Press Releases

Trent Franks Statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) issued the following statement:

"As the world pauses today to remember the unconscionable legacy of death left in the wake of Nazi Germany, I was particularly moved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's exhortation that history mustn't -- and, indeed, will not -- be allowed to repeat itself.

"It is in the face of such crises that true leaders flourish and lesser men fail. In the formative years of World War II, it was Neville Chamberlain's naive belief that the crazed Hitler could be placated with a feeble, friendly diplomacy that emboldened the Nazi war machine's march across Europe -- and, conversely, it was Winston Churchill's promise to 'never surrender' and to fight in the streets, if necessary, that pulled England through its darkest hour of need and rallied the nation to help stem the tide of the German military's alarming spread, even as an invasion of England seemed increasingly likely.

"I pray that President Obama, who, in his nearly four years in office, has all but refused to confront the Iranian regime's aggression -- counting instead, like Neville Chamberlain, on the naive hope that a crazed tyrant can be appeased -- will prayerfully and prudently consider on which side he wishes history to count him, for if the Iranian regime successfully drags the world into the dark shadow of nuclear terrorism, history will remember that it was accomplished under his unwatchful eye."

Franks Decries Obama Hypocrisy on Judicial Activism

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), commented today on President Obama's recent Rose Garden remarks on judicial activism:

"Liberal Democrat Presidents, of which Barack Obama is one, have done for judicial activism what Stonehenge did for rocks. Indeed, without judicial activism and blatant constitutional overreach, the left would have almost no policy precedence to hold up to the world.

"Far left judicial activists are the only appointments Barack Obama has made to the Supreme Court. For him now to attempt to preempt and intimidate the Court from protecting the most basic kind of American freedom by accusing them of judicial activism is an arrogant hypocrisy that should take America's breath away.

"If the Supreme Court upholds, as fully constitutional, the ObamaCare mandate requiring all American citizens to buy government prescribed and controlled healthcare management, both the Constitution and American freedom itself will be fundamentally abrogated, and left-wing governments like the Obama administration will then be completely unfettered to force Americans to do almost anything."

Franks Praises Passage of PRENDA

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) praised today's passage of H.R. 3541, the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act (or PRENDA) through the House Judiciary Committee today by a 20-13 vote. The legislation outlaws abortions performed on the basis of the child's sex or race. It also outlaws the coercion of any woman to obtain either a sex- or race-based abortion.

"The very bedrock foundational principle that gave birth to America was the conviction that all human beings are children of God and created equal in His sight. In 1847, Frederick Douglass said, 'Right is of no sex; truth is of no color, God is the Father of us all--and all are brethren.'

"I know when the subject is related in any way to abortion, the doors of reason and human compassion in our minds and hearts often close, and the humanity of the unborn can sometimes no longer be seen. But this is an issue upon which all Americans should be able to find agreement, regardless of our party affiliations or even our beliefs about abortion.

"Our innate sense of human fairness should make it abundantly clear that aborting a little baby because he or she happens to be black or because he or she has been arbitrarily deemed 'lesser' is fundamentally wrong, representing a betrayal of the precious truth that all men are created equal and are stamped with the Imago Dei on their souls.

"I am convinced this is the civil rights battle that will define our generation, and, by the grace of God, I look forward to this vital measure's consideration on the House floor and its ultimate passage."

A minority baby is currently five times more likely to be aborted than a white baby, and nearly half of all black babies' are aborted, with over 70 percent of abortion clinics being located in predominantly minority neighborhoods.

Obama Consideration of Up to 80% Cut in Nuclear Weapons Beyond Reckless

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Subcommittees on both Emerging Threats and Strategic Forces tonight responded to the Obama administration's consideration of sharp new cuts to the U.S. nuclear force, including a reduction of up to 80 percent in the number of deployed weapons:

"To consider unilaterally drawing down our nuclear inventory beyond levels not seen since 1950, even while China, Russia, Iran, and other countries alike are striving to increase their nuclear capabilities is beyond reckless; it is ludicrous. Not only is Mr. Obama creating unnecessary and grave vulnerabilities to our national security, he is also creating an environment that encourages global proliferation.

"Many of our allies depend on our nuclear capability for their security. If these assurances are lost, not only will the number of nuclear states multiply, but our control over when, where, and how nuclear weapons are used will diminish exponentially. This President is playing Russian roulette with our national security, only he does not know and/or he does not care that the gun is fully loaded."

Obama Sells Out National Security

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) criticizes President Barack Hussein Obama's callow decision to reject the long-delayed TransCanada oil sands crude project following opposition from environmentalists:

"Our energy dependence on unpredictable countries is a critical national security threat to this nation. Moreover, if the United States did not find it necessary to buy very significant amounts of oil from Middle Eastern countries, terrorists would not have enough money in their coffers to buy a box of sparklers with which to try to harm America.

"In the last two years, the Obama Administration has inexplicably suffocated every opportunity for domestic energy growth by restricting and prohibiting the safe exploration and extraction of our native energy sources. By denying the implementation of the Keystone XL Pipeline, Mr. Obama has cost America 100,000 jobs and 700,000 barrels of oil per day. Far more significantly, he has demonstrated that he is now willing to sell out American national security to placate a handful of misguided environmentalists."

Cuts Across the Board, Including Life...

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) criticizes the latest Planned Parenthood Federation of America annual report as attestation to where the Obama Administration holds America's priorities during the economic depression.

"Planned Parenthood is the world's foremost promoter and provider of abortion on demand for any reason or no reason. With almost 900 clinics nationwide, it is by far the largest abortion provider in America, and accounts for one in five of all abortions performed in America. But, because this giant, billion-dollar, death dealing organization operates under the ruse of a “family planning” charity, it received an increased sum of $487.4 million from $363.2 million in 2009 of taxpayer dollars from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

"It is unconscionable that while America is in the midst of a historic budget crisis―our national debt surpassing $15 trillion, moms and dads without work―this Administration would sanction budget cuts across the board yet increase funding to a vitriolic organization that guises the killing of innocent unborn children as a taxpayer subsidized choice.

President Delays Sanctions on Iran

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency's report last month confirmed that Iran had successfully “cold-tested” all the components of a nuclear warhead. In response to the administration's attempt to delay and water down proposed sanctions on Iran behind closed doors,Congressman Trent Franks AZ-02 states:

"For years, the Iranian regime has been inexorably pursuing nuclear weapon capabilities. The fact that the IAEA's report confirmed this should surprise no one. Yet despite overwhelming bipartisan efforts in the House and Senate to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions through important provisions in the FY12 National Defense Authorization Act, the Obama Administration has continuously attempted to soften our stance on Iran, going so far as to strong-arm Democrats to adopt the Administration's position that delays implementation and grossly dilutes the severity of sanctions.

"The Administration’s argument that failing to delay sanction implementation for 180 days will spook oil markets and cause economic shock is a fallacious one. In truth, the oil markets have been aware of the impending sanctions and their potential impact. We may not have 180 days before Iran reaches a break-out point, beyond which no amount of intervention will prevent a nuclear bomb.

"To delay sanctions on Iran even further by pushing back implementation for almost half a year, endangers not only our most precious ally in the Middle East, Israel, but the entire human family. Sanctions should begin immediately, on Day one, not Day 180, Mr. President.

"Iran's malicious intent is clear and President Obama should at long last make it unequivocally clear to Iran, and to the entire world, that the United States will do everything necessary, including direct military intervention, to prevent this rogue nation from obtaining nuclear weapons."

New START Treaty Fails America

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a member of the Armed Services Committee, where he serves on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) issued the following statement following the Associated Press's report on Russia's heightened risk of nuclear warfare:

"This rhetoric can be added to a litany of examples that highlight the failure of President Obama's New START Treaty to reduce the likelihood of the use of nuclear weapons. Included in this list is the fact that since New START has come into force, Russia has been able to increase its nuclear armament yet still remain in compliance of treaty terms, which highlights precisely how ineffective the treaty truly is.

"Even as this treaty allows Russia to strengthen their arsenal, President Obama remains hell-bent on weakening our own, while also suspending critical modernization of our strategic forces. By pandering to Russia repeatedly throughout his Administration, this President has managed to weaken our defenses, to betray trusted allies like Poland and the Czech Republic, and to once again put American interests on the backburner."

Franks Blasts Obama's "Juvenile Gossip," Calls for Action on Iran

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to reports of President Obama's conversation in which he was overheard on an open microphone deriding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, reportedly saying, "You’re fed up with him? I have to deal with him every day," as well as to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) latest report again confirming that Iran has conducted advanced research "specific" to nuclear weapons, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) released the following statement:

"How utterly fitting that, while the IAEA was preparing to release its latest report yet again confirming that Iran is conducting research that is ONLY relevant to a nuclear weapons program -- not to mention working on miniaturizing said nuclear weapon -- Mr. Obama was engaging in juvenile gossip that would be unbefitting in a grade school classroom, much less coming from the mouth of the man who is supposed to be leader of the free world.

"I can't help but wonder if this President is simply confused, at this point, failing to understand that Israel, not Iran, is our most loyal ally -- a conclusion any observer of this Administration's foreign policy would be hard-pressed to reach, as Mr. Obama insults Israel time and again, while offering a 'new beginning' to Iran and ignoring years of advancements toward a nuclear capability that would plunge the entire world into the shadow of nuclear terrorism.

"Let it be known, Mr. President, that if Iran gains a nuclear weapon, it will have happened on your watch, while you stood on the sidelines and gossiped about which world leaders' personalities best suited your fancy."

Franks Praises Passage of H.R. 822

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, applauded today's passage of H.R. 822. Recognizing that it is every American's fundamental right to carry and bear arms, Franks stated:

"This is common-sense legislation that is good for all gun owners and the citizenry they protect. The law simplifies the national patchwork of concealed carry laws. Much like driver's licenses — a state-issued form of identification that is recognized and accepted no matter what state an American citizen might happen to visit — American permit holders' documentation will now be recognized and accepted in 49 of the 50 states, making the system more sensible and more fair to American gun owners.

"As the Supreme Court recently affirmed in District of Columbia v. Heller, the right to bear arms is a fundamental, individual right. This Constitutional right to defend oneself and one's family should not be limited to only when one is at home.

"Criminals have always preferred unarmed victims and H.R. 822 ensures Americans can continue to protect themselves and their families, even when they cross state lines."