America First Foreign Policy Plan

Over the past two and a half years the Biden administration’s terrible foreign policy has brought U.S. leadership on the international stage to an all-time low. As the mother of a Marine officer and former member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I understand the importance of American leadership on the global stage. We must return to the model of former President Ronald Reagan, who understood that peace through strength makes America stronger. 

A strong military paired with robust diplomacy are the most effective tools we have at our disposal to protect our homeland for future generations. We must use them wisely to advance core American interests.  However, we also must ensure any international efforts in which we engage in are in the United States’ best long- and short-term interests. Currently, the greatest threat to international stability is China and its burgeoning relationships with Russia and Iran, leading to a modern Axis of Evil.

For decades, China’s rise went virtually unchallenged, harming both American workers and our national security. I'm committed to making sure we build on the foreign policy gains of the Trump administration and continue holding China accountable. We need to highlight China's human rights abuses, stop their incessant spying and intellectual property theft, and expose its malign influence. We must also hold China accountable for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic, which it deliberately concealed from the world. Finally, I am committed to ensuring that taxpayer-funded projects and programs do not allow a cent of taxpayer funds to flow to the CCP. 

I am also leading the charge in Congress to hold the Islamic Republic of Iran accountable for the oppression of its people, its support for global terrorism, and expansion of its nuclear program. Iran is the greatest threat to Middle East peace and is actively working tirelessly to build a nuclear weapon and to fund terrorism against Israel and the United States. This is incredibly dangerous not only for the region, but for the entire globe. Iran is directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. Servicemembers through its funding, arming, education, training, and intelligence sharing with its terrorist proxies and partners, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). We cannot allow them to have the tools they want to continue and expand these efforts.

It is time our federal leaders to begin thoughtfully implementing an America First National Security Plan – this is a national security imperative and fundamentally in the United States’ best interest. Therefore, I am backing the following comprehensive plan that combats China’s malign global influence, counters the Iranian Mullah’s brutal regime of terrorism and oppression, protects American taxpayer dollars from corrupt international organizations, and supports our greatest ally in the Middle East. 

 
Combatting China’s Malign Global Influence

• Introduced H.R. 749, the Turn OFF THE TAP Act: This legislation will prohibit federal taxpayer dollars from lining the pockets of entities included on federal trade and sanctions lists, either directly or through third parties.There is currently no central ban on federal funds going to foreign firms explicitly identified through U.S. government blacklists, including dangerous Chinese companies. The Turn OFF THE TAP Act addresses this national security vulnerability by prohibiting federal funds from going to firms listed on several federal blacklists, including the Department of Commerce’s Entity List and the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List. As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues its offensive against American national, economic, and industrial security, while also committing gross human rights abuses, American taxpayers should not be forced to line its pockets.
   
• Introduced H.R. 748, the Stop CCP Infrastructure Act: This legislation prohibits entities from using federal funds to enter, engage in, or award public works contracts in the United States to entities headquartered in China, or those affiliated with the Chinese government or Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Stop CCP Infrastructure Act addresses the growing concern surrounding awards of costly and sensitive public works projects throughout the United States to entities affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. These bad actors have taken advantage of the availability of unaccountable federal dollars and have been awarded major domestic infrastructure contracts from New York to California. 
   
• Introduced H.R. 747, the No Chinese Communist SURPRISE Parties Act: This bill requires publicly traded companies to disclose their ties to the CCP. Many companies that have Chinese operations have CCP cells and CCP members on their corporate boards. American investors deserve transparency on which companies are under the malign influence of the CCP when making their investment and purchasing decisions.
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 1800, the Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act: This bill would prohibit federal government agencies from funding research in China or any entity owned by China or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) directly or indirectly through Federal research, grants, contracts, subgrants, or cooperative agreements. 
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 944, the Preventing Malign CCP Influence on Academic Institutions Act: This bill helps counteract CCP influence on our educational institutions through mandating transparency on monetary gifts being given from the CCP to American academic institutions. Under this bill, any educational institution that receives more than $5,000 from a Chinese-affiliated entity in any given year would have to disclose the full name of the donor to the Department of Education. The bill would also require any educational institution that interacts with a Chinese organization to disclose all joint activities, including exchanges or research. In addition, institutions would have to publish all contracts and agreements with Chinese entities on their websites so the public can freely access that information.

Countering the Iranian Mullah’s Brutal Regime of Terrorism and Oppression

• Introduced H.Con.Res. 9, Condemning the Iranian regime's human rights abuses against the brave women and men of Iran peacefully demonstrating in more than 133 cities: Since the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old arrested for violating the country’s strict dress code laws, protests have been raging across Iran. While estimates vary, approximately 18,000 protestors have been arrested, and roughly 500 protestors have already been killed by Iranian security forces, including 69 minors. Most recently, Iran executed two protestors following two sham trials and have sentenced several other protestors to execution. I was honored to see my resolution condemning these attacks on human rights pass the House of Representatives on January 25, 2023 by a vote of 420-1.

• Released a Report on the IRGC’s Terrorist Activities: This comprehensive report details Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) terrorist activity around the world and calls on our partners to join the United States in designating the body as a terrorist organization. Despite not being Iran’s actual military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is the primary military power in Iran and is used to quash rebellions, secure its borders, oppress its people, and support its terrorist proxies operating across the Middle East. My report provides a comprehensive look into the history, mission, and leaders of this terrorist organization that continues to violently oppress the people of Iran as they peacefully protest. This report has received support from various advocacy groups, including JINSA, UANI, FDD, and prominent leaders in the field, including Secretary Mike Pompeo, former Special Representative for Iran Elliott Abrams, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates. Read my full report on the IRGC here. 
   
• Introduced H.Res. 288, the Encouraging the EU to DESIGNATE Resolution and Led Letters to the UK, India, Australia, and Canada Encouraging them to Designate the IRGC as a Terrorist Entity: In 2019, the United States designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization due to their support of terrorist organizations abroad and targeting of U.S. servicemembers. The Encouraging the EU to DESIGNATE Resolution encourages the European Union to follow our lead and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity. The letters to the UK, India, Australia, and Canada encouraged to also follow our lead and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.
   
• Led a Letter to the E3 Encouraging Them to Initiate Snapback Sanctions: This bipartisan letter was sent to the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3), encouraging the countries to initiate snapback sanctions on Iran under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231. This action by the United States E3 partners would reimpose sanctions on the Iranian regime that were removed under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 3152, the Fight CRIME Act: The Fight CRIME Act imposes mandatory property blocking and visa sanctions on anyone involved in the supply, sale, or transfer of, or support for, Iran’s missiles and drones. The Fight CRIME act also requires the administration to submit a report on Iranian missiles and drones to Congress, specifically outlining. These missiles and drones have been used to kill countless civilians in conflicts across the world, including by Russia in Ukraine.
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 869, the REGIME Act: This bill stands with the oppressed Iranian people by directing the Secretary of State to block Iranian officials in the government, security, military, and law enforcement sectors of the brutal regime from entry into the United States. These are the same officials involved in the arrests and murder of the Iranians who are so bravely protesting in support of their personal freedoms. Equally important, this legislation also targets the family members of these Iranian regime members. None of these individuals should be allowed to enjoy the same freedoms in the U.S. as those being denied their own fellow citizens in Iran. If the Secretary determines that any of these persons are in possession of a U.S. visa, then the visa will be revoked. 
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 589, the MAHSA Act: This bill requires the executive branch to impose applicable sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Supreme Leader’s Office and his appointees, Iran’s president and cabinet officials, foundations and other entities affiliated with the Supreme Leader. This bill is intended to hold the most malicious elements of Iran’s regime accountable for human rights abuses like the death of Mahsa Amini and the regime’s terrorist activity while avoiding collateral damage on ordinary Iranians.

Protecting American Taxpayer Dollars from Corrupt International Organizations

• Cosponsored H.R. 1102, the UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act: This legislation outlines a comprehensive approach to cease U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a successor entity, or to the U.N. regular budget for the support of UNRWA unless the Secretary of State certifies every 180 days to Congress that UNRWA meets strict accountability and transparency criteria. UNRWA has a history of employing individuals affiliated with Hamas, an Iranian-backed, U.S. designated terrorist organization. Additionally, UNRWA schools have been used to store Hamas weapons and promote anti-Semitic education in their textbooks. The Trump administration stopped funding UNRWA in 2018. However, the Biden administration has since restarted funding and has thus far provided more than $682 million to UNRWA without securing any reforms.
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 1425, the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act: This bill would explicitly require any new pandemic preparedness treaty to be submitted to the Senate for ratification. This would prevent the Biden administration from skirting around the Senate by arbitrarily declaring this new treaty to be an “executive agreement”, which does not require Senate ratification.
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 79, the WHO Withdrawal Act and H.R. 343, the No Taxpayer Funding for the World Health Organization Act: Make no mistake about it: the WHO abjectly failed in its response to COVID-19. This is exactly why the Trump’s administration announced its decision to leave the body and propose a revised set of guidelines to reform the failed organization. The even before its failure in the COVID-19 pandemic WHO had continuously failed to uphold its public health mandate and had proven to be a mouthpiece for the Communist Chinese Party (CCP). That is why I am a cosponsor of these two bills to require President Biden to withdraw the U.S. from this corrupt organization, while also preventing taxpayer money from being spent to participate in the WHO. 

Standing with Israel, Our Greatest Ally in the Middle East

• Introduced H.R. 5179, the Anti-BDS Labeling Act: This legislation would prohibit the Biden administration from issuing new labelling guidelines to help the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement target specific goods made in the territory controlled by Israel. In 1995, the Clinton administration changed longstanding U.S. policy and required “Made in West Bank” country-of-origin (COO) labels for Israeli goods produced in the Judea and Samaria Area, even though the U.S. government treats these products as “articles of Israel” for trade purposes. Then, in 2016, the Obama administration republished these labeling guidelines as part of a broader effort to oppose the Israeli government. Finally, in 2020, the Trump administration rejected these policies and created new guidelines that correctly required Israeli goods produced in areas where Israel exercised the relevant authorities to be labeled as “Made in Israel”. This bill prohibits any further changes, solidifying the Trump administration rule.
   
• Introduced H.R. 4564, the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act: This bill will prevent the federal government from entering into contracts with entities that support the radical, anti-Semitic BDS movement targeting Israel. Thirty-six states nationwide have enacted laws opposing boycotts against Israel, demonstrating their commitment to resisting the radical Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. It is imperative for the federal government to enact policies that align with a supermajority of states, thereby reinforcing the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel.
   
•  Led a Letter Urging Biden Not to Nominate Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew as U.S. Ambassador to Israel: This letter to President Biden voices opposition to the potential nomination of former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. In this Letter, the lawmakers highlight several key areas of concern regarding former Secretary Lew's nomination. Notably, his involvement in creating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, has raised questions about his capacity to safeguard American and Israeli national security interests. The letter also calls attention to former Secretary Lew's support for President Obama's decision not to veto UNSC Resolution 2334 (2016), which condemned Israeli settlement constructions, and has raised concerns about former Secretary Lew’s alignment with positions that may weaken Israel's diplomatic standing. It is vital we nominate someone who can effectively strengthen and enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship. 
   
• Cosponsored H.R. 3099, the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act: This bill would require the State Department to establish an ambassador-level Special Envoy position for the Abraham Accords. Working as a primary advisor, the Special Envoy would be responsible for coordinating on behalf of the U.S. government with regional ambassadors, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen and expand Israeli-Arab normalization. 
   
•  Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 57, Expressing the sense of Congress supporting the State of Israel: This past year Representative Pramila Jayapal outrageously stated that Irael is a racist state. In response this resolution clearly affirms that: Israel is not a racist or an apartheid state; The House rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia; and the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of the State of Israel.
   
• Cosponsored H.Res. 599, Urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization: This resolution encourages the EU to designate Hizballah as a terrorist organization. Currently, the EU arbitrarily differentiates between the “military” and “political” wings of Hizballah and has only deemed the “military” wing to be a terrorist organization. However, this is a distinction without a difference, and even Hizballah itself does not view itself to have multiple wings, but rather one united organization.
   
•  Member of the Abaraham Accords Caucus and the House Bipartisan Task Force on Combatting Anti-Semitism: These two caucuses provide an opportunity to work with other members on expanding the Abraham Accords and combatting domestic and global anti-Semitism. It is vital we continue fighting for global peace and create a culture of life and understanding.

 Your views are very important to me. I hope you will take the time to review this plan and let me know what you think. If you would like to contact me, you can write to me on my website at tenney.house.gov or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.