U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga

Huizenga Huddle: July 25, 2024

Making Sense of Uncertain Times

The last two weeks in American politics have been unlike anything our country has seen in modern times.

On July 13th, we witnessed former president and current Republican nominee Donald Trump miraculously survive a would-be assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

I am thankful that President Trump is ok. I hope you will join me in praying for Corey Comperatore's family as well as the families of those critically wounded in this heinous attack.

We settle our differences through debate and at the ballot box. Political violence is completely unacceptable and must never be tolerated. The night of the assassination attempt, I joined WOOD TV8 to discuss this and the need to lower the temperature of political rhetoric. You can watch my full interview below.

Holding the Secret Service Accountable

After the assassination attempt on former President Trump missed by merely an inch, it is clear there was a massive security failure.

On July 17th, I called for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign. After her disastrous appearance before Congress earlier this week, she did just that.

This is only the beginning of accountability for the failures on July 13th.

Given the multiple security lapses in Butler, Pennsylvania, the entire planning and operational process of the Secret Service must be thoroughly examined. Congress must continue to thoroughly conduct oversight and investigate how both planning and operational failures by the Secret Service nearly resulted in the assassination of former President Trump.

My Effort to Stop the Biden-Harris EPA from Damaging West Michigan's Economy

Last night, the House passed H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, by a vote of 210-205. This legislation includes my amendment to prohibit implementation of an EPA Rule that wrongfully reclassified three West Michigan counties – Berrien, parts of Allegan, and parts of Muskegon – from “marginal” to “moderate” under the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. By stopping this business-crushing, misguided mandate on our communities, my amendment will save jobs and stop the Biden-Harris EPA from damaging West Michigan’s economy.

It has been widely acknowledged that pollution transported from upwind states and across Lake Michigan is the primary driver of reduced air quality in West Michigan. While the EPA’s rule explicitly does not consider ozone transport, science will tell you that ozone pollutants are being carried to Michigan on winds across Lake Michigan from cities like Gary, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

It is simple. West Michigan shouldn’t be penalized for pollution generated in other states. You can watch my remarks on the House floor by clicking on the video below.

Wins for Battle Creek, Holland, Kalamazoo, and St. Joe in Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill

On Monday, the House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) by a vote of 359 to 13. This water infrastructure legislation, serving as the authorization for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, includes priorities that I advocated for to help the communities of Battle Creek, Holland, Kalamazoo, and St. Joe.

As Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, I have prioritized improving water infrastructure in Southwest Michigan. WRDA is an important part of strengthening our local economy and enlisting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help our communities better manage and utilize their waterways and harbors. Here are my priorities for Southwest Michigan that were included in the House-passed WRDA.

An Update from FEMA on Disaster Relief (or lack thereof)

This week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rejected Michigan's request for federal assistance to help Southwest Michigan communities recover from May's damaging tornadoes and storms.

I am extremely disappointed that the Biden-Harris Administration has denied emergency tornado assistance for the residents of Kalamazoo County and Southwest Michigan. I saw the damage first-hand and met with families devastated by the storms, including some who lost literally everything. The bottom line is that they still need help and should not be left behind. I encourage Governor Whitmer to appeal this misguided decision as soon as possible to assist families and communities in recovery efforts.

The Biden-Harris Budget Doesn't Prioritize Border Security

Yesterday, I participated in a House Committee on Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee hearing on the Biden-Harris Administration's budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2025. In order to secure our southern border, the Biden-Harris Administration must abandon its open border policies. Here, I exposed the truth of what is actually happening on our border. Since 2021, nearly 10 million illegal individuals have come to our border with more than 3.2 million encounters in 2023 alone.

Simply throwing hundreds of millions of additional taxpayer dollars at a broken system will not solve the problem without changing the underlying policy and strategy.

This is why I supported H.R. 2 to end the open border policies and introduced legislation to expose the Biden-Harris Administration's program to fly hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants into the United States who are not eligible for entry under current law.

You can watch my remarks and efforts to hold the Biden-Harris Administration accountable during yesterday's hearing below.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Addresses Congress

Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress. I was honored to welcome Lee Cummings, Senior Pastor of Radiant Church in Kalamazoo, as my guest for the address.

It was great to spend time with Pastor Cummings discussing family, politics, history, our shared faith and the significance of the US-Israel relationship as we walked the halls of the Capitol prior to the speech.

Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a direct and passionate speech about the challenges Israel faces, the future of Gaza, the importance of America, and the special relationship our two nations share.

Pastor Lee Cummings with BH at Joint Address

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!

Huizenga Huddle: July 25, 2024

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