Category Archives: National

Life-Saving U.S. Aid to Venezuela

By David Arnett

In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck north-central Venezuela on June 24, the Trump Administration mounted a swift, comprehensive, and whole-of-government response to save lives and deliver urgently needed relief to the Venezuelan people.

This State Department led response is also harnessing the power of American innovation by partnering with leading private companies and non-governmental organizations to increase the speed and expand reach of relief efforts, bringing the full strength of the U.S. private sector to bear alongside our government response. In a release this morning, the Department of State declared a national commitment to sustaining this response and ensuring that the Venezuelan people receive the full measure of American support as they work to recover from this tragedy.

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Venezuelan Earthquake Response

By David Arnett

Wednesday June 24, Venezuela experienced a pair of strong earthquakes off the northern coast, west of Caracas. The first shock was reported around magnitude 7.2, followed by a larger main event about 39 seconds later at roughly magnitude 7.5. These quakes have caused significant damage in several cities.

The United States is mobilizing immediate, life-saving resources as part of a rapid, government-wide response.  In the hours after the earthquakes, President Trump immediately authorized the U.S. government to commit significant financial assistance, deploy search and rescue efforts, and collaborate with the interim Venezuelan authorities to address the acute needs of the Venezuelan people the U.S. State Department said in a media release.

Venezuela
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ISIS Financial Networks Targeted

By Staff Report

Monday U.S. Department of State spokesman Tommy Pigott revealed that under the leadership of President Trump, the United States is dismantling ISIS’s ability to finance terrorism around the world by cutting off the financial lifelines from around the world that enable ISIS to fund attacks, support its regional affiliates, and threaten civilians, including religious minorities.

The terrorism designations target three individuals and six entities operating across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa who have enabled ISIS to move money across borders – exposing a network that spans from France and Syria to Türkiye and Nigeria.

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Congress Should Reject the CLARITY Act

By Trevor Dorsey, Sr. VP Prosperity Bank

America’s strength is more than our military power. It depends on economic leadership, energy security, strong law enforcement, and the ability to cut off hostile regimes from exploiting our systems to undermine our country.

That is why Congress should reject the CLARITY Act in its current form.

By creating broad exemptions and carve-outs for crypto special interests, the legislation would interfere with law enforcement and national security officials’ ability to identify who is moving money, where it is going, and whether it is tied to sanctioned actors. Without strong Know-Your- Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money-Laundering (AML) standards, bad actors in Iran and North Korea can use crypto to fund terrorism, launder money for criminal activity, and undermine our critical defense tools.

The danger is not theoretical.

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CBP Seizes Over $10.1 million in Meth

By David Arnett

LAREDO, Texas: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the World Trade Bridge seized narcotics that totaled over $10,122,000 in street value. The likely intended course of travel north would have taken those drugs through if not to Oklahoma. Thank CBP for diligence in saving lives.

The seizure occurred on Monday, June 15, at the World Trade Bridge, when a CBP officer referred a 2013 D-13 Volvo big rig hauling a shipment manifested as “polypropylene” for secondary inspection. Following a canine and nonintrusive inspection system examination, CBP officers discovered 1,100.79 pounds of suspected methamphetamine within the commodity. The narcotics have a street value of $10,122,012.

World Trade Bridge, Laredo, Texas
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