The Blackburn Report: Biden’s “Ally” Guns Down American Heroes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqtA5r3Rwts

Last week, just blocks from the White House, two National Guard members were ambushed by a gunman. One of the victims—20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom—tragically succumbed to her wounds. The second—24-year-old Andrew Wolfe—is currently fighting for his life. What do we know about the shooting suspect? He is a 29-year-old Afghan national, and he entered our country in 2021 under “Operation Allies Welcome” following President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. After the tragic shooting of these two National Guardsmen, I spoke on the Senate floor, slamming former President Joe Biden’s scheme to make illegal immigration legal through “Operation Allies Welcome.” Despite the Biden administration’s claim that Afghan nationals were properly vetted, a 2022 Inspector General report found that evacuees who were not fully vetted were still admitted or paroled into the U.S. We can be grateful that President Trump is taking decisive action to strengthen vetting and prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. Watch my floor speech on this here.

Weekly Rundown

	This week, I penned an op-ed in TIME making the case for the Senate version of my Kids Online Safety Act following new reporting that revealed sex trafficking on Meta platforms was both difficult to report and widely tolerated. We know without a shadow of a doubt that Meta won’t make its platforms safe because meaningful safety measures would cut into the company’s bottom line. Passing the Senate version of my Kids Online Safety Act would ensure companies like Meta are held accountable and can’t design their platforms to prey on our children. Read my op-ed here, and watch my floor speech about this here.
It was wonderful to hear from Tennesseans in East Tennessee, Davidson County, and Shelby County during the two tele-town halls I hosted this week. We discussed how Republicans are working to restore regular order to rein in wasteful spending, support Tennessee veterans, make our communities safer, and make life more affordable. I also heard from Tennesseans who are thrilled about the success of the Memphis Safe Task Force, which has arrested more than 3,500 criminals.
	To support and expand Tennessee’s Medicaid innovation, I introduced the Access to New Community Health Opportunities and Recovery (ANCHOR) Act, the Delivering Support for Hospitals (DSH) in Tennessee Act, and the Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act this week. This package would strengthen support for our hospitals, give states the flexibility to use more effective primary care models, and allow states to provide Medicaid coverage to those battling serious mental illness or substance use disorder. Read more here.
Cargo theft is a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise impacting Tennessee businesses, and we need to shut down the organized crime groups that steal essential goods from Tennesseans to traffic drugs and weapons. I introduced the bipartisan Cargo Security Innovation Act to ensure that those on the front lines of the fight against cargo theft have state-of-the-art technology to protect their operations. Read more here.

Marsha's Roundup

Watch My Interviews

Senator Blackburn blasts the ‘Seditious Six’ for encouraging military members to disobey orders

Senator Blackburn reacts to shooting of two National Guard soldiers

Senator Blackburn praises the Trump administration’s asylum freeze after the shooting of two National Guard soldiers

Senator Blackburn joins NewsNation to discuss her recent TIME op-ed on the Kids Online Safety Act

Meeting With Marsha

Senators Blackburn and Hagerty with Lauderdale County Mayor Gaines, Henry County Mayor Geiger, and Logan McCoy with the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce

Senator Blackburn receives the Association of Mature American Citizens American Patriot Award

Senator Blackburn with Nissan Chairman Christian Meunier

Senator Blackburn with Tennessee Department of Children’s Services Commissioner Margie Quin and Deputy Commissioner Carla Aaron

Senator Blackburn with the National Alliance on Mental Illness

Senator Blackburn with Tennessee State Senator Becky Duncan Massey

Senator Blackburn with National Cotton Council Chairman Patrick Johnson

Senator Blackburn with Jobs for America’s Graduates

Senator Blackburn with singer-songwriter Taylor Hanson

Senator Blackburn speaks at the White House about President Trump’s efforts to make cars more affordable

ICYMI

Last week, I joined U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta, and other elected officials in Memphis for a briefing on the success of the Memphis Safe Task Force. Read more here, and click here to watch my remarks at the press conference in Memphis.