A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former Senator for the State of Wyoming.

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Bill ID: 119/sres/148
Last Updated: May 14, 2025

Sponsored by

Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

ID: B001261

Follow the money

The bill

A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former Senator for the State of Wyoming.

SRES. 148, 119th Congress.

The sponsor

Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$103,540 raised

30 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

55% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "14" section, p. 482-484 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

March 30, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed Senate

House Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

(sigh) Oh joy, another meaningless resolution from the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** To honor the life of former Senator Alan K. Simpson (R-WY). Wow, what a bold move. I'm sure it took tremendous courage to draft a resolution that says "Hey, we liked this guy." The objective is clear: to waste taxpayer time and money on a feel-good exercise.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** None. Zilch. Zip. This resolution doesn't change anything. It's a hollow gesture, a mere expression of sentiment. Don't worry, folks; your tax dollars are being well spent on this pointless exercise in nostalgia.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The Simpson family will receive a nice, framed copy of the resolution. Congratulations to them! I'm sure they'll treasure it forever. Other stakeholders include:

* The Wyoming tourism industry, which might see a minor boost from all the mentions of Cody and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. * The University of Wyoming, which gets to bask in the reflected glory of having had Simpson as an alumnus. * The Senate's PR team, which will spin this resolution as proof that Congress can work together on non-partisan issues (yawn).

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Zero. Zilch. Zip. This resolution won't change policy, won't allocate funds, and won't make a dent in the national debt. It's a symbolic gesture, devoid of substance. The only impact will be on the Senate's calendar, which will now have to accommodate more pointless resolutions like this one.

In short, SRES 148 is a classic example of legislative theater: all show, no go. It's a waste of time and resources, designed to make politicians feel good about themselves while accomplishing nothing. Bravo, Congress! You've managed to honor a former senator without actually doing anything meaningful. (eyeroll)

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$103,540
26 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$21,900
Committees
$0
Individuals
$70,540

No PAC contributions found

1
TO PROTECT OUR HERITAGE
2 transactions
$10,000
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
3
UTE INDIAN TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,300
4
MOHEGAN TRIBE OF INDIANS OF CONNECTICUT/PARTNERSHIP
1 transaction
$1,000
5
BL PARTNERS (VERIFIED PARTNERSHIP)
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
2 transactions
$13,200
2
STEPHENSON, JIM
1 transaction
$5,600
3
EMMET, RICHARD
1 transaction
$5,000
4
HOWRYLA, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,435
5
EDENS, WESLEY
1 transaction
$3,435
6
BURR, DANIELLE
1 transaction
$3,435
7
KAPLAN, JOEL
1 transaction
$3,435
8
TRIOLO, JACOB
1 transaction
$3,300
9
KIMBELL, JEFFREY
1 transaction
$3,300
10
EDSON, CHRISTOPHER
1 transaction
$3,300
11
SINENSKY, PETER
1 transaction
$3,300
12
ZITO, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
13
KELLY, MARTIN
1 transaction
$3,300
14
PATEL, SANJAY
1 transaction
$3,300
15
SHANMUGAM, KANNON
1 transaction
$3,300
16
BELARDI, JAMES
1 transaction
$3,300
17
FARR, NATALIE
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

ID: L000571

Top Contributors

10

1
HEGYI, ALBERT P
1ST FINANCIAL BANK USA • BANKER
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Dec 6, 2023
2
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualASPEN, CO
$6,600
Sep 26, 2024
3
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LP • MANAGING PARTNER
IndividualASPEN, CO
$6,600
Sep 26, 2024
4
SAMANI, PYAHM
IndividualAUSTIN, TX
$5,800
Aug 8, 2023
5
CASCARILLA, MARISSA
NA • HOMEMAKER
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,700
Apr 1, 2024
6
CASCARILLA, CHARLES
PAXOS • CEO
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,700
Apr 1, 2024
7
DOWNS, RAISSA
TARPLIN, DOWNS AND YOUNG, LLC • CONSULTANT
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,600
Dec 12, 2024
8
SCARAMUCCI, ANTHONY
SKYBRIDGE • MANAGING PARTNER
IndividualPLANDOME, NY
$3,435
Jul 30, 2024
9
HOBART, ROBERT
VENTURE GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES • CONSULTANT
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$3,435
Aug 5, 2024
10
HOLDING, KATHLEEN MS.
SUNLIGHT RANCH CO. • EXECUTIVE
IndividualDAYTON, WY
$3,300
Dec 6, 2023

Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]

ID: T000250

Top Contributors

10

1
BELL, RICHARD R
HDR ENGINEERING • PRESIDENT/CEO
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$10,000
Sep 13, 2024
2
BELL, RICHARD R
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$6,800
Sep 27, 2024
3
POWELL, JESSE
PAYWARD, INC. • CEO
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Nov 5, 2024
4
DUHAMEL, KATHARINE B
CANDY BOMBER LLC • FILMMAKER
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
5
DUHAMEL, WILLIAM F JR.
ROUTE ONE INVESTMENT COMPANY LP • INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
6
NESS, LARRY F
FIRST DAKOTA NATIONAL BANK • BANKING
IndividualYANKTON, SD
$6,000
Aug 5, 2024
7
NESS, LARRY F
FIRST DAKOTA NATIONAL BANK • BANKING
IndividualYANKTON, SD
$5,700
Aug 5, 2024
8
HARMS, DUANE D
HARMS OIL COMPANY • GAS & OIL
IndividualBROOKINGS, SD
$5,000
Oct 2, 2024
9
MCINERNEY, PAULA G
BLUFF POINT ASSOCIATES CORP • INVESTOR
IndividualWESTPORT, CT
$5,000
Dec 5, 2024
10
MILKEN, LOWELL J
KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSE LIMITED LLC • BUSINESSMAN
IndividualSANTA MONICA, CA
$5,000
Dec 26, 2024

Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]

ID: S000148

Top Contributors

10

1
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Mar 21, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 2, 2023
4
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$550
Sep 27, 2023
5
MARES, JAN
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,500
Dec 6, 2024
6
MEZZALINGUA, JOHN
JMA • CEO
IndividualSKANEATELES, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
7
RIKLIS, MARCIA
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualEAST HAMPTON, NY
$3,300
Dec 15, 2023
8
EISENSTADT, STEVEN
CUMBERLAND PACKING CORP. • EXECUTIVE
IndividualBROOKLYN, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
9
MEZZALINGUA, JOHN
JMA • CEO
IndividualSKANEATELES, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
10
EISENSTADT, STEVEN
CUMBERLAND PACKING CORP. • EXECUTIVE
IndividualBROOKLYN, NY
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023

Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

ID: A000382

Top Contributors

10

1
FRIENDS OF JHEANELLE WILKINS
COMSILVER SPRING, MD
$500
Sep 30, 2023
2
FRIENDS OF DIANA FENNELL
COMBRENTWOOD, MD
$250
Sep 21, 2023
3
FRIENDS OF MAHASIN AMIN
COMFORT WASHINGTON, MD
$110
Aug 22, 2023
4
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 13, 2023
5
LAKEWOOD HEALTHCARE ASSOC LLC
OrganizationWOODBINE, MD
$3,300
Sep 7, 2023
6
TYSON PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$2,500
Jun 25, 2023
7
MASTER PRODUCTIONS, LLC.
OrganizationBOWIE, MD
$250
Sep 14, 2023
8
ADOLPH, GWENDOLYN
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualNEW ROCHELLE, NY
$6,600
Oct 23, 2023
9
THOMAS, TORI
IndividualMCLEAN, VA
$5,800
Aug 2, 2024
10
JAMAR, STEVEN
IndividualCOLUMBIA, MD
$3,700
Oct 23, 2024

Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

ID: B001230

Top Contributors

10

1
WISCONSIN MEDICAL SOCIETY FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (WISMEDFEDPAC)
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
PACFITCHBURG, WI
$2,500
Mar 22, 2024
2
REALTORS DIRECT GIVER PROGRAM
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
COMMADISON, WI
$600
Mar 4, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMM
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$10,000
Oct 30, 2024
4
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$5,000
Nov 5, 2024
5
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationSCOTTSDALE, AZ
$3,300
Aug 1, 2023
6
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Sep 16, 2024
7
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Sep 25, 2024
8
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Sep 25, 2024
9
SMITH LACIEN LLP
OrganizationCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Aug 12, 2024
10
SMITH LACIEN LLP
OrganizationCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Aug 12, 2024

Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

ID: B001299

Top Contributors

10

1
STOCKAMP FOUNDATION
OrganizationCOLUMBIA CITY, IN
$100
Feb 26, 2024
2
NEAL, ROLLIE
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCLARKSBURG, WV
$13,068
Mar 12, 2023
3
NEAL, ROLLIE
IndividualCLARKSBURG, WV
$13,068
Mar 21, 2023
4
SALAMONE, CHRISTOPHER J
IndividualFAIRPORT, NY
$12,000
Feb 8, 2024
5
BARKLEY, JOSH
BARKLEY BUILDERS INC • GENERAL CONTRACTOR
IndividualOSSIAN, IN
$6,700
Apr 3, 2023
6
THRIFT, PAUL
THOMPSON THRIFT • CEO
IndividualTERRE HAUTE, IN
$6,700
Feb 28, 2023
7
MUSELMAN, ROGER C.
DRG HOLDINGS, LLC • CHAIRMAN
IndividualBERNE, IN
$6,700
Mar 28, 2023
8
WALTERS, KENNETH
JAYCO • PRESIDENT AND CEO
IndividualGRANGER, IN
$6,700
Sep 1, 2023
9
DUMEZICH, DANA A.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMARCO ISLAND, FL
$6,600
Jun 15, 2023
10
RAMSEY, JASON
IndividualBREVARD, NC
$6,600
May 8, 2023

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

ID: B001267

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Oct 18, 2024
2
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Jun 21, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 30, 2024
4
QUILLER GALLERY LLC
OrganizationCREEDE, CO
$250
Nov 20, 2023
5
BARRON, THOMAS A
SELF EMPLOYED • AUTHOR
IndividualBOULDER, CO
$5,000
Sep 18, 2023
6
WALLINGER, DANIELLE
STUDIO D DESIGN • CEO
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$5,000
Oct 15, 2024
7
WALLINGER, DIRK
YORK SPACE SYSTEMS • CEO
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$5,000
Oct 15, 2024
8
LEPRINO, TERRY LYNN
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualDENVER, CO
$3,300
Dec 3, 2024
9
SIE, JOHN J.
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$3,300
Dec 3, 2024
10
HEGYI, ALBERT
1ST FINANCIAL • BANKER
IndividualSOUTHPORT, CT
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023

Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

ID: B001243

Top Contributors

10

1
FRIENDS OF COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY PAC
PACVIRGINIA BEACH, VA
$5,000
Apr 12, 2023
2
THE COGGIN GROUP
OrganizationMURFREESBORO, TN
$2,900
Mar 9, 2023
3
THE COGGIN GROUP
OrganizationMURFREESBORO, TN
$2,500
Mar 9, 2023
4
DOSS BROTHERS FARM
OrganizationLAWRENCEBURG, TN
$1,000
Apr 17, 2024
5
DOSS BROTHERS FARM
OrganizationLAWRENCEBURG, TN
$1,000
Mar 18, 2024
6
BL PARTNERS GROUP LLC
OrganizationARLINGTON, VA
$500
Mar 17, 2023
7
KING, RODNEY W.
SELF-EMPLOYED • ATTORNEY
IndividualGERMANTOWN, TN
$13,200
Apr 4, 2024
8
BEAN, BILL G.
HANNING & BEAN ENTERPRISES INC. • REAL ESTATE INVESTOR
IndividualCOLUMBIA CITY, IN
$10,000
May 1, 2024
9
SMITH, THOMAS
PRESCOTT INVESTORS INC. • INVESTOR
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$10,000
May 13, 2024
10
GAMBLE, KATHRYN
UNAKA CO • BUSINESS EXECUTIVE
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$9,900
Jul 15, 2024

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

ID: B001277

Top Contributors

10

1
OLSON, LYNDON
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualWACO, TX
$3,300
Dec 20, 2024
2
ALIX, JAY
ALIX PARTNERS • FOUNDER
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$3,300
Oct 2, 2023
3
KIM, CHRISTINE M.
BBB LLC • ATTORNEY
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Oct 31, 2023
4
ALIX, JAY
ALIX PARTNERS • FOUNDER
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$3,300
Apr 15, 2024
5
ROURE, RITA
PAGNY - LINCOLN HOSPITAL • PHYSICIAN
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$3,300
Apr 10, 2024
6
ROURE, RITA
PAGNY - LINCOLN HOSPITAL • PHYSICIAN
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$3,300
Apr 10, 2024
7
CHAVEZ, TOM
KRUX INC. • CEO
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Jul 13, 2024
8
CHAVEZ, TOM
KRUX INC. • CEO
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Jul 13, 2024
9
JONES, JERRY C.
LIVERAMP INC. • EXECUTIVE
IndividualLITTLE ROCK, AR
$3,300
Sep 19, 2024
10
NESSEL, ARIEL
NESSEL DEVELOPMENT • OWNER
IndividualROSS, CA
$3,300
Jul 12, 2024

Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]

ID: B001303

Top Contributors

10

1
PHAROS CAPITAL GROUP LLC
OrganizationBRENTWOOD, TN
$3,300
Dec 15, 2023
2
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
3
POMO BAND OF THE HABEMOTOLEL INDIANS
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
May 17, 2024
4
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationMADILL, OK
$3,300
May 30, 2024
5
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationMADILL, OK
$3,300
May 30, 2024
6
THE DANIEL INITIATIVE, LLC
OrganizationSTAFFORD, VA
$3,300
Jul 24, 2023
7
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$2,500
Sep 30, 2024
8
PHAROS CAPITAL GROUP LLC
OrganizationBRENTWOOD, TN
$2,300
Dec 15, 2023
9
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$2,000
Mar 31, 2024
10
1634 ASSOCIATES
OrganizationPHILADELPHIA, PA
$2,000
Sep 30, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 87 nodes and 45 connections (77 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $166,000

Top Donors - Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

5 Orgs4 Committees17 Individuals

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

14

Weak
Vector: 52%
Pages: 482-484AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The resolution is purely ceremonial, honoring Senator Simpson's legacy without proposing any policy changes; it only tangentially references entitlement reform and veterans' affairs, which touch on HHS domains but lack substantive alignment with the HHS policy goals."

Key themes:entitlement reformveterans affairshealth care policy

— 449 — 14 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Roger Severino If the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were a separate coun- try, its approximately $1.6 trillion budget would rank as the world’s fifth-largest national budget. For good or ill, HHS activities personally impact the lives of more Americans than do those of any other federal agency. Under President Trump, HHS was dedicated to serving “all Americans from conception to natural death, including those individuals and families who face…economic and social well-being challenges.”1 Under President Biden, the mission has shifted to “promoting equity in everything we do” for the sake of “populations sharing a particular characteristic” including race, sexuality, gender identification, ethnicity, and a host of other categories.2 As a result of HHS’s having lost its way, U.S. life expectancy, instead of return- ing to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, continued to drop precipitously to levels not seen since 1996 with white populations alone losing 7 percent of their expected life span in just one year.3 Nothing less than America’s long-term survival is at stake. Accordingly, HHS must return to serving the health and well-being of all Americans at all stages of life instead of using social engineering that leaves us sicker, poorer, and more divided. OVERVIEW HHS consists of 11 operating divisions that have varying degrees of practical independence from the Secretary of Health and Human Services and 15 staff divisions that are directly under the Office of the Secretary. This chapter’s rec- ommendations are limited to those divisions that most need reform and address, wherever possible, five cross-cutting goals. — 450 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise Goal #1: Protecting Life, Conscience, and Bodily Integrity. The Secretary should pursue a robust agenda to protect the fundamental right to life, protect con- science rights, and uphold bodily integrity rooted in biological realities, not ideology. From the moment of conception, every human being possesses inherent dignity and worth, and our humanity does not depend on our age, stage of development, race, or abilities. The Secretary must ensure that all HHS programs and activities are rooted in a deep respect for innocent human life from day one until natural death: Abortion and euthanasia are not health care. A robust respect for the sacred rights of conscience, both at HHS and among gov- ernments and institutions funded by it, increases choices for patients and program beneficiaries and furthers pluralism and tolerance. The Secretary must protect Americans’ civil rights by ensuring that HHS programs and activities follow the letter and spirit of religious freedom and conscience-protection laws. Radical actors inside and outside government are promoting harmful identity politics that replaces biological sex with subjective notions of “gender identity” and bases a person’s worth on his or her race, sex, or other identities. This destructive dogma, under the guise of “equity,” threatens American’s fundamental liberties as well as the health and well-being of children and adults alike. The next Secretary must ensure that HHS programs protect children’s minds and bodies and that HHS programs respect parents’ basic right to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children. Goal #2: Empowering Patient Choices and Provider Autonomy. Basic eco- nomics holds that costs tend to decrease and quality and options tend to increase when there is robust and free competition in the provision of goods and services. Health care is no exception. Health care reform should be patient-centered and market-based and should empower individuals to control their health care–related dollars and decisions. Of course, providers who deliver health care also need the freedom to address the unique needs of their patients. States should be the primary regulators of the medical profession, and the federal government should not restrict providers’ abil- ity to discharge their responsibilities or limit their ability to innovate through government pricing controls or irrational Medicare and Medicaid reimburse- ment schemes. Finally, America’s broken insurance system, run largely through confusing pro- vider networks and third-party payers (employers), induces overconsumption of health care, limits consumer shopping, and hides true costs from patients. The federal government should focus reform on reducing burdens of regulatory compliance, unleashing innovation in health care delivery, ceasing interference in the daily lives of patients and providers, allowing alternative insurance coverage options, and returning control of health care dollars to patients making decisions with their providers about their health care treatments and services.

Department of State

Minimal
Vector: 53%
Pages: 229-231AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring a former senator's life and service, with no policy substance or connection to foreign policy, national interest, or State Department functions outlined in Project 2025."

— 197 — Department of State The ideas and recommendations herein are premised on the belief that a rigorous adherence to the national interest is the most enduring foundation for U.S. grand strategy in the 21st century. AUTHOR’S NOTE: Thanks to the entire State Department chapter team, the leaders and staff of the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, and my colleagues at The Heritage Foundation’s Davis Center. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the following colleagues: Russell Berman, Sarah Calvis, James Carafano, Spencer Chretien, Wesley Coopersmith, Paul Dans, Steven Groves, Simon Hankinson, Joseph Humire, Michael Pillsbury, Max Primorac, Reed Rubenstein, Brett Schaefer, Jeff Smith, Hillary Tanoff, Erin Walsh, and John Zadrozny. — 198 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise ENDNOTES 1. U.S. Department of State, “About the U.S. Department of State: Our History,” https://www.state.gov/about/ (accessed March 9, 2023). 2. The balance of employment is 2,149 eligible family members and 50,223 locally employed staff. U.S. Department of State, “GTM Fact Sheet: Facts About Our Most Valuable Asset—Our People,” Global Talent Management, December 31, 2022, https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GTM_Factsheet1222. pdf (accessed March 9, 2023). 3. U.S. Commission on National Security, Road Map for National Security: Imperative for Change, Phase III Report, February 15, 2001, p. x, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/nssg/PhaseIIIFR.pdf (accessed March 9, 2023). 4. See Brett D. Schaefer, “How to Make the State Department More Effective at Implementing U.S. Foreign Policy,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3115, April 20, 2016, https://www.heritage.org/political- process/report/how-make-the-state-department-more-effective-implementing-us-foreign. 5. Historically, roughly one-third of ambassadorial appointments have been political appointments, although Republican Administrations have generally had a higher ratio of political appointments than Democratic Administrations. 6. U.S. Constitution, art. 2, sec. 2, cl. 2. 7. News release, “Secretary Blinken Launches the Office of China Coordination,” U.S. Department of State, December 16, 2022, https://www.state.gov/secretary-blinken-launches-the-office-of-china-coordination/ (accessed March 9, 2023). 8. Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S. Code § 1101 et seq., § 1253. 9. See Michael Pillsbury, The Hundred Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace the United States as a Global Superpower (NY: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2016). 10. For additional context regarding how countering China fits in a more robust U.S. strategy, see James Jay Carafano et al., “Foreign Policy: Strategy for a Post-Biden Era,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3715, July 21, 2022, https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/foreign-policy-strategy-post-biden-era. 11. The Article X for China would follow George Kennan’s Article X for U.S.–Soviet competition. See George F. Kennan, “The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” Foreign Affairs, July 1947, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ russian-federation/1947-07-01/sources-soviet-conduct (accessed March 22, 2023). 12. Dean Cheng et al., “Assessing Beijing’s Power: A Blueprint for the U.S. Response to China Over the Next Decades,” Heritage Foundation Special Report No. 221, February 20, 2010, https://www.heritage.org/asia/ report/assessing-beijings-power-blueprint-the-us-response-china-over-the-next-decades. 13. Eric W. Orts, “The Rule of Law in China,” Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, Vol. 34, No. 1 (January 2001), https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1686&context=vjtl (accessed March 9, 2023). 14. U.S. Department of Defense, Indo–Pacific Strategy Report: Preparedness, Partnerships, and Promoting a Networked Region, June 1, 2019, https://media.defense.gov/2019/Jul/01/2002152311/-1/-1/1/DEPARTMENT-OF- DEFENSE-INDO-PACIFIC-STRATEGY-REPORT-2019.PDF (accessed July 28, 2022). 15. See Jeff Smith, “South Asia: A New Strategy,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3721, August 29, 2022, https://www.heritage.org/asia/report/south-asia-new-strategy. 16. Emma Bryce, “Why Is There So Much Oil in the Arctic?” Live Science, August 3, 2019, https://www.livescience. com/66008-why-oil-in-arctic.html (accessed February 9, 2023). 17. “Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress,” Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, updated January 26, 2021, p. 6, https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R41153/177 (accessed March 9, 2023). 18. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology, “Snapshot: Overcoming the Tyranny of Distance in the Arctic,” April 20, 2020, https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2020/04/20/ snapshot-overcoming-tyranny-distance-arctic (accessed February 9, 2023). 19. U.S. Department of State, “U.S. Contributions to International Organizations, 2021,” September 20, 2022, https://www.state.gov/u-s-contributions-to-international-organizations-2021/ (accessed March 9, 2023), and U.S. Department of State, “U.S. Contributions to International Organizations, 2015,” November 1, 2016, https:// www.state.gov/u-s-contributions-to-international-organizations-2015/ (accessed March 9, 2023). 20. U.S. Department of State, Report on the Commission of Inalienable Rights, https://www.state.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2020/07/Draft-Report-of-the-Commission-on-Unalienable-Rights.pdf (accessed March 9, 2023).

Department of Homeland Security

Minimal
Vector: 52%
Pages: 205-207AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring a former senator's life and service, with no policy substance or connection to Department of Homeland Security operations, political appointments, or State Department reforms outlined in Project 2025."

— 173 — Department of State service and civil service personnel who share the President’s vision and policy agendas—to run the department. This can be done by taking these steps at the outset of the next Administration. Exert Leverage During the Confirmation Process. Notwithstanding the challenges and slowness of the modern U.S. Senate confirmation process, the next President can exert leverage on the Senate if he or she is willing to place State Department appointees directly into those roles, pending confirmation. Doing so would both ensure that the department has immediate senior political leadership and would force the Senate to act on nominees’ appointments instead of being allowed to engage in dilatory tactics that cripple the State Department’s function- ality for weeks, months, or even years. Assert Leadership in the Appointment Process. The next Administration should assert leadership over, and guidance to, the State Department by placing political appointees in positions that do not require Senate confirmation, including senior advisors, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretaries, and Deputy Assistant Sec- retaries. Given the department’s size, the next Administration should also increase the number of political appointees to manage it. To the extent possible, all non-confirmed senior appointees should be selected by the President-elect’s transition team or the new President’s Office of Presiden- tial Personnel (depending on the timing of selection) and be in place the first day of the Administration. No one in a leadership position on the morning of January 20 should hold that position at the end of the day. These recommendations do not imply that foreign service and civil service officials should be excluded from key roles: It is hard to imagine a scenario in which they are not immediately relevant to the transition of power. The main suggestion here is that as many political appoin- tees as possible should be in place at the start of a new Administration. Support and Train Political Appointees. The Secretary of State should use his or her office and its resources to ensure regular coordination among all political appointees, which should take the form of strategy meetings, trainings, and other events. The secretary should also take reasonable steps to ensure that the State Department’s political appointees are connected to other departments’ political appointees, which is critical for cross-agency effectiveness and morale. The sec- retary should capitalize on the more experienced political appointees by using them as the foundation for a mentorship program for less experienced political appointees. The interaction of political appointees must be routine and operational rather than incidental or occasional, and it must be treated as a crucial dimension for the next Administration’s success. Maximize the Value of Career Officials. Career foreign service and civil service personnel can and must be leveraged for their expertise and commit- ment to the President’s mission. Indeed, the State Department has thousands of employees with unparalleled linguistic, cultural, policy, and administrative skills, — 174 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise and large numbers of them have been an enormous resource to the Secretaries of State under which they have served. The secretary must find a way to make clear to career officials that despite prior history and modes of operation, they need not be adversaries of a conservative President, Secretary of State, or the team of political appointees. Reboot Ambassadors Worldwide. All ambassadors are required to submit letters of resignation at the start of a new Administration. Previous Republican Administrations have accepted the resignations of only the political ambassadors and allowed the foreign service ambassadors to retain their posts, sometimes for months or years into a new Administration.5 The next Administration must go further: It should both accept the resignations of all political ambassadors and quickly review and reassess all career ambassadors. This review should commence well before the new Administration’s first day. Ambassadors in countries where U.S. policy or posture would substantially change under the new Administration, as well as any who have evinced hostility toward the incoming Administration or its agenda, should be recalled immediately. The priority should be to put in place new ambassadors who support the Presi- dent’s agenda among political appointees, foreign service officers, and civil service personnel, with no predetermined percentage among these categories. Political ambassadors with strong personal relationships with the President should be pri- oritized for key strategic posts such as Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). RIGHTING THE SHIP Ensuring the State Department is accountable for serving American citi- zens first will require—at a minimum—that the following steps be implemented immediately: Review Retroactively. Before inauguration, the President-elect’s department transition team should assess every aspect of State Department negotiations and funding commitments. Upon inauguration, the Secretary of State should order an immediate freeze on all efforts to implement unratified treaties and international agreements, allocation of resources, foreign assistance disbursements, domestic and international contracts and payments, hiring and recruiting decisions, etc., pending a political appointee-driven review to ensure that such efforts comport with the new Administration’s policies. The quality of this review is more import- ant than speed. The posture of the department during this review should be an unwavering desire to prioritize the American people—including a recognition that the federal government must be a diligent steward of taxpayer dollars. Implement Repair. The State Department must change its handling of international agreements to restore constitutional governance. Under prior Administrations, unnecessary institutional factors in the department caused

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Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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