Welcoming New American Citizens

Last week, I had the honor of welcoming 295 people as American citizens at a naturalization ceremony in Kalamazoo.

Hailing from 67 different countries, these newly minted citizens celebrated with family, friends, and loved ones as they took the Oath of Allegiance at Western Michigan University. 

Having experienced this process with my wife immigrating from Canada, I understand the excitement surrounding this momentous occasion. Congratulations to everyone who made the decision to become an American citizen!

Below is a great synopsis from Fox 17 regarding the passion and joy surrounding the ceremony. You can also view additional photos from the naturalization ceremony here. 

Building a Bipartisan Coalition to Address the National Debt

Earlier this month, I announced the formation of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum. This is a bipartisan effort I am spearheading with Democrat Congressman Scott Peters from California. The group’s mission is to sound the alarm about our nation’s unsustainable debt trajectory and work together on solutions to regain control of our fiscal situation.

With our nation $32 trillion in debt and counting, failing to act is not a solution. There is little doubt that debt deniers exist across Washington, yet we cannot allow that mentality to dictate the conversation.

If Republicans and Democrats aren’t talking to one another, we won’t know if there is agreement on 5, 15, or 50% of the solutions to the budgetary challenge our nation faces. No matter the number, I believe we should work together to build consensus and rebuild trust so we can deliver a better fiscal future for our children and our grandchildren.

I recently spoke with News 8 about the launch of this bipartisan group and the importance of having a serious conversation about the trajectory of our nation's debt.

For more information about the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum, including which members of Congress are participating in it, click here. 

The Supreme Court Ruling on Student Loans

On June 30th, the Supreme Court made clear the President does not have the Constitutional authority for his student loan debt forgiveness plan.

Despite this being widely known by policymakers on both sides of the aisle, President Biden wrongly continued to pursue this unfair and misguided policy. 

Following the release of the Supreme Court decision, I distributed a survey to households across Southwest Michigan asking if residents agreed that President Biden lacked the Constitutional authority to unilaterally forgive student debt. 

Over two-thirds of respondents (68%) across the 4th District agreed that President Biden does not have the Constitutional authority to unilaterally forgive student debt. 25% responded by saying they believe the President can unilaterally forgive student debt, and the remaining 7% of respondents chose other/unsure as their response.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. This helps me better represent and serve Southwest Michigan!

Constituent Spotlight

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with students from Benton Harbor.  We had a very good conversation regarding the importance of mental health. Additionally, we discussed the positive impact the Boys and Girls Club has had on them and their fellow students across Southwest Michigan. It was wonderful to meet with these incredible student ambassadors.

Honoring a West Michigan Hero

After votes on July 14, I took a moment to reflect on the life and service of President Gerald R. Ford. Born on July 14, 1913, "Jerry" proudly represented West Michigan in Congress and later went on to serve as our nation's 38th President. While his presidency occurred during a tumultuous time in our nation's history, President Ford continues to be honored by having his statue on display in the Capitol Rotunda.

Thank you for reading this edition of the Huddle. I hope you are enjoying all the wonderful opportunities the Great Lakes and a Pure Michigan summer have to offer!