Agency Oversight: Are Federal Agencies Politicking in Support of Joe Biden?

This week, I sent a letter with Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams and Republicans in the Michigan Congressional Delegation to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson regarding some questionable behavior by the Small Business Administration. 

The House Small Business Committee has been investigating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Biden-led Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) regarding voter registration.

We are deeply concerned this executive order has resulted in a weaponization of taxpayer resources to aid President Biden’s re-election campaign in Michigan. 

For example, 100% of the SBA Administrator and Deputy Administrator's visits to Michigan coincidently take place in counties with the highest populations of demographics targeted by the Democratic National Committee. 

The SBA’s job is to help our nation’s small businesses. Sadly, it appears the Biden Administration has abused the trust of the American taxpayer, betrayed the mission of the SBA, and weaponized the powers and resources of the federal government to serve its own re-election interests. 

Read the full letter to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson here.

New Legislation to Clear the ROADS

A disturbing trend of traffic-obstructing protests has been deployed across the United States in recent years. Unsanctioned protests that bring the flow of traffic to a halt, regardless of their ideals, create dangerous scenarios for drivers, emergency vehicles, and other road users. In too many instances, these unsafe protests – often occurring on federal taxpayer-funded roads – are not taken seriously and are tolerated by authorities for hours.

On June 25th, I introduced H.R. 8823, the Clear the ROADS (Reckless Obstructions and Dangers on Streets) Act as a direct response to this increasing trend of unlawful protests. 

The Clear the ROADS Act is designed to ensure states responsibly stop unlawful conduct taking place on federally funded roads in a timely manner. If states are neglecting their responsibility to keep roads clear, then withholding federal funds from those states is the appropriate response.

Currently, states are required to meet certain criteria and conditions to receive their federal transportation funding. These standards are used to encourage basic road safety and traffic laws. In a similar manner, the Clear the ROADS Act would 1) withhold 10% of a state’s federal highway funds if the state has not made reasonable efforts to prohibit the reckless obstruction of lawful vehicle traffic on their federal-aid eligible roadways, and 2) require the Secretary of Transportation to make an annual certification as to whether a State has met this requirement before federal highway funds are apportioned. 

Learn more about my latest bill by clicking the image below.

Protecting the People of Burma

Earlier this month, I introduced H.R. 8863, the BRAVE Burma Act, to mark the launch of the first-ever bipartisan Congressional Burma Caucus Event. This bill addresses the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Burma by cutting off the ruthless military junta from the revenue sources it uses to facilitate acts of genocide against the Burmese civilian population.

The BRAVE Burma Act requires the President to determine, on an annual basis, whether to impose stronger blocking sanctions on Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, Myanma Economic Bank, and foreign persons operating in the jet fuel sector of the Burmese economy.  

The United States can and must do more to protect the people of Burma and stop the genocide being committed by the military junta. This is why I challenged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the Biden Administration’s handling of the dire situation in Burma during yesterday's House Financial Services Committee hearing.

You can watch my exchange with Secretary Yellen on the Administration’s failure to enact tougher sanctions on the military junta in Burma who are using aircraft to commit genocide by clicking on the video below.

Supreme Court Decision Dismantles the Administrative State

On June 28th, the Supreme Court issued a decisive ruling against the Administrative State and unelected bureaucrats. 

Whether it’s the SEC, EPA, IRS, or another federal agency, unelected bureaucrats have been able to issue sweeping regulations that dramatically impact the daily lives of Americans for far too long. The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the “Chevron deference” rightfully restores the separation of powers while dramatically reining in the authority of the Administrative State. 

Moving forward, Congress must reclaim its constitutional lawmaking authority and be more deliberative and prescriptive when writing laws. This decision is an enormous win for the American people and a major setback for Washington Bureaucrats. 

Welcoming the Art Competition Winner to DC

It was a pleasure to welcome the 2024 Congressional Art Competition winner, Nora O’Neill, and her dad, Ryan, from Portage to the Capitol for the Congressional Art Reception. Nora’s piece “From Garden to Table” will be on display in the Capitol for the next year for thousands of people to see!

Celebrating State Champions

The spring sports season was a memorable one, to say the least! Congratulations to the many Southwest Michigan Athletes and Teams who won State Championships this spring! Keep up the great work!

Thank you for reading this edition of the Huizenga Huddle! If you or someone you know needs help navigating a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to contact my office in either Holland or Portage!