Big Government Alert

Since the Biden-Harris Administration took office, inflation has climbed over 20%. In fact, Americans are spending over $13,000 more annually to buy the basics than they were just three years ago. There is no doubt that Americans continue to suffer due to soaring rent and mortgages as well as an increase in prices at the grocery store and the gas pump, but the solution to this problem is not more big government intervention. 
 
Sadly, Vice President Harris has revealed a plan to put bureaucrats in Washington in charge of mandating how much even eggs cost at Harding’s Market, Meijer, Family Fare, or Kroger here in Michigan. This is big government at its worst. It is totally unacceptable and ignores the real affordability crisis American families face. 
 
Countries like Venezuela, Argentina, and the Soviet Union have all tried to set price controls just to watch them fail miserably. This leads to shortages, higher prices, and significant economic harm.
 
Our nation was founded and has thrived on the principles of free market economics. Unelected bureaucrats should not be empowered to determine the cost of groceries. Government should help foster an environment of opportunity and economic mobility, not bureaucratic mandates. This misguided proposal has faced widespread pushback, including from CNN and the Washington Post.

Below is a video of a Washington Post columnist on CNN discussing how bad the proposal introduced by Vice President Harris truly is.

Defending Women's Sports

On August 16th, the Supreme Court made the commonsense decision to protect and defend women’s sports. The Biden-Harris Administration’s effort permitting men to compete in women’s sports and enter women’s bathrooms and locker rooms has been correctly struck down. The House voted to overturn the Biden-Harris effort in July. I hope this Administration returns to a commonsense position following this ruling.

Corporate Transparency Act

In 2021, Congress made significant reforms to the U.S. anti-money laundering regime, which included the passage of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The CTA required the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to establish a rule that required businesses to report their beneficial ownership information. The sole purpose of the CTA is to allow law enforcement agencies the ability to detect criminal activity for those hiding behind an LLC or shell company.

With the rise of terrorist organizations and those who wish to harm Americans and their allies, I proudly supported this commonsense measure. However, the final rule and eventual implementation, which went into effect this year, has been misguided and flawed from the start. Last December, I joined 77 of my colleagues in expressing concern about the CTA’s implementation.

As of this May, of the nearly 33 million businesses that are required to report beneficial ownership information, it has been reported that roughly only 2 million have done so. After hearing from FinCEN’s Director earlier this summer, I have little faith that small businesses in Southwest Michigan can accurately meet the CTA’s burdensome reporting requirements.

That is why last week, I sponsored legislation introduced by my colleague Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA) which would delay implementation for one year. While this does not address the CTA’s long-term challenges, it provides immediate relief for small businesses across Southwest Michigan. 

Supporting Cherry Producers in Michigan

At the beginning of August, Governor Whitmer requested a federal disaster declaration to help Michigan's cherry producers who were impacted by a particularly rainy season. Some Michigan farmers even experienced a near-total loss.

I joined Congressmen Jack Bergman, Tim Walberg, and John Moolenaar in support of the governor's request.

Michigan is the top tart cherry-producing state in the country. I am committed to helping mitigate this disaster so our producers can recover and continue to supply American families with high-quality Michigan cherries. 

Supporting Southwest Michigan Veterans

Last week, I had the opportunity to tour and meet with some of the residents of Silver Star Apartments in Battle Creek. This facility supports homeless veterans by providing them with a place to live and a network of resources.

Meeting with At-Risk Youth 

I also sat down with students from the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy, which is located on the grounds of the Battle Creek VA. This program offers at-risk males and females ages 15 1/2 through 18 an opportunity to graduate high school and realize positive life changes through an intensive five-and-a-half-month residential and 12-month post-residential program. The Michigan Youth Challenge Academy is a program of the National Guard and is free to parents.

The 110th Wing Change of Command Ceremony

Earlier this month, I had the honor of attending the Change of Command Ceremony for the 110th Wing in Battle Creek. The 110th WIng plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces and defending freedom across the globe. Thank you to all the men and women serving in the 110th Wing and those stationed in Southwest Michigan who are working tirelessly to keep our nation safe!