal miners are worried about providing for their families, while all families are worried about a future devoid of abundant, affordable and reliable energy. I will continue to fight for Kentucky's coal industry and for the jobs and livelihoods it provides. If President Obama attempts to kill coal jobs with new regulations, I will organize resistance in the Senate through the Congressional Review Act to stop him.
Click HERE to read my statement in its entirety.
Sen. Paul Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Committee
On Wednesday, I testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on "Reevaluating the Effectiveness of Mandatory Minimum Sentences."
I have joined Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in introducing the Justice Safety Valve Act, a bipartisan effort to improve justice in our nation's court rooms. The legislation amends current law to provide "authority to impose a sentence below a statutory mandatory minimum" if certain requirements are met.
This bill calls to end mandatory sentences for non-violent crimes, and a returns power to judges by allowing them to use their discretion and judgment in sentences for minor drug crimes. Mandatory minimum sentencing has done little to address the very real problem of drug abuse, while also doing great damage by destroying so many lives.
Each case should be judged on its own merits, yet mandatory minimums prevent this from happening. I spoke more about the injustice of mandatory minimum sentencing during Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee.
Click HERE for the video and transcript of my testimony and HERE for an opinion editorial I penned for the Washington Times.
(Sen. Paul speaks with Sen. Leahy before the Senate Judiciary Hearing - Sept. 18, 2013)
Dr. Paul Meets with Members of the International Franchise Association
On Tuesday of this week, I met with Kentucky representatives from the International Franchise Association. We discussed a variety of legislative issues that affect their franchises, specifically the implementation of Obamacare.
(Dr. Paul meets with International Franchise Constituents - Sept. 17, 2013)
Dr. Paul Meets with National Military Youth of the Year
For more than 21 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has partnered with the Armed Services to support children of military families. This partnership has grown over the years and today, 393 military installations serve more than 468,000 military youth throughout the United States and in 15 countries abroad. For the first time this year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is recognizing a National Military Youth of the Year winner.
On Tuesday, I had the honor of meeting RaShaan Allen, the young man who was named Military Youth of the Year. RaShaan is currently a freshman at Western Kentucky University with plans to major in political science. This special recognition is aligned with BGCA's National Youth of the Year program and provides yet another opportunity for Boys & Girls Clubs of America to recognize outstanding youth.
(Dr. Paul with RaShaan Allen, Military Youth of the Year - Sept. 17, 2013)
Dr. Paul Meets with Kentucky Credit Union League Members
On Wednesday afternoon, I met with members of the Kentucky Credit Union League. We talked about regulations and tax issues that affect their businesses.
(Dr. Paul meets with members of the Kentucky Credit Union League - Sept. 17, 2013)
Dr. Paul Speaks on "Freedom, Security and America's Role in the World"
Wednesday evening, I spoke at a foreign affairs forum hosted by National Review Online and the Charles Koch Institute. The debate focused on America's role in the world and I specifically addressed my opposition to U.S. intervention in Syria.
Click HERE to watch my speech.
(Dr. Rand Paul at the "Freedom, Security, and America's Role in the World" event - Sept. 18, 2013)
(Dr. Paul with Peter Van Buren, Chris Coyve, Jonathan Tepperman, KT McFarland and Rich Lowry - Sept. 18, 2013)
Dr. Rand Paul Meets with Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association Members
On Thursday afternoon, I met with Kentucky representatives from the Automobile Dealers Association about a variety of regulations that affect the automobile industry.
(Dr. Paul meets with members of the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association - Sept. 19, 2013)
Media Wrap-Up
This past week, I appeared on Fox's America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Hannity. I spoke with several radio stations across the country, as well as stations in Kentucky including Lee Burke of East Kentucky Broadcasting, Bill Cunningham of 700 WLW, Brian Thomas of 55KRC, Lee Cruise of WLVK, Leland Conway of WHAS, Greg Dunker of WKYX, and Darrell Duvall and Al Arbogast of WKCT. I also penned Op-Ed's in TIME Magazine and the Washington Times.
