Demanding Accountability for Gold Star Families

On Monday, I was humbled to join Gold Star Families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan during the attack on Abbey Gate. During the meeting, I thought about all those injured, including one soldier from West Michigan, during the Biden-Harris Administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee released a scathing report on the Biden-Harris Administration’s deadly failures. To date, Secretary Blinken and NSA Jake Sullivan have refused to testify regarding their role in the disastrous withdrawal.

I encourage everyone to read the full report entitled, “Willful Blindness: An Assessment of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Chaos that Followed.”

I will continue to fight and demand accountability for these Gold Star Families as well as our soldiers who were injured.

Confronting Chinese Espionage and Increase Transparency on College Campuses

This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1516, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act. This legislation prevents the Department of Homeland Security from sending taxpayer dollars to American universities that host a Confucius Institute or maintain a relationship with Chinese entities of concern.

This legislation includes my amendment to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress any institution of higher education that has a relationship with a Confucius Institute or Chinese entity of concern and receives funds from the Department of Homeland Security. The amendment was adopted with bipartisan support by a vote of 253-151 and H.R. 1516 passed the House by a vote of 249-161. 

This is another important step forward in the effort to stop the Chinese Communist Party from spreading propaganda, stealing intellectual property, and conducting other nefarious activities on American soil. I am glad my amendment gained bipartisan support to not only protect American innovation and taxpayer dollars but also hold our colleges and universities accountable.

Thank you to my colleague Rep. Ben Cline for introducing this amendment on my behalf while I was chairing a House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing.

Scrutinizing the Failed Use of ESG and the Influence of Proxy Advisors

Earlier this week, I led a House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on ESG and the influence of proxy firms.

Along with the recent politicization of the SEC, proxy advisory firms have been given immense power to shift policy—often using a one-size-fits-all framework to promote a liberal, social agenda. As your voice in Congress, I will continue working to make it easier for Americans to save for retirement and build a more financially secure future. 

My opening remarks from Tuesday’s Oversight and Investigations Hearing are available below.