The United States could have ceded its immigration lawmaking power to the United Nations. But it didn’t, because as Ambassador Nikki Haley said last year, “immigration policies must always be made by Americans and Americans alone.” Under the Obama administration, the United States supported the United Nations’ Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.

The U.S. will not sign the migration compact, and that’s a good thing, according to Senior Legal Fellow Hans von Spakovsky and Senior Research Fellow Brett Schaefer. The pact was deeply flawed, blurring the line between legal and illegal immigration and making detention of illegal immigrants “a measure of last resort.” Had the U.S. signed onto those agreements, U.S. immigration laws would have been overruled by international laws.

Von Spakovsky and Schaefer originally released their analysis in The Daily Signal, telling the backstory of how the U.S. narrowly escaped from entering a binding arrangement that would have greatly increased our national security risks, even as it undercut our national sovereignty. Thank you for supporting The Daily Signal and helping us share stories the progressive media would rather suppress.

Click to read von Spakovsky and Schaefer’s analysis here.

Given that we didn’t sign on to the compact, how should the United States help refugees while maintaining border security?

Heritage believes that our nation’s current and future political leaders should us the guiding the principles that animated the Founders. Furthermore, they must be equipped with policy recommendations that apply those principles to today’s problems. That’s why we started the Candidate Briefing Program, which helps state, congressional, and presidential candidates understand, articulate, and apply conservative principles and policy solutions.

This year, Heritage experts briefed 84 candidates in need of conservative answers. Heritage was able to provide each candidate with a briefing and impactful parting gift: Solutions 2018, a compendium of our latest policy recommendations.

Fourteen of the candidates, briefed by Heritage, won their races. Soon, they will be putting what they’ve learned to use. But Heritage doesn’t wait until they’re sworn in to help them be effective advocates of conservative policy.

On Nov. 20, Heritage welcomed almost two-thirds of the incoming House Republican class to our 2018 New Members Orientation. In addition to reminding them of the conservative values they promised to uphold, the two-day program provided practical information on organizing and staffing a congressional office. And each new Member left with a binder containing resumes of over 300 qualified, conservative job-seekers compiled by our Truluck Center for Leadership Development.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to inculcate conservative ideas in aspiring national leaders, to inoculate candidates against progressivism, and to build relationships that helps produce better policy.

If you had one thing to tell candidates before they became elected officials, what would it be?

The so-called Affordable Care Act may die on the steps of the Supreme Court. That will depend on the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court Justices later on. Last week, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, a George W. Bush appointee, granted a motion to strike down the Affordable Care Act.

Marie Fishpaw, Heritage’s Director of Domestic Policy Studies, and John Malcolm, Vice President of the Institute for Constitutional Government, wrote a joint commentary discussing what happened and where to go from here. They also highlighted the Health Care Choice Proposal, the next logical step for Congress to consider if the Court voids Obamacare.

States that received waivers under Obamacare were able to innovate around the burdensome regulations and reduce premiums for their residents. The Health Care Choice Proposal would build upon that experience. In the end, Fishpaw and Malcolm write, “[it] would lower premiums up to an estimated 32 percent and ensure that everyone can access a quality private coverage arrangement of their choice.”

Because of your support, Heritage stands ready to help you regain the healthcare freedom and choice lost under Obamacare. We are ready to replace that failed program with something that costs less, and returns the power of choice to Americans everywhere. Thank you for standing with us on this issue.

Read John Malcolm and Marie Fishpaw’s commentary here.

Read the Health care Choice Proposal here.

Should the states make healthcare policy, or should the federal government make a new policy to replace Obamacare?

“I’m delighted again to be here at Heritage, an institution that really has contributed so much to the public policy debate for many decades now in the United States.” –Ambassador John Bolton

Ambassador John Bolton chose to unveil the Trump Administration’s new Africa policy this week in a packed Allison Auditorium at The Heritage Foundation. President Trump approved the strategy just a day before the Ambassador was slated to speak.  Once again, Heritage’s main stage was used to make a major announcement by the Trump Administration.

The strategy prioritizes securing commercial ties, mutually beneficial trade, and security agreements to protect against Radical Islamic Terrorism. Ambassador Bolton also announced that taxpayers would aid nations according to American priorities, and that nations who voted against our interests at the United Nations risked losing American financial support.

The ambassador also pledged that the United States would seek to counter Chinese and Russian attempts to gain competitive advantages in Africa through “corrupt economic dealings.”He reminded the Heritage audience that in Fiscal Year 2017, the United States Government devoted $8.7 billion to African aid. He pledged that future dollars would be spent to “efficiently and effectively advance peace, stability, independence, and prosperity in the region.”

Ambassador Bolton thanked Heritage for the honor of showcasing America’s new Africa policy at our headquarters. No doubt, thanks belongs to you, because without you, Heritage would not be the influential, effective policy platform that it is today. Thank you.

What sort of policy changes would you recommend for America to have a healthy relationship with African nations?

Whether it’s liberal holdovers who disrupt conservative reforms from the inside or disqualified employees, the federal workforce is plagued with bad bureaucracy. Dr. Donald Devine, who headed the Office of Personnel Management for President Ronald Reagan, wrote a comprehensive report this week that lays out the problems with our current administrative state.

These are serious problems. Partisan appointees have “burrowed” into civil service positions, which are meant to be nonpartisan. Moreover, the workforce is unionized, and their leaders are determined to block serious reform efforts.

After all, there’s a lot of money at stake. Overall, federal employees enjoy compensation significantly higher than that of their private sector counterparts. Federal compensation totals $276 billion per year, much more than the same number of private employees would cost.

Your support allows our experts to develop conservative solutions that promise to correct federal bureaucracy. Thank you for standing with us.

Read Dr. Devine’s Report here >>

What should be done to clean up the federal bureaucracy?

Conservatives believe in justice. That’s what the FIRST Step Act is about: making punishments fit crimes, rather than filling prisons with otherwise salvageable people. The bill, passed by the House and now moving through the Senate, was inspired by successful reforms in conservative states like Georgia and Texas. If passed, it would revise sentencing requirements for non-violent offenders and offer rehabilitation programs proven to work. President Trump supports the legislation and will sign the bill if the Senate sends it to his desk.

As President Kay Coles James wrote in a recent column, “If we keep warehousing offenders without addressing any of the underlying issues that paved their path to prison in the first place, we’ll keep getting more of the same: people leaving prison even more hardened than when they went in, people who quickly fall back into their old lives and criminal activities, only to land back in jail.”

Because of your support, Heritage has the means to research policies that reduce crime and change lives for the better. Thank you for standing with us as we stand for conservative changes to the justice system.

Read President James’ Editorial on FoxNews.com here.

Read Heritage Action’s Frequently Asked Questions about prison reform here.

What changes should be made to the justice system to reduce crime rates?

Heritage held its New Member’s Orientation for new members of Congress. Nearly two-thirds of all newly-elected conservative Members of Congress attended the two-day orientation. Those attending received Heritage Job Bank-prepared binders and flash drives filled with hundreds of resumes representing experienced conservative staffers. For 35 years, Heritage has provided The Heritage Job Bank, a free resource for job seekers who would like to work in organizations across the conservative movement, in the Administration, on Capitol Hill, and state governments.

Such an honor to welcome the newest members of Congress to @Heritage‘s orientation. The voters have given you much responsibility. We’re counting on you to stand strong for the values that will make life better for all Americans!

— Kay Coles James (@KayColesJames) November 13, 2018

Prior to the midterms, the Job Bank hosted a career event for the staff of retiring Members of Congress representing both the House and Senate. This event provided one-on-one resume and career consultations with staff from these offices. After last month’s disappointing election results, many conservatives working in congressional offices knew they would need to start job-hunting. Luckily for them, the Heritage Job Bank was there to help. Following the midterms, Heritage Job Bank Manager, Kyle Bonnell hosted a career fair to connect staffers and recruiters from 15 allied conservative organizations.

Heritage can invest in the development and advancement of conservative professionals because you first invested in us. Thank you for supporting us as we build the professional experience needed to drain the swamp and preserve our nation’s future.

In addition to the Young Leaders Program and the Job Bank, what else can Heritage do to prepare young conservatives to change Washington? 

In recognition of the late President George H.W. Bush’s years of public service, Heritage observed the National Day of Mourning declared by President Trump. On this day, we sought to remember President Bush.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

“President Bush is one of my American heroes,” said Heritage President Kay Coles James. “He was an unrivaled public servant, a humanitarian and faithful family man. As someone who had the honor of serving in his administration, and calling him a friend, I know that history will remember 41 well.”

A post shared by The Heritage Foundation (@heritagefoundation) on Dec 4, 2018 at 5:20am PST

As The Daily Signal’s Fred Lucas reported, President Bush was the last World War II veteran to serve as president. And no president since has served in combat. The youngest naval aviator in World War II, George H.W. Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Presidential Unit Citation for his service in the Pacific.

President Bush served America long after the war, as Congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Head of U.S. Liaison Office in China, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Prior to his election as president in 1992, he served as Vice President to President Ronald Reagan.

As president, he will be remembered for presiding over the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as well as the liberation of Kuwait in the First Gulf War.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Heritage Foundation (@heritagefoundation) on Dec 5, 2018 at 5:10pm PST

Heritage President Kay Coles James stated upon his passing, “President Bush was ever willing to disregard personal gain to pursue a public calling—and few did so with his grace and dignity.” President James concluded by saying, “George H.W. Bush’s character and commitment to our nation were reflections of his faith. They were also attributes he passed on through his children and grandchildren. May God comfort them and the rest of the Bush family in their grief.”

Read Heritage President Kay Coles James’ official statement here.

What is your favorite memory of President George H.W. Bush, and his public service?

President Trump is making progress on trade. He has paused, for 90 days, tariff increases initially slated to take effect next month. The delay is to give negotiators more time to reach a more permanent solution to resolve trade issues.

As Heritage expert James Carafano said recently on Fox Business, “[China] blinked,.., [but] this administration will have to continue to pressure them, until we get substantive changes in Chinese behavior.” Carafano went on to say that, while the president will need to weigh domestic concerns like the way tariffs inhibit domestic economic growth, he will also have to continue pressuring Beijing to stop its unfair trade practices.

Just as James Carafano discussed the national security angle of the development with China, Heritage policy experts Emilie Kao, Ambassador Terry Miller, and Tori Whiting released a statement last Friday calling attention to challenges with the United States Mexico Canada Agreement. Among those problems: Canada’s addition of inappropriate language surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, which does not belong in an international trade agreement.

While mentioning positive developments with the new agreement, Miller, Kao, and Whiting pledged to continue “working with the White House and lawmakers to address these concerns.” Heritage will continue monitoring that situation, to protect the United States’ sovereign right to set our own policies regarding gender identity and sexual orientation—without pressure from our neighbors.

Thank you for providing the resources to make Heritage an asset for policymakers, and allowing us to call ball and strikes to achieve conservative victories on policy. Your support creates trade wins for America and so many other positive outcomes.

Read Heritage’s USMCA statement here.

How will these developments impact the United States economy?

The Veterans Administration Health Program and the Indian Health Service are already under full government control. Liberals want more—a government monopoly on health care. Heritage’s Institute for Family, Community, and Opportunity recently released a report on the realities of a government takeover of healthcare.

The report examines several plans, including one introduced by Vermont socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. The plan would fold nearly all existing public coverage arrangements–including Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)—into one massive program.

By the end of a four-year transition period, 75 million Americans previously covered by Medicaid or CHIP would be under the new system.  In addition,  164 million Americans previously covered by employer-sponsored insurance and 17 million Americans previously insured through private plans available in the individual market would be under the plan.   Heritage expert Meridian Paulton explains in the report that, “Medicare for All” means over 58 million elderly and disabled Americans would lose their existing Medicare coverage.”

Heritage remains opposed to any healthcare plan that increases government control and potentially costing tens of trillions of taxpayer dollars while threatening to leave Americans without access to health care services. Thank you for equipping our experts with the tools to break down these proposals and warn America against the perils of socialized medicine.

Read Meridian Paulton’s report here.

How should the conservative movement fight “Medicare for All”?