Taking Action, Holding Iran Accountable
In response to Iran launching a direct assault against Israel, on Monday, the House brought my legislation sanctioning Iran up for a vote. H.R. 5921, the No U.S. Financing for Iran Act, was one of the first measures considered this week and will directly hold the Iranian regime accountable by limiting their ability to finance terrorism around the world. I am proud to say that H.R. 5921 passed the House on Monday evening with a bipartisan vote of 294-105.
The No U.S. Financing for Iran Act protects our national security interests by 1) prohibiting Treasury from issuing licenses that allow U.S. financial institutions to enable trade with Iran, 2) cutting off financing for Iran from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and 3) extending an existing prohibition against Export-Import Bank financing for Iran.
This bipartisan effort will ultimately protect Americans, stand up for Israel, and hold the Iranian regime accountable for its actions. Prior to the House voting on this important legislation, I spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 5921. You can watch my full remarks below. |
On Tuesday, I joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business to talk about the need to hold Iran accountable as well as the Biden Administration’s failure to apply maximum pressure on Iran. You can watch the interview below. |
Reforming Data Collection
Last week, the House passed the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. Below is my full statement on this bill which passed the House by a vote of 273-147. |
Again, this bill was far from perfect, but it does make important reforms to how the program currently operates. |
Reining in the Tax Man
April 15th is one of the most loathsome days for Americans: Tax Day. Last Congress, the Democrat Majority and President Biden increased funding for the IRS by roughly $72 billion. This included funding to hire over 87,000 IRS agents. However, when you look past the window dressing, it’s clear the IRS is still targeting middle-class Americans at an alarming pace. As of last summer, 63% of new audits have targeted individuals making under $200,000, according to a recent report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
This Inspector General Report is consistent with analysis from the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation showing that most of the tax revenue raised from these new agents would come from lower- and middle-income earners. This is why I voted to cut funding for the 87,000 IRS agents and claw back the ridiculously bloated IRS budget. I believe you should be able to keep more of your hard-earned money, not send it to Washington so the IRS can then target you. |
Japan, Jobs, & Southwest Michigan
On April 11th, His Excellency Kishida Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan, addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress. I was honored to welcome Shuichi Kamakura, President of DENSO Manufacturing in Battle Creek, as my guest to the joint address. DENSO, a Japanese-headquartered company, employs more than 2,200 workers in our local Battle Creek community.
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Capitol Tour with Hope College Students
Recently, I had the opportunity to show students from Hope College’s Washington Honors Semester around the Capitol. This year’s group includes five current or former interns who have worked in my office to serve Michigan’s 4th Congressional District! Thank you all for the great conversation, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in D.C.! |
Reining in the SEC
Bureaucrats at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are exceeding the authority granted to them by Congress. We can protect the environment and grow our economy, but the rule finalized by the SEC is well outside their jurisdiction and does not respect legal boundaries. This is why I am leading the effort to nullify this rule and stop the Biden Administration from increasing costs on individuals, families, and job creators across Southwest Michigan.
Recently, I joined Bloomberg’s Balance of Power to discuss this important issue. You can watch our conversation below. |
Last night, the House Committee on Financial Services passed my resolution to disapprove of the SEC's climate disclosure rule by a vote of 28 to 22.
This rule is just the latest example of SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s unprecedented assault on our capital markets. Investors should know that the SEC’s overreach will significantly hurt our economy while serving as a boon for special interest groups and far-left activists.
Prior to the vote, I spoke on the importance of reining in the SEC and providing disapproval of the rule. |
Welcoming Southwest Michigan Families to D.C.
Spring break is a busy time in our nation’s capital, and this year was no exception. My office alone welcomed over 60 families and more than 235 people for tours of the Capitol Building! Thank you to everyone who visited the office, including the Dykhuis Family from Dorr! |
I hope everyone who spent their spring break in D.C. enjoyed their visit! If you are planning a trip to Washington, D.C., and would like to schedule a tour, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 202-225-4401 or fill out the form on my website.
Have a great rest of your week and thank you for reading this edition of the Huddle. If you or someone you know needs assistance with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to contact my office in Holland or in Portage! |
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