Cotton: Protestors who deface statues must face mandatory minimums

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Saving Treasured Artifacts Through Uniform Enforcement (STATUE) Act, legislation that would impose mandatory minimum prison sentences for defacing statues on federal land. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) is co-sponsoring the legislation.

Senator Cotton introduced the legislation after protestors damaged the area surrounding the White House, including painting pro-Hamas and antisemitic slogans on statues in Lafayette Square Park.

“Any protestor who defaces statues of America’s heroes must face the full extent of the law. As Joe Biden seeks to appease the pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party, it’s clear his administration won’t do anything to punish the protestors who defaced the area around the White House recently. The Senate should take up my legislation to punish these pro-Hamas lunatics,” said Senator Cotton.

Text of the legislation may be found here.

The STATUE Act would:

• Impose a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $1,000 fine or a fine equal to the amount of damage to the property, whichever is greater.

• Amend the Veterans’ Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act so that it applies to all monuments or property under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

Cotton, Colleagues introduce bill to repeal tax on certain firearm purchases

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, legislation that would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act.

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Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Rick Scott (R-Florida) are co-sponsors of the legislation. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (Iowa-02) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“Law-abiding Americans who exercise their Second Amendment rights should not be subject to unnecessary taxes and restrictions preventing them from doing so. Passed into law in 1934, the National Firearms Act needs to be amended. Our legislation will remove the red tape that places an undue financial burden on would-be gun owners,” said Senator Cotton.

“The federal government should not be placing financial barriers on the inalienable rights of Americans. This unconstitutional tax on certain firearm purchases is a direct violation of the Second Amendment and must be repealed. As the Biden Administration and Democrats push proposals that unfairly target law-abiding gun owners, I will continue to stand up for Iowans’ right to keep and bear arms,” said Congresswoman Hinson.

Text of the legislation may be found here.

Background:

• The 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates short-barreled shotguns and rifles, fully automatic firearms, suppressors, and a catchall category of explosives. In addition to background checks and registration, NFA regulated items have a $200 tax.

• The ATF has acknowledged the tax was intended “to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions” of firearms. The $200 tax, unchanged since 1934, is equivalent to $4,648 in today’s dollars.

• Since 2018, ownership of NFA regulated items have grown by more than 250% as more sportsmen, shooters and firearm enthusiasts exercise their Second Amendment right.

• The RIFLE Act does not modify the current checks and registration; it solely removes the federally mandated financial burden on law-abiding gun owners.

• The legislation is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Cotton, Sullivan, Colleagues to Austin: NATO is Not a Charity

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and 20 of their Senate Republican colleagues, today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting an update on how the Department of Defense evaluates U.S. activities as they relate to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members’ defense expenditures, in compliance with the requirement in the FY24 NDAA.

Co-signing the letter were Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri).

In part, the senators wrote:

“NATO is not a charity; it’s a military alliance. All NATO members must bear a meaningful share of the burdens of collective defense.”

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

April 4, 2024

The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III
Secretary of Defense?
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary,

We write to you inquiring how the Department of Defense is implementing Section 1250 of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This provision of law requires you to consider whether a NATO partner “has achieved defense spending of not less than 2 percent of its gross domestic product” when weighing decisions related to U.S. military basing, training, and exercises within the alliance.

We are committed to the historic NATO alliance and are encouraged that NATO countries collectively increased defense spending by 11% in 2023. However, a total of only 11 out of 32 NATO countries presently meet their defense spending commitments under the 2014 Wales and 2023 Vilnius Summit Declarations. According to optimistic estimates, 18 NATO nations are expected to meet their defense spending commitments this year. This means that barely half of NATO members will meet the deadline to increase defense spending to a minimum of two percent of gross domestic product—a deadline that was self-imposed and agreed to by unanimous consent.

Many wealthy NATO members have chronically shortchanged their own militaries and relied on other members of the alliance, particularly the United States, to make the investments necessary to achieve collective defense. The United States cannot be expected to satisfy its financial obligation if other NATO members are unwilling or unable to do the same. Our government must hold these allies accountable and Section 1250 of the FY24 NDAA is an important step in that direction.

NATO is not a charity; it’s a military alliance. All NATO members must bear a meaningful share of the burdens of collective defense.

We therefore request an update no later than April 25 on how the Department of Defense evaluates U.S. activities as they relate to NATO members’ defense expenditures, in compliance with the requirement in the FY24 NDAA.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

 Sincerely,