Congressman Paul Cook's Newsletter: September 15, 2015

Congressman Cook Votes to Reject Iran Deal

Congressman Cook voted against HR 3461, a resolution that would have approved of the Iran Nuclear deal. Additionally, Congressman Cook voted for H. Res 411, a resolution recognizing the failure of the President to comply with the Iran Nuclear Review Act, and HR 3460, a bill to suspend sanctions relief for Iran.

Congressman Cook joined a majority of his House colleagues in voting down HR 3461, which rejects the President’s badly flawed Iranian Nuclear Agreement.

H. Res 411, the Iran Nuclear Review Act, requires that the President submit all documents related to the nuclear deal to Congress. The Associated Press revealed secret side deals between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran that have never been made available to Congress or the American people. H. Res 411 recognizes that the President has not complied with the terms of the ‪Iran Nuclear Review Act passed the House.

Lastly, HR 3460 suspends, until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to lift sanctions on Iran. This bill also prohibits the President from releasing any frozen assets belonging to Iranian officials involved in terrorism or Iran’s nuclear program. HR 3460 passed the House.

Cook said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s founding action 35 years ago was to declare war on the United States, violating all international laws and agreements by invading our embassy and taking our diplomats hostage. Since then, Iran has been complicit in the murders of thousands of our military service members. Iran’s Lebanese terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, murdered hundreds of Marines in Lebanon in the 1980s, and in the last decade, Iranian-sponsored militias murdered thousands of American service members in Iraq.

“For weeks, I’ve reviewed the Iran deal, consulted with our military leadership, and heard from our allies. Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and has never indicated any willingness to change its behavior, so what would this deal change? I don’t trust Iran to comply with this deal, and I voted against rewarding them with over a hundred billion dollars in sanctions relief, which will be used to finance terror.

“To this day, Iran continues to hold American hostages. This is a regime that was born in terror and that exists to spread terror across the world. I refuse to trust the security of America and our allies to the Iranian regime’s promises. I don’t trust Iran, and I’m glad that a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives joined me in rejecting this bad deal.”

ZIPPO BRIEF on Iran By Congressman Cook

“Iran is a regime that was born in terror and that exists to spread terror across the world. I refuse to trust the security of America and our allies to the Iranian regime’s promises. I don’t trust Iran, and I’m glad that a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives joined me in rejecting this bad deal.”

Watch it by clicking here.

San Bernardino County Deputies to Receive Congressional Badge of Bravery

U.S. Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), Ken Calvert (R-Corona), and Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) will award the Congressional Badge of Bravery to four San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies during a ceremony on Tuesday, September 22. Three of the deputies will be recognized for their actions during the Christopher Dorner manhunt in 2013. A fourth deputy will be honored for rescuing occupants of a Victorville apartment who were trapped during a fire.

Established in 2008, the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery honors exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. The medals are awarded annually by the U.S. Attorney General and are presented by the recipients’ Congressional representatives.

Detective Larry Lopez, Detective Justin Musella, and Deputy Daniel Rosa will be awarded the Congressional Badge of Bravery for their heroic actions to save the lives fellow deputies during a shootout with Christopher Dorner on February 12, 2013. After detectives Alex Collins and Jeremiah MacKay were seriously wounded by the assailant, Lopez, Musella, and Rosa coordinated a plan to provide concealment so that the injured deputies could be extracted. Once a smoke screen was deployed, all three deputies left their positions of cover, exposing themselves to the assailant’s gunfire, and dragged Collins and MacKay to safer positions. Despite their efforts, MacKay succumbed to his injuries.

On June 15, 2013, Deputy Arturo Ramirez was dispatched to a fire at a Victorville apartment. Upon arriving on scene, Ramirez was advised that occupants of the apartment were trapped inside. Realizing that the fire was growing quickly, Ramirez ran inside the structure and rescued four residents, including a five-month old and a toddler. Once outside, the occupants notified Ramirez that another young child was trapped inside. Again, he rushed inside the apartment and successfully extracted the young girl who was reunited with her family. For his efforts to rescue the family, Ramirez will receive the Congressional Badge of Bravery.

Lopez, Musella, Ramirez, and Rosa will each receive the Congressional Badge of Bravery during a 9:00AM press conference at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department headquarters, located at 655 East Third Street in San Bernardino, on Tuesday, September 22.

Salute to Women a Huge Success

On Saturday September 12, Congressman Cook honored 24 women at his third annual "Salute to Women: Young Leaders and Mentors" event at the Apple Valley Town Conference Center. Each of the women honored have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their respective communities, especially with organizations that serve the youth.

For more photos from the event, please click here.

Click here to read about the Young Leaders and Mentors who were honored!

Apple Valley Sheriff's Station to Host Volunteer Academy

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Apple Valley Station plans to host the next Citizen Volunteer Academy, slated to begin on January 11, 2015. Anyone 18 years or older who is interested in becoming a volunteer is encouraged to contact their local sheriff's station for an application. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2015.

Please note that all applicants must pass an oral interview and background investigation, and the academy will cover subjects such as penal codes, radio techniques, driving practicals, traffic control, citations, civil liabilities, CPR/first aid and more.

For more information, please call Trish Hill at (760) 240-7428.

Group Seeks Wheelchairs

The Loma Linda University Health PossAbilities is collecting new or used non-electric wheelchairs, canes, and walkers. Donated items can be dropped off 9AM to 12PM on Friday September 18, 2105 at the PossAbilities office, 25455 Barton Rd., Suite 109A.

A tax donation receipt will be provided.

For more information, please call (909)792-2308.

Free Dump Day for Adelanto Residents

The city of Adelanto is hosting a free dump day from 8AM to 1 PM on September 26, 2015 at Stater Bros. Stadium, 12000 Stadium Way in Adelanto.

The city will allow residents to drop off televisions, computer monitors, miscellaneous electronic waste, tires, metal, appliances, toilets, mattresses, furniture and other large items.

Residents must bring their driver’s license and current water bill to show proof of Adelanto residency.
Tires must be off-rim and large truck tires will not be accepted. Hazardous waste is prohibited.

For more information, please call the city’s Code Compliance Department at (760) 246-2300, ext. 3005, for more information

Loma Linda VA Holds Town Hall

The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System senior leadership will hold a Veterans’ Town Hall on September 25, 2015 to receive feedback from veterans, their family members or other beneficiaries.

The town hall event will be at 4PM in the auditorium of the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center, 11201 Benton Street in Loma Linda.

Senior leadership and other experts from the local VA healthcare system will be present to hear directly from veterans and their families.

Headline HereHonor the Fallen by Serving the Living

Victorville Elks Lodge 1877 wishes to honor our veterans by hosting a free Veterans Outreach event where numerous Veterans’ resources will be on hand to help out with the services our veterans’ need and deserve such as: housing resources, medical resources, job training and placement information, peer to peer veteran conversations, PTSD and other emotional needs, clothing, and VA benefits assistance.

This event will take place on Saturday October 17, 2015 from 7AM to 2PM at the Elks Lodge located at 14041 Hesperia Road in Victorville.

Please RSVP by calling (760) 951-8003 or by emailing Joshua@don-frse.com.

Veterans Apply for High School Diploma

The San Bernardino County Department of Veterans’ Affairs and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools have launched a new initiative called the San Bernardino County Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project. It allows veterans whose high school careers were interrupted by military service the opportunity to receive their diplomas. The program is open to veterans who received an honorable discharge from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as Japanese-Americans who were forced into internment camps during WWII. The program is free of charge with the only requirement being established residence in San Bernardino County.

The deadline to apply for the seventh annual County Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project is September 25, 2015

Applications can be downloaded from the County Schools’ website at https://vdp.sbcss.k12.ca.us/. For assistance with verification of military service and/or discharge papers, contact the County Department of Veterans Affairs at (866) 472-8387 or (909) 387-5516.

For more information, please contact Samantha Koker at County Schools at (909) 386-2412.