House Passes My Bill to Strengthen Economic Security
On September 19th, the House passed major legislation I introduced to make it easier for Americans to retire with financial security by a vote of 215 to 203. H.R. 4790 achieves this by preventing regulatory overreach, restoring the materiality standard, holding large proxy advisory firms accountable, and blocking regulators from inserting ESG and other woke initiatives into our financial system.
Stopping these misguided mandates will help everything from larger city police pension funds to a married couple in Southwest Michigan looking for better returns and greater financial security. This legislation is a win for families in Battle Creek, Holland, Kalamazoo, Mattawan, Plainwell, St. Joe, and everywhere in between who are working to build a brighter and more secure financial future.
Prior to the passage of H.R. 4790, I spoke on the House floor to discuss the importance of materiality and reasonable regulatory requirements. You can watch my remarks below. |
Honoring Sojourner Truth's Legacy in Battle Creek
On September 23rd, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to rename the post office located at 90 McCamly Street South in Battle Creek after abolitionist and civil rights leader Sojourner Truth.
I was proud to lead this bipartisan effort in the House to recognize the life, legacy, and impact of Sojourner Truth. Moving forward, the Battle Creek Post Office will now honor Sojourner Truth’s historic efforts as well as the incredible role the Greater Battle Creek Community played in the abolition movement and our nation’s history.
The legislation passed by the House was the Senate version of my bill, introduced by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI). I am happy to share that this legislation was signed into law by President Biden on Monday.
Fox 17 recently covered this announcement prior to the President signing it into law. You can watch their report here. |
CCP Update: Chinese Surveillance Activities Here in Michigan
On Wednesday, the Detroit News reported federal prosecutors charged five University of Michigan graduates from China who were found trespassing at a military facility in northern Michigan last year during a U.S. National Guard training exercise. This deeply disturbing news demonstrates the lengths the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will go to create a surveillance pipeline here in the US. It also serves as another example of why the Gotion facility near Big Rapids should not be built.
Read my full statement below and the story from the Detroit News here. |
Addressing Soaring Agricultural Costs
On Tuesday, I hosted a roundtable conversation with Southwest Michigan growers and the Protect Our Produce Coalition to discuss the impact soaring input costs are having on local farmers. Nearly $6 billion in economic activity and thousands of Michigan jobs are at risk from the rising costs associated with the H-2A agricultural work visa program. |
To address the top concern facing Southwest Michigan farmers, I have been leading the effort to stabilize the “Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR),” or the required wage that farm employers must pay H-2A workers. Following my bipartisan letter, signed by 120 Members of Congress, this essential farm-saving policy has made it into House committee-approved appropriations legislation.
The skyrocketing cost of the AEWR is currently threatening farmers, growers, and producers both locally and across Michigan. In Michigan, the AEWR is a steep $18.50/hr, while our Canadian neighbors pay their agricultural workers closer to $11/hr or even less in Mexico. This uneven playing field greatly disadvantages our domestic producers and ultimately increases prices for consumers. Our proposal to stabilize the AEWR is the most immediate and practical step forward.
You can watch WSBT's coverage of the challenges facing local farmers below. |
Protecting Veterans’ Benefits from Unacceptable Delays Last month, fiscal mismanagement by the Biden-Harris Administration created a situation where our veterans' benefits were put at risk.
On September 17th, I supported bipartisan legislation to eliminate the funding shortfall and ensure our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve.
The Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Act closes the funding gap with no net budget effects. Importantly this bipartisan bill also holds the budget bureaucrats at the VA accountable by forcing them to answer why this happened and to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
We must never let the VA delay benefits payments or toxic exposure care our veterans earned through their sacrifices for our freedoms. I am proud to be a part of this bipartisan solution, which was signed into law on September 20th. |
Standing Up for Kalamazoo County: Appealing the Biden-Harris Administration's Denial of Aid
Last month, Governor Whitmer appealed the Biden-Harris Administration's decision to deny federal disaster relief from the tornados that struck Kalamazoo County and Southwest Michigan back in May.
This appeal is the right decision to help families and small businesses impacted by the May 7 tornadoes and storms across Southwest Michigan. Having been on the ground and seeing the aftermath first-hand, it is clear to me that there are still many unmet needs in Kalamazoo County. It is my hope that the Biden-Harris Administration will reverse its denial and make federal assistance available to those impacted in Kalamazoo County and across Southwest Michigan. |
My Bill to Cut Off Funding from the Taliban
Recently, I introduced H.R. 9503, the Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act, which: - Prohibits US taxpayer dollars in the form of taxes, fees, duties, and utilities from being paid to the Taliban.
- Requires the State Department and USAID to promulgate reporting regulations for any payments or withholdings made to the Taliban, state-owned enterprises, or governing institutions in Afghanistan by an implementing partner receiving funding from American taxpayers.
- Requires the State Department and USAID to amend existing grants and contracts to include language prohibiting these activities.
In May 2024, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) found that at least $10.9 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars went to the Taliban in the form of taxes, fees, duties, and utilities. Even more troubling, since the Biden-Harris Administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the report found that neither the State Department nor USAID has a true accounting of the amount of U.S. taxpayer dollars that were paid to the Taliban by relief organizations operating in Afghanistan and funded by American taxpayers.
It is an absolute disgrace that the Biden-Harris Administration has failed to set up the appropriate safeguards to ensure American taxpayer dollars do not flow into the coffers of the Taliban. The Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Taliban Theft Act is a commonsense measure that will save millions of taxpayer dollars from being wasted and funding the oppressive Taliban regime. |
Welcoming New American Citizens
In September, 214 people from 62 countries became US citizens at a naturalization ceremony in Holland. It is great to see so many individuals become citizens right here in Michigan's 4th Congressional District! Congratulations! |
Supporting Small Business Job Creation in Southwest Michigan
Recently, I was recognized as a “Guardian of Small Business” by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for my legislative record of supporting small businesses.
As a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges job creators face in the current economic environment. With costs soaring and economic uncertainty on the rise, I will continue to fight for commonsense legislation that empowers local job creation, lowers energy prices, and makes life more affordable for small businesses across Southwest Michigan. |
Assisting Veterans Across the 4th Congressional District
Thank you to everyone who joined the Stand Down event to serve Southwest Michigan Veterans recently in Berrien County. Members of my staff were on hand to help veterans with issues related to the VA and more.
As I work with my colleagues in Congress to improve the care provided by the VA, my staff and I stand ready to assist veterans across Southwest Michigan. If you or someone you know is a veteran or otherwise eligible for VA care and is having trouble with the VA, please contact my office in Holland at (616) 251-6741 or my office in Portage at (269) 569-8595 for assistance. |
Thank you for reading this edition of the Huizenga Huddle. I ask that you join me in praying for the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. This devastating storm has reportedly claimed more than 200 lives as the search for survivors continues.
Safety for our friends in Israel is also of heavy concern. Our ally is also in my prayers as they face unprecedented attacks. I continue to stand with Israel against Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iranian terror.
Thanks again for reading and please don't hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns. |
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