Last week, I also authored a joint op-ed in the Hill with Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA) as well as Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) about the need to address our national debt and protect vital programs like Social Security and Medicare. Below is an excerpt from our column. 

Getting out of this mess will require putting aside the political posturing. There are possible solutions that improve our nation’s fiscal future and preserve critical programs, like Medicare and Social Security. A bipartisan fiscal commission, like the one we are proposing, is the most practical and immediate chance we have to advance those solutions, address this crisis and protect seniors.

Those who claim a fiscal commission is simply a Trojan horse for cuts to Social Security and Medicare are engaging in fearmongering.

What will jeopardize these benefits is inaction — keeping the status quo. Social Security will become insolvent in less than 10 years, which would result in an automatic cut in benefits by 24 percent. That is unacceptable.

Those who propose doing nothing are effectively paving the road to bankruptcy of Social Security and Medicare.

Doing nothing is not an option. The longer we wait to address these challenges, the more difficult the road ahead becomes. Our entire column on addressing the national debt via a fiscal commission is available to read online here.

The 2024 NDAA also included legislation I introduced called the “AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act.” This measure enhances our strategic partnership with the United Kingdom and Australia by authorizing the sale of up to three Virginia Class nuclear powered submarines to Australia. 

The United States and our partners must take seriously the radically different vision the Chinese Communist Party has for the world. This legislation will foster a new level of maritime interoperability between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in an effort to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific Region.

In divided times, I am happy to report that I am finding ways to successfully deliver results for Southwest Michigan while ensuring we rise to meet the national security challenges America faces. 

Holding HUD Accountable, Standing Up For Benton Harbor Residents

On January 11th, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge appeared before the House Financial Services Committee. During the hearing, I asked Secretary Fudge for an update on Harbor Towers, a senior living community, located in Benton Harbor.

While HUD does not directly own this property, they conduct oversight over the local public housing authority. Over the years, Harbor Towers has been the focus of several concerning reports detailing unacceptable conditions as well as issues regarding the safety of residents. I brought this to Secretary Fudge's attention and requested a briefing from her department as well as a plan of action to improve the quality of life for residents of Harbor Towers. Below is video of my exchange with Secretary Fudge.

After receiving a list of steps taken by HUD to improve conditions at Harbor Towers, on Tuesday I toured the property with Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad to verify and see if these updates had been made. In the interest of transparency, and given the prior media reports concerning Harbor Towers, the Mayor and I agreed to invite members of the media to tour the property with us. 

I was very disappointed to see that one of two elevators in the eight story building was not operational. I will be following up with HUD to see what their plan is to address this and other issues to improve the quality of life for residents. Below is ABC 57's coverage of this week's tour of Harbor Towers. 

Graduation and Celebration

Last month, I had the distinct honor of speaking at the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy Graduation Ceremony in Battle Creek. 

This program offers at-risk males and females ages 15 1/2 through 18 an opportunity to graduate high school and realize positive life changes through an intensive five and a half month residential and 12-month post-residential program. The Michigan Youth Challenge Academy is a program of the National Guard and is free to parents.

The most recent class, Class 49, had 103 graduates. 87 have earned their high school diploma and 50 will begin the Michigan Job ChalleNGe in January where they will pursue skilled trade certifications at the Fort Custer Training Center.

During my remarks, I focused on the importance of overcoming adversity, developing leaderships skills, and creating a positive future. The excitement in the room was palpable and it was great to connect with the students and their families after the event. Below is the video I took of the Class 49 being dismissed for the final time after successfully completing the program.