This Blog Touches My Heart In So Many Ways

THIS BLOG TOUCHES MY HEART IN SO MANY WAYS  ~  Today, Feb 17, 2025, is my brother, Bob's, 91 birthday, which he is celebrating in heaven with our mom and so many, many other loved ones today. 

As a child growing up in the Shoals of Alabama I virtually had three moms ~ my mom, my Aunt Nina, and my Aunt Ola.  In 1993, living in Orange County, California, I knew that Aunt Ola was in the hospital in Alabama, but did not realize it was serious. 

One day I was at work and I had a strong feeling that I wanted to call Aunt Ola in the hospital.  My cousin, Bobbie Byrd, answered the phone and told Aunt Ola, "Billy Joe is on the phone.  Do you feel like talking?"  She answered, "No, just tell him that I love him."  An hour later she passed away.  My mom joined her in heaven in 1994.  Aunt Nina had preceded them in 1973.

Watching the video below touches special compartments of my heart reserved for them and other very special ladies - for I find myself in the Winter of Life, a time when I keep losing so many parts of my heart, so many friends, loved ones, and very special ladies who, each, own a piece of my heart - and are gone, for now. 

In the winter of 1955 I was in the Air Force Tech School at Lowry AFB, Denver.  During that time I met two very special women - Jacquie Lynn Dodge and Betty Martinez.  I married Betty, but never forgot Jacquie and our moments together.

In 1965, there was Pat Goodwin, an amazing woman I met while working at Boeing in Seattle for six months, then she followed me to Los Angeles where we had a very special three years relationship.  Later in the 1960s, there was Judy Seale with whom I shared many life experiences, traveling America and experiencing the wild, decadent 1960s decade of America.

Betty passed away in 2001, just a week before 9/11 - Jacquie Lynn in October 2010 - Pat and Judy both in 2024.  Dory and I have been together for 47 years and I daily ask God to give us many more productive years together.  My sister-in-law, aka, my sister, Mary Gray, in Florence, Alabama, is a couple of years older than me and seems to be in very good health.  Thank you, Lord.

About 15 years ago I discovered that I have a half-sister, Imogene Donaldson, who lived in Port Angeles, Washington.  After we discovered one another, we talked often on the phone, but due to my travel limitations, I never had a chance to meet her face-to-face. 

Yet I was amazed at her strong yet loving voice, even though she was a few years older than me.  She seemed to be ten years younger than me.  She was promoted to heaven in 2022 - but we will meet again and this time it will be for eternity.

I have read, and written, about the Winter Season of life - but have never admitted being there.  When anyone inquires about my age and if I am getting to be old, I declare, "When I get old, I will let you know!" 

While I may continue to ignore Father Time, so many of those close to me have not - and each one takes a piece of my heart with them.  There is a consolation to that ~ when I get to heaven it will be easy to find all my loved ones and and special friends - each will be holding a piece of my heart. 

Through the years there have been so many special people and if I try to include even a few sentences about all of them - I would be writing a book instead of a blog.  Yet when we meet again, I will recognize each one, as they will also be holding a piece of my heart.

For some reason this song popped into my head:

"I wish you bluebirds in the spring,

to give your heart a song to sing.
And then a kiss, but more than this,

I wish you love."

Until we meet again, in this world or the next - to all of you, My Friends and Loved Ones, "I wish you enough!"  God bless, Bill

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Bill Gray posted on Feb 17, 2017:

THE VIDEO BELOW DEFINITELY BROUGHT A MAJOR FLASH-BACK FOR ME ~ In February 1994, I was home in Alabama for my mom's funeral. I stayed a week and then had to come home to California.

My Aunt Anne wanted me to visit her before I left - but I ran out of time.  I promised her that I would be coming home again soon and would definitely visit with her then.  She was killed a month later in a car accident.

When Dory, Lana, and I left Alabama to fly home, my brother, Bob, was in good health and I had no doubt that we would be home often to visit.  But life has a way of changing even the best plans.  I was never able to go home again while Bob was still alive. 

We talked often on the phone and I was thrilled by his devout walk with our Lord - but the last time I saw Bob was at the Huntsville airport in 1994.  He was promoted to heaven January 12, 2016.

Yes, I will see him again one day.  I will see him, mom, and the many other loved ones who have gone on before me.  But I miss talking with him today - and I cannot tell you how many times I have reached for the phone to call mom or Bob - then realize that I cannot.

Why am I sharing this with you?  Watch this video and you will understand.  Every time we part - may be the last time.  Did you remember to say, "I love you"?  Three little words - but the most powerful words you can ever say - for they may have to last you a long time.

I Wish You Enough!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-rCB97IWGA

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

 

 

Nehemiah 6 Recitation By Chantelle Gibbs - Amazing! ~ 2014, And Today In 2025

Our daughter, Lana, is in a Bible Study Group at Harvest Christian Fellowship and they are studying the book of Nehemiah. 

That brought back a beautiful deja vu memory of our Fil-Am Church of Irvine (FACI) Home Bible Studies - and especially of a young toddler, Chantelle, who was always at our home Bible studies.  Of course she brought her mom, Nimfa, and younger sister, Gabrielle.

When Chantelle was a senior in high school, or maybe just entering Biola, she gave the recitation of Nehemiah 6 in church - and her mom, Nimfa, shared it with us. 

In 2014 I was so inspired by her recitation that I have shared the video a number of times over the years.  And because Lana's Bible study group is in Nehemiah, I am inspired to share it again.  Maybe Lana can share it with friends in her study group.

 

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NEHEMIAH 6 RECITATION BY CHANTELLE GIBBS - AMAZING!
Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:17:42 -0700
Bill Gray <billdory@pacbell.net>

Back in the 1990s, our church, the Filipino-American Church of Irvine (FACI), had what I still view as the perfect Home Bible Studies.  I call them Family Bible Studies, for no one was excluded. 

In our Friday Night Home Bible Studies, we often had as many as 30, 40, or more people there to study God's Word.  And we had all ages, from toddler, to youth, to young adult, to mom and dad, grandma and grandpa - and all in between.

The kiddies sat on the floor in the middle of the room, we adults sat on sofas and chairs - and Pastor Sam Lacanienta taught us.  Being a kid at heart, sometimes I also sat on the floor.  I will admit that Pastor Sam has always been very adept at keeping the young ones interested, while not boring we who were a wee bit older. 

I have heard folks complaining that having children in the Bible studies with adults is distracting.  Not so, when they are included. 

So, what did we have?  We had youth hearing the Word of God, hearing our discussions, and most often able to be included in the discussions.  True, the toddlers cannot do that, but what they do see is mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and all their friends sharing love, the love of God, and Christian love for one another.  That image will always stay in their minds. 

And as they grow older, they, too, can join in when we read and discuss God's Word.  In a Family Home Bible Study of God's Word, nothing is wasted - not the love, not the lessons, not the memories.

In that large Bible study group we had in the 1990s, I was blessed to watch the young people grow in knowledge of God's Word.  And I have been blessed to see them put that knowledge into action.  

At least four of our young men from those studies have become Godly pastors leading local fellowships.  All four married young ladies from our Family Bible Study groups - and are raising their own children up to be Godly children.  That is truly paying it forward.

Over the years, I have had the joy of watching all those young children who were in our FACI Bible study group in the 1990s go on to lead positive Christian lives, virtually all of them in some way involved in ministry - from mission trips, to becoming missionaries, to being active in local Christian fellowships, to being pastors and pastors' wives, and so much more.

I have even had the joy of seeing my own granddaughter, Elyssa, who is now a junior at a wonderful Christian college in Santa Barbara, going on several mission trips.

As are told in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he (she) should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."

My reason for writing this blog is my memories of a young child, Chantelle, who was in 1990s Family Bible Studies - who is today a perfect example of what I have written.   One of the families in those studies was my Christian sister, Nimfa Veneracion, and her two young daughters, Chantelle (left) and Gabrielle (right). 

The photo below is how they looked during those 1990s Bible studies.  Several years ago, Nimfa posted a video of Chantelle doing a recitation at church.  At that time, Chantelle was still in high school or maybe just entering Biola University.  But, that video totally blew my mind.

In this video, Chantelle is reciting, not reading, but reciting the full chapter of Nehemiah 6.   And, she does it so well that we get the feeling that Nehemiah is actually telling the story himself.   This is an amazing performance and I pray that you enjoy it as much as I always have - every times I have watched it.

Nehemiah 6 @ Celebration - Chantelle Gibbs Recitation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcFt_iXtqq4

My Friends, this family is a perfect example of paying it forward.   And, that is what Jesus Christ has instructed all Christian believers to do in His Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. . . 

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. . . Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation."

My Friends, there can be no greater example of that Great Commission - than seeing Chantelle Gibbs reciting Scripture is such an exciting and inspiring way.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

 

 

Here’s Everything President Trump Did His First Week Back

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS OFF AND RUNNING  ~  Surprising all of us with his youthful vigor!  Just look at his schedule on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, a schedule that would have taxed a 30 year old did not seem to phase him at all. 

He started the day early with church service and then a full day of official events, speaking at multiple venues, normally ending his day after the multiple Inaugural Balls.  But then, as I understand it, President Trump went back to signing more Executive Orders in his heartfelt effort to start Making America Great Again.

This is what he has done for YOU and me during his first week in office:

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Here’s Everything Trump Did His First Week Back
DailyWire - News and Analysis
By  Mairead Elordi - Jan 25, 2025
https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-everything-trump-did-his-first-week-back

From the southern border to the federal bureaucracy, Trump swiftly delivered on a slew of campaign promises!

President Donald Trump Began His Second Term This Week With An Explosion Of Actions - spending his first few days in office going full speed on his agenda and reversing the work of his predecessor.  The dizzying march of executive orders, presidential pardons, firings of Biden appointees, calls with foreign leaders, and visits to disaster zones started immediately after the inauguration on Monday, and the breakneck pace did not let up for the rest of the week.

On day one, Trump signed more than three dozen executive orders: the southern border, gender ideology, American energy, the economy, and other issues.  In a flurry of orders on immigration, his signature issue, Trump took several drastic actions.

* * The President Declared A National Emergency At The Southern Border - deployed thousands of troops there - ordered construction of the border wall - ordered Homeland Security to remove illegal migrants AND go after the drug cartels, which he designated as Terrorists.

* * The Executive Orders Also Blocked All Illegal Entries including asylum seekers and refugees - shut down the CBP One app -  beefed up visa screening - and attempted to end birthright citizenship for the children of non-citizens who are already facing legal challenges.

~ ~ ~ Bill Gray Note:  The CBP One is an app to allow illegals to schedule asylum appointments at a port of entry.  The language of President Trump's action, more specifically, orders officials to cease using the application “as a method of paroling or facilitating the entry of otherwise inadmissible aliens into the United States.”

In his inaugural remarks after taking the oath of office President Trump declared, “All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.” 

Trump also threatened to prosecute officials and strip funding from sanctuary cities and states that refuse to cooperate with his deportations, which have already begun.  Less than 48 hours after Trump was sworn in, ICE had already arrested more than 460 illegal migrants.

* * Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security reinstated the term “ILLEGAL ALIEN.”

* * One Of Trump’s Biggest Moves Of His First Day - and week - was granting pardons to nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the January 6 riot at the Capitol.  Most of the defendants received full pardons, while 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, most of whom were convicted of seditious conspiracy, got their sentences commuted. 

* * The Justice Department Was Directed To Dismiss Any Pending Indictments Related To The Riot.

On Thursday, Trump Pardoned 23 Pro-Life Protesters prosecuted by the Biden administration, including a woman in her 70s, and the mother of a two-year-old, both imprisoned.

* * Relatedly, Two More Executive Orders Ban The Weaponization Of The Federal Government against political opponents including censorship of free speech.  And They Direct Investigations Into Past Government Misconduct.

* * Another Day One Order Addresses Gender Ideology - which became a hot button issue during the election.  The Order Officially Recognizes “Sex” As Biological, Only “MALE” OR “FEMALE.”

The Order Reverses Allowing People To Change Their Gender On Passports - bans federal funds from promoting gender ideology - or paying for medical gender transitions for prison inmates, AND protects women and girls from trans-identifying men in women’s prisons, rape shelters, and “intimate spaces.”

* * Trump Also Took An AXE to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) initiatives with several actions.

In One Order He Scrapped ALL Government DEI Programs - and put their staff on leave. Trump also rescinded an executive order from President Lyndon Johnson that mandated Affirmative Action by government contractors.

And in another order he directed the Federal Aviation Administration To Stop DEI hiring practices - noting that it is responsible for the safety of nearly 3 million airline passengers every day.

* * In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Trump posted that his first day in office was not over yet.  He was busy FIRING more than 1,000 presidential appointees from the previous administration, “who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again.”

Among those who got the boot from presidential advisory councils was retired Army General Mark Milley, who was fired from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.  Milley has called Trump a Fascist and was granted a preemptive pardon by Biden just hours earlier.

~ ~ ~ Bill Gray Note:   +September 28, 2021 - Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Marco Rubio called on Biden to fire Milley, stating that Milley had undermined "the sitting commander in chief" and "contemplated a treasonous leak of classified information to the Chinese Communist Party in advance of a potential armed conflict with the People's Republic of China."  Many Republicans accused Milley of treason and called for his resignation, firing, or court-martial.

“YOU’RE FIRED!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

* * Meanwhile, Trump’s State Department issued guidance that U.S. embassies should fly ONLY the American flag and not activist flags like the Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, both of which flew over government buildings under Biden.

In another spate of executive orders, Trump took action on energy.

* * He Declared A National Energy Emergency - withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, revoking any related financial commitments - directed the deregulation of domestic energy production, especially in Alaska - paused all new federal leasing and permitting for wind farms - eliminated the Electric Vehicle Mandate - and announced plans to get rid of regulations on products like light bulbs, water heaters, and washing machines.

* * On The Economy, one order aims to deliver emergency price relief to Americans by having executive agencies work to lower the costs of housing and healthcare - eliminate harmful climate policies - and create jobs, “drawing discouraged workers into the labor force.” 

* * Another order pauses assistance to foreign countries for 90 days as they are reviewed. 

* * The president also directed the Secretary of State to issue guidance on putting America First.

* * He issued an “America First” trade policy that includes exploring an "External Revenue Service" (as opposed to the Internal Revenue Service) to collect revenue related to foreign trade. 

~ ~ ~ Bill Gray Note: Funding America through foreign tariffs instead of taxing American citizens into poverty.

* * Several other Executive Orders took aim at the Federal Bureaucracy and directed a regulatory freeze - a federal hiring freeze with exceptions for areas like the military - and required federal employees to return to in-person work. 

* * More orders establish the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) - encourage federal hiring based on merit (instead of DEI) - and aim to restore accountability to federal workers who can influence policy.

In one fell swoop, Trump also revoked nearly 100 of former President Joe Biden’s executive actions on day one.

The Biden Actions Involved:  Advancing “racial equity” - preventing discrimination over “gender identity” - ensuring an “equitable” pandemic response - “restoring science” to tackle the “climate crisis” - immigration enforcement - “clean energy” - “accountable policing” - establishing an “African diaspora” council - withdrawing parts of the U.S. from oil or gas leasing - along with dozens more moves.

* * Trump also withdrew from the World Health Organization, citing its “mishandling” of the pandemic.  He called the move a “big one.”

* * In a hotly-anticipated move, the president suspended the TikTok ban and expressed hopes to strike a deal with TikTok’s parent company.

Trump also made several Anti-Abortion moves during his first few days in office.

* * He joined every Republican president since Ronald Reagan in restoring the Mexico City Rule - Which Prohibits Federal Funding to any overseas nongovernmental organization that performs or promotes abortions. 

* * He also restored the Hyde Amendment, which prevents taxpayers from being forced to pay for most abortions.

On Friday, Trump addressed the annual "March for Life" in a video message in which he praised their aim to “protect every child as a beautiful gift from the hand of our Creator.”  Vice President JD Vance addressed the march in person, his first speech as vice president.

* * The new administration also made a statement “strongly” supporting the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" which passed the House, but was blocked in the Senate this week - and he shut down the Biden administration’s Pro-Abortion Government website.

On Thursday, Trump spoke virtually to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and accused the CEO of Bank of America (and the CEO of JPMorgan Chase) to his face of debanking Conservatives, saying, “What you’re doing is wrong.”

~ ~ ~ Bill Gray Note:   De-banking, more commonly spelled debanking, also known within the banking industry as de-risking, is the closure of people's or organizations' bank accounts by banks that perceive the account holders to pose a financial, legal, regulatory, or reputational risk to the bank - such as the enforcement of anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws, the closing of bank accounts of sex workers, and people considered to be politically exposed persons (aka wrong political party?). The closure of accounts is generally performed without giving a reason and without the prospect of appeal. Wikipedia

He spoke with several foreign leaders, including a “fiery” call with the Danish prime minister about national security concerns around Greenland - a call with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on illegal immigration - and a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who said he wants to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years.

* * The administration said it has already secured a total of over $1 Trillion in new investments in the country (America).

* * The president also re-designated Yemen’s Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.

* * Trump also signed an order aimed at “Putting People Over Fish” in California - ordering federal agencies to work on routing more water from Northern California to the Southern California areas damaged by wildfires - and to stop prioritizing the Delta Smelt fish.

* * Trump declassified files related to the John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations - a move praised by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

* * On Technology Innovation, Trump issued an executive order aimed at eliminating Biden policies “harmful” to America’s global Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominance.  He also set up special groups to focus on Science and Technology as well as Cryptocurrency regulation.

* * Trump also revoked the taxpayer-funded Security Details of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - his former National Security Adviser, John Bolton - and Anthony Fauci, who was the face of Trump’s White House pandemic task force.

* * Another order Revokes The Security Clearances Of The 51 Former Intelligence Officials - who signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story.

* * He also pardoned two Washington, D.C. Police Officers convicted in the death of a black man during a police car chase in 2020.

* * He directed the Attorney General "To Seek The Death Penalty" for federal crimes involving either the murder of Law Enforcement (Officers) - or an ILLEGAL migrant (who was) committing a capital crime.

* * Trump also directed the Secretary of the Interior to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” and restored the name “Mount McKinley” to the country’s highest peak after the Obama administration changed it to a Native Alaskan name in 2015.

* * Other orders addressed smaller issues including withdrawing Biden’s menthol cigarette ban - getting rid of the Biden administration’s White House security clearance backlog - recognizing North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe - and promoting beautiful civic architecture.

On Friday, Trump turned his attention to disaster zones, flying to North Carolina to view hurricane damage and then to California to survey wildfire destruction.  He is set to hold a rally in Nevada on Saturday, saying he wants to “thank” Nevada voters for supporting him.

Meanwhile, Trump’s Cabinet confirmations are working their way through the Senate. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the first to be confirmed on Tuesday, and Pete Hegseth was confirmed as Defense Secretary late Friday evening, with Vance casting the tie breaking vote.

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Folks, since this is only President Trump's first week in office, just imagine what he will do to Make America Great Again in the next four years.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

Let Me Introduce You To Your New MAGA Team!

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU!  ~  Just in case you have been hiding under a rock for the past month, let me introduce you to your new MAGA TEAM!  And I have no doubt whatsoever that they will indeed Make America Great Again.  Yes, America Is Back in business - and your team has hit the road running.

So lets pause a moment and have a brief review of the team which will be helping President Trump Make America Great Again.

THE 2025 ADMINISTRATION AND CABINET

Established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Cabinet’s role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member’s respective office. Meet President Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Administrator of the

Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin  ~  Lee Zeldin is a former United States Congressman who represented New York’s First Congressional District from 2015 to 2023. Today, he continues his service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, marking over two decades in the military. In 2010, Zeldin was elected to the New York State Senate, where he served until 2014, when he won a seat in Congress. 

Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Kelly Loeffler  ~  Kelly Loeffler is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former U.S. Senator from Georgia who dedicates her life to growing businesses and advancing economic opportunity for all. Kelly served in the U.S. Senate in 2020, where she brought her private-sector experience to Washington.

Attorney General, Pam Bondi ~  Pam Bondi spent 18 years as a prosecutor, trying cases ranging from domestic violence to capital murder.  In 2010, she ran for Florida Attorney General, becoming the 37th and first female Attorney General in Florida’s history, serving for two consecutive terms from 2011-2019.  In 2019, Attorney General Bondi joined the White House as Special Advisor to President Trump in the Office of White House Counsel, working on the defense legal team throughout the unprecedented Impeachment Proceedings.

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe  ~  John Ratcliffe previously served as the Director of National Intelligence from May 2020 until January 2021, making him the first person to ever serve as both Director of the CIA and Director of National Intelligence.

Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard  ~  Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard’s life is defined by her unwavering commitment to service and her love of country. From her earliest days in public office to her extensive military career, she has dedicated her life in service to protect the safety, security and freedom of the American people and our nation.

In the United States Congress she served on the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs Committees in Congress. A combat veteran with three deployments to the Middle East and Africa as part of a special operations mission to counter terrorism, LTC Gabbard has served in uniform since 2003.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought  ~  Russell Vought has been nominated to serve as the 44nd Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to serving in the Trump Administration, Russ spent 20 years working in Congress and with grassroots and public policy organizations.

Most recently, he was the President of the Center for Renewing America. He worked for seven years as Vice President of Heritage Action for America. Prior to that, he worked on Capitol Hill, serving as the Policy Director for the House Republican Conference, as the Executive Director of the Republican Study Committee, and as a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Phil Gramm.

Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins  ~  Brooke Leslie Rollins proudly served as a Texas State FFA Officer and worked for the National FFA Organization. Rollins most recently served as the Founder, President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute.

Prior to that, she was Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives in the last White House under President Donald Trump. In these roles, she helped lead the transformational domestic policy agenda of the Trump Administration, enacting the President’s vision and leading to historic achievements for the American people.

Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick  ~  Howard W. Lutnick is nominated to serve as the 41st United States Secretary of Commerce.  During President Trump’s 2024 election campaign, he was the Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Transition Team. 

Before entering public service, Mr. Lutnick was a prominent figure on Wall Street for over three decades, simultaneously serving as Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and BGC Group, as well as Executive Chairman of Newmark. He joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 1983 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming President and CEO at just 29 years old.

Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth  ~  An Army combat veteran and advocate for America’s veterans, Hegseth was commissioned an infantry officer into the U.S. Army National Guard upon graduation from the ROTC program at Princeton University in 2003. His deployments include Guantanamo Bay, where he served as an infantry platoon leader; Iraq, where he served as an infantry platoon leader in Baghdad and Samarra with the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division; and Afghanistan with the Minnesota Army National Guard as part of a NATO Training Mission.

Hegseth also served in multiple staff positions in state National Guard units. Hegseth’s military honors include the Army Commendation Medal and Expert Infantryman’s Badge (EIB) for his time in Cuba; the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB), and a second Army Commendation Medal for his time in Iraq; and a second Bronze Star Medal and a Joint Commendation Medal for his time in Afghanistan.

Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon  ~  Linda McMahon most recently served as Chair of the Board and Chair of the Center for the American Worker at the America First Policy Institute. McMahon served in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet as Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright  ~  Chris Wright is the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Liberty Energy (NYSE: LBRT). Chris completed an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at MIT and did graduate work in Electrical Engineering at UC Berkeley and MIT. He founded Pinnacle Technologies and served as CEO from 1992 to 2006. Pinnacle created the hydraulic fracture mapping industry and its innovations helped launch commercial shale gas production in the late 1990s.

Chris was Chairman of Stroud Energy, an early shale gas producer.  Chris founded and served as Executive Chairman of Liberty Resources and Liberty Midstream Solutions. In addition to his role at Liberty, he sits on the Board of Directors for Urban Solutions Group, OKLO Inc. (NYSE: Oklo), and EMX Royalty Corp. (NYSE: EMX). Chris also serves on the board of numerous nonprofit organizations, including ACE Scholarships, and as a founding board member of the Bettering Human Lives Foundation.

Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy, Jr.  ~  Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s career of public service began in 1985 as an attorney for the environmental nonprofit RiverKeeper. He eventually became one of the most influential environmentalists in the United States, receiving TIME Magazine’s “Hero of the Planet” and the Sartisky Peace Award.  

The son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Bobby Jr. was a lifelong Democrat but became increasingly estranged from the party in the 2010s as it drifted away from its traditional values. He made his final break on October 9, 2023, when he announced his candidacy as an independent for President of the United States. Bobby has spent nearly 40 years fighting corrupt corporations and government agencies. During his tenure at RiverKeeper, he successfully sued dozens of municipalities to force compliance with the Clean Water Act.

He won cases against corporate giants too, including a suit against General Electric for toxic runoff from its corporate jet hangar and a court order against ExxonMobil mandating they clean up tens of millions of gallons of spilled oil in Brooklyn, NY.  Bobby co-founded the WaterKeeper Alliance and served as its President for 21 years. Under his direction, it became the world’s largest nonprofit devoted to clean water and now protects 2.7 million miles of waterways with over a million volunteers in the United States and 46 other countries.

Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem  ~  Governor Kristi Noem, in 2010 after serving in the South Dakota legislature for several years, Noem was elected to serve as South Dakota’s member of the U.S. House of Representatives.  During her time in Congress, in addition to many other successes, Governor Noem helped pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which put $2,400 back in the pockets of the average South Dakota family. 

In 2018, with the platform of protecting South Dakotans against tax increases, government growth, federal intrusion, and government secrecy, she was elected as South Dakota’s first-ever female Governor. In 2022, Governor Noem was re-elected with the largest vote total in the history of South Dakota.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner  ~   As Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Scott Turner led more than 200 policy actions to revitalize economically distressed communities. Turner served as Founder and CEO of the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council (CEOC), dedicated to revitalizing communities through mentorship, sports, and economic opportunity.  Turner served as a Texas State Representative for the 33rd District from 2013 to2017.

Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum  ~  Doug Burgum, in 1983 founded software startup named Great Plains. Doug led Great Plains through a successful IPO and grew the company to over 2,000 employees before its acquisition by Microsoft. 

Burgum remained with Microsoft for six years as the Senior Vice President of Business Solutions. Doug later co-founded Arthur Ventures and served as chairman for international software companies including Atlassian, SuccessFactors, and as a board member for Avalara.

In 2016, Burgum was elected to serve as North Dakota’s 33rd Governor. In 2020, he was re-elected in a landslide. As a testament to Burgum’s leadership, Forbes named him “America’s Best Entrepreneurial Governor.” During his tenure, North Dakota experienced the highest growth in real GDP and had the lowest unemployment rate in the country.

Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer  ~  Lori Chavez-DeRemer, in 2022, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, making history as the first Republican woman and one of the first Latinas elected to Congress from Oregon. She served on the Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, championing practical solutions and securing critical investments for her constituents.

Secretary of State, Marco Rubio ~  Marco Rubio is the son of two hardworking immigrants from Cuba.  Born in Miami, Rubio was drawn to public service in large part because of his grandfather, who saw his homeland destroyed by communism. During his 14 years in the U.S. Senate, Rubio fought to protect the freedoms and opportunities that made America the greatest country in the history of the world.

Rubio also traveled to dozens of countries, met with countless foreign leaders, and saw firsthand how America’s enemies are weakening our nation. As America’s 72nd U.S. Secretary of State, Rubio will ensure U.S. foreign policy makes America stronger, safer, and more prosperous.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins  ~  An Air Force Reserve colonel, chaplain, and Iraq War veteran with more than 20 years of military experience, Doug Collins knows the complex issues facing veterans across the country.  As a congressman and attorney, Collins has a deep understanding of the federal government and the policy expertise to solve complex problems, cut through red tape, and get things done for those who have worn the uniform.

Over eight years in Congress, Collins helped scores of veterans solve their Department of Veterans Affairs problems, and he will put that expertise to work making VA more user-friendly, so veterans won’t need outside help to navigate the department’s bureaucracy.

Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy  ~  Sean Duffy served as Congressman from Wisconsin’s 7th District in the US Congress for ten years, serving on the House Financial Services Committee and actively leading on local transportation issues via his co-chairmanship of the Great Lakes Task Force.

Prior to serving in Congress, Duffy was the District Attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin, for ten years. There he brought over a hundred cases to trial with an over 90% trial success rate. 

Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent  ~   Scott Bessent served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Key Square Capital Management, a global macro hedge fund focused on macro investing that he founded in 2015. His career has taken him to more than 60 countries with ongoing interactions with international leaders and central bankers. Bessent was formerly the Chief Investment Officer for Soros Fund Management from 2011 to 2015. 

From 2006 to 2010, Bessent was an adjunct professor at Yale University, where he taught economic history.  He previously founded and served as Chief Investment Officer of his own hedge fund, Bessent Capital, from 2000 to 2005.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik  ~  Ambassador-Designate Elise Stefanik was proudly nominated by President Trump to serve in his Cabinet as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.  Elise Stefanik previously served in top elected House leadership as the highest ranking woman in Congress as House Republican Conference Chair. 

She represented New York’s 21st Congressional District for over a decade in the House of Representatives where she served as a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.  Ms. Stefanik also served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce where she set off a global reckoning in her leadership to combat antisemitism in higher education.

United States Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer  ~  A leading trade expert, Jamieson Greer served in the Trump administration as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Robert Lighthizer.  During his time, he worked very closely with Ambassador Lighthizer and senior White House officials in executing historic trade agreements — such as the Phase One trade deal with China and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. 

Jamieson participated in every major Administration trade action initiated during his time at USTR.  These actions played a significant role in reshoring American businesses and leveling the playing field for American workers, farmers, manufacturers, and consumers.  Jamieson also served in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, with a deployment to Iraq.

God bless our New MAGA Team and God bless America, Bill

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