Legislative Corner

There were two big bills on the floor this week. The first one was yet another impeachment motion against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. I’ve said it for years and will keep saying it until it's fixed– we have a crisis at our southern border. It’s a humanitarian crisis, an economic crisis, and a national security crisis. BUT we also have a bipartisan solution that PAYS FOR ITSELF. That’s my bill, the bipartisan Dignity Act. Instead of putting that bill on the floor, Republicans chose to pursue a hyper-partisan, time-consuming impeachment process that does nothing to reform our broken system and keep people safe.

The second big bill was a vote to repeal President Biden’s restrictions on the import and export of natural gas. This bill would exponentially increase energy costs for West Michiganders, and increase the risk of pipeline leaks, breaks, and explosions which would threaten the health and safety of our communities and our environment. I voted no.

Another bill that was supposed to be on the floor was to reauthorize Section 702 – the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or “FISA.” This would reauthorize a surveillance program that helps law enforcement agencies combat domestic terrorism and protect American lives abroad. The Freedom Caucus derailed this effort this week, so the bill was pulled from the floor. It’s unclear when Speaker Johnson will try to put this on the floor again. We have until April to reform or reauthorize FISA to avoid a major national security lapse. We need to be doing everything possible to get this done to protect the public.

In addition to my votes, I cosponsored 5 bills– including the bipartisan, bicameral EXPLORE Act, which would expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities nationwide.

Committees & Updates

Watch our Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure hearing here.

BIG week in the Small Business Committee! In my Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure, I served as Ranking Member for a hearing on leveling the playing field for small businesses in the federal contracting space. We have a VERY special guest testify before the committee– Mr. Bob Taylor, owner and chief executive officer of Alliant Healthcare based in Grand Rapids!

Mr. Taylor served our nation in the Air Force for more than 17 years before he was injured in combat. After he was discharged, he opened Alliant Healthcare to connect VA and military hospital patients with the cutting-edge technology and care they need. He spoke at length about his business and how Congress needs to do more to support businesses just like his as they compete in the federal marketplace.

Thank you, Mr. Taylor, for your service and for coming out to Washington to share your knowledge with my committee!

Watch my remarks in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee here.

In the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Highways and Transit Subcommittee, we had a hearing on the implementation of “Buy America” standards. I asked our witnesses about how we can boost domestic manufacturing to address supply chain concerns.

My team and I have been collecting Valentine’s Day cards for West Michigan veterans over the last few weeks. On Monday, I had the honor of presenting these cards to veterans in Wyoming at the VA. Did you know that there are 53,000 veterans in West Michigan eligible for care through the VA who are not yet registered? If you know someone who is potentially eligible, they can reach out to our office for a connection. We cannot thank these heroes enough for their service and sacrifice for our nation, and we want them to access all of the resources available to them!

I also stopped in Tallmadge Charter Township on Monday to sit down with local leaders and talk about how we can work together to support the community. Bringing federal dollars home to West Michigan is at the heart of my work here in Congress, and meeting with stakeholders on the ground helps me do that effectively.

Watch the moment of silence on the House floor here.

Last week, our nation was heartbroken as we lost five Marines in a helicopter crash– including our neighbor, Cpt. Miguel Nava of Comstock Park. I led my colleagues in honoring the lives and legacies of those Marines in a moment of silence on the House floor. These heroes will never be forgotten. May they rest in peace.

On Valentine’s Day, we were feeling bipartisan love as I hosted a bipartisan freshman breakfast to support the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum and Museum of the American Latino! I’m working with my Republican colleague Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer from Oregon on ensuring a place for these museums on the National Mall in D.C. for everyone to enjoy.

We have a BIG week coming up in the district.

It was just announced that Vice President Kamala Harris will be joining us in Grand Rapids on Thursday for a discussion on reproductive rights. I’m honored for the opportunity to bring the needs of our West Michigan community directly to the White House and look forward to working together to protect access to the full spectrum of reproductive care for women across Michigan and the country.

In recognition of Black History Month, I’ll be hosting a BIPOC roundtable with West Michigan local leaders, small business owners, and advocates to talk about how we can work together to create a West Michigan where everyone can thrive.

ICYMI