Praying for Our Leaders in Government
Executive Branch: Pray for the President and his Administration
The White House is walking back statements made by President Joe Biden in a television interview regarding U.S. support for Taiwan. When asked whether U.S. troops would defend Taiwan if China invaded, the president responded, “Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack.”
The Department of Homeland Security appointed 25 members to a “reinvigorated” Faith-Based Security Advisory Council. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “These prominent faith and law enforcement leaders will help us build and strengthen the community partnerships that are so vital to our mission success. We will work together to increase access to our services, ensure equity, maintain openness and transparency, and fully restore the trust of the communities we serve.”
Pray for administration officials as they make decisions regarding both foreign and domestic matters.
Legislative Branch: Pray for Senators and Representatives in Congress
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said in an interview that Americans feel like they are not being heard about feeling unsafe due to the rising, out-of-control crime rate in the U.S. She has offered a solution in legislation titled “Restoring Law and Order,” which she says, looks to fund more officers. She also stated, “We are looking at a GAO study on these rape kits. We are making certain that there are provisions for dealing with these drug crimes, primarily the drug deaths that result from fentanyl.”
Representative Byron Donalds of Florida introduced the Cobalt Optimizes Batteries and Leading Technologies Act (COBALT), which would establish domestic cobalt refining by authorizing the Department of Defense to purchase cobalt from domestic refineries via appropriated funds. Cobalt is a performance-enhancing mineral used in electric vehicle batteries, super alloys in jet engines, and permanent magnets in missile engines. Most of the nation’s and the world’s cobalt supply currently comes from China.
Pray for members of the Senate and House as they consider legislation that addresses national security as well as public health issues.
PRAY FOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
The Senate Homeland Security Committee questioned representatives of tech companies regarding threats to national security. The hearing came one day after a whistleblower stated that Twitter employed an undercover Chinese spy. Chinese-owned Tik Tok is also among the social media companies being evaluated over security concerns and potential national security issues.
Members of the Senate Banking Committee questioned Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler over his handling of environmental, social, and government issues, and about cryptocurrency. “Gensler’s pursuit of a highly politicized liberal policy agenda has distracted him from fulfilling the SEC’s core mission of protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation,” said Senator Pat Toomey.
Pray for Congressional committee members as they conduct investigatory work and the legislation that could come about because of their findings.
Judicial Branch: Pray for Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges
The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a Texas law that bars large social media companies from banning or censoring users based on “viewpoint.” Technology industry groups have maintained that the measure would turn platforms into bastions of dangerous content.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the U.S. Air Force’s attempt to block a class-wide preliminary injunction that protects all Air Force personnel who filed for religious exemption against the Pentagon’s COVID vaccine mandate. The court called the mandate a “clear policy of discrimination” against religious objectors.
Pay for wisdom for the federal appeals court judges.
