FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement regarding two amendments he introduced to the Make America Safe Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

"Protecting our state secrets and taxpayer dollars should be no-brainers for those running the government—but they apparently are not for this President or this Republican-controlled Congress.”

"Despite repeatedly lying about his meetings with the Russians, Jared Kushner continues to have access to classified information and an office in the West Wing. Let us be clear: Any individual who committed the same act and was not related to the President would have been stripped of their security clearance and investigated. If the President wants to create special rules for his son-in-law, Congress must act instead by prohibiting him from receiving classified information and relieving taxpayers from paying his expenses.”

"Meanwhile, the President's company continues to receive millions of dollars from government agencies that are forced to rent hotel rooms, office space and golf karts at his commercial properties. The Office of the President should never be used for personal gain or enrichment. That is why I have introduced an amendment to prohibit the Department of Defense from purchasing anything from a property owned by the President or a member of his family.”

"I am confident that every American can agree on two things: that we should protect our state secrets, and that the President of the United States should not make millions of dollars from U.S. taxpayers. If House Republicans choose to block debate on my amendments, they will be once again choosing fealty to Trump over country.”

INFORMATION ON THE AMENDMENTS

The first amendment will prohibit anyone, who has resubmitted their SF-86 security clearance form more than twice to add previously undisclosed Russian contacts, from receiving salary, expenses - including for support staff and office space, or classified information. The second amendment will prohibit the Department of Defense from conducting business, including the purchasing of hotel rooms or office space, with any entity owned by the President or a member of his immediate family.

THE FULL TEXT OF MR. LIEU’S AMENDMENTS CAN BE FOUND HERE

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