Advancing American Freedom today announced an initial six-figure ad campaign in opposition to RFK’s nomination to be Secretary of HHS. The campaign will feature digital ads and a mobile billboard to run through his confirmation hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. The ad campaign is in addition to two letters Advancing American Freedom has sent to senators urging opposition to RFK based on his far-left, extremist views on vaccines, climate, and abortion.
“The pro-life movement should have a pro-life secretary leading HHS,” said AAF President Tim Chapman. “The conservative movement has a deep bench of serious people qualified to lead the agency who also are ardent defenders of life. We don’t need to have a confirmation battle over a controversial figure like Kennedy who divides the conservative movement more than unites it.”
You can view the ads here.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, Vice President Pence delivered remarks in Hong Kong at UBS Wealth Insights 2025 where he called for the release of newspaperman Jimmy Lai, who is currently on trial for national-security charges. Jimmy Lai met with Vice President Pence in July 2019 amidst the Hong Kong protests that began in June of 2019.
An excerpt of Vice President Pence’s remarks below:
“As I sit here in Hong Kong, I would tell you there is probably no more compelling gesture in the short term to send a message of good will to the people of the United States, or the free world, than if China were to take steps to free Jimmy Lai.”
Today AAF announced that President Tim Chapman and AAF Board Chairman Marc Short sent a letter to the U.S. Senate ahead of the confirmation hearing of RFK Jr. regarding his appointment as HHS Secretary. The letter raises concerns about RFK’s past positions of supporting abortion on-demand up until birth and includes a list of questions to be asked during RFK’s confirmation hearing regarding the future of pro-life objectives that happen through HHS in hopes that RFK makes clear to the American people his commitment to the protection of innocent life.
Below is an excerpt of the letter:
“There are hundreds of decisions made every day at HHS that either lead our nation toward a respect for life or away from it—decisions about federal funding for Planned Parenthood, regulations on the abortion pill (currently accounting for three out of every five abortions), insurance coverage of abortion, and more. Whatever the merits of RFK Jr’s Make America Healthy Again initiative—indeed, whatever other qualities a nominee might possess—an HHS Secretary must have a firm commitment to protect unborn children, or else bend under the pressure and pushback surrounding these daily, critical decisions…
RFK Jr., as well as any other nominated HHS Secretary, must be able to provide satisfactory answers to the list of important pro-life questions attached to this letter. The pro-life movement has a strong bench of courageous pro-life leaders who are willing to serve the American people as the head of HHS.”
Read the full letter here.
Advancing American Freedom today announced an expansion of the policy team with the hire of Joel Griffith, a former research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Joel Griffith to our team this year,” said AAF President Tim Chapman. “In 2025 Advancing American Freedom intends to play a leadership role in advocating for conservative economic policies that will ensure American prosperity. Whether it be it extending the tax cuts, cutting wasteful spending, or debating the proper use of tariffs, Joel has demonstrated his commitment to free markets and American dynamism. I look forward to working side by side with him as we seek to accomplish our policy goals.”
“I’m honored to join the AAF policy team. As the conservative movement wrestles with economic policies, it’s time to champion the benefits of free markets and limited government while warning of the dangers of protectionism, fiscal recklessness, and government interventionism. I’m looking forward to engaging in these conversations through AAF,” said Joel Griffith.
TikTok v. Garland
December 23, 2024
Advancing American Freedom filed an amicus brief with over 20 other amici arguing that the legislation to force TikTok to divest from the Chinese Communist Party is a matter of national security and should be upheld for the security of the American people.
“TikTok is digital fentanyl, a 21st-century technological weapon being used by the Chinese Communist Party to target the American people,” said Vice President Pence. “Our government’s first job is to defend our Nation and its citizens. The Supreme Court should uphold the law forcing the sale of TikTok to protect the security and privacy of the American people.”
“In a rare show of bipartisanship, Congress passed this legislation recognizing that TikTok is a national security threat while under the control of the Chinese Communist Party,” said AAF President Tim Chapman. “America must show strength in the face of China’s growing threat and uphold this legislation to defend our nation’s security.”
“The Constitution empowers Congress to defend our nation against threats from adversaries,” J. Marc Wheat, AAF General Counsel. “The First Amendment is not an open door to our adversaries, and there is no First Amendment that applies to the Chinese Communist Party. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit already upheld this legislation under the highest level of scrutiny, and the Supreme Court must uphold it as well to protect the American people.”
Read the full brief here.
