I’m taking the time to sit down and personally meet with leaders from all towns in the district. Before I left for Washington, I sat down with the leadership team in Cascade Township to talk about the issues on their mind and how I can support them. From environmental issues to transportation, we’re committed to helping Cascade be the best it can be.
We had a productive week in Washington, despite a delayed start AND an early release due to snow storms across the country–including D.C. (poor babies got 3 inches!! #AllGrit).
Legislative Business
Our big bill on the floor this week was the budget. In November, we passed a two-phase continuing resolution to fund the government in phases–with deadlines of January 19 and February 1 respectively. Unfortunately, while Republicans in Congress were unable to put forward a budget proposal that would allow us to fund the government under normal appropriations, we did manage to avoid a shutdown by passing yet another two-phase continuing resolution that funds the government through March 1 and March 8. I voted yes–and I pledge to continue reaching across the aisle to try and get a full budget passed well ahead of March 1.
We had two other tough votes on the floor this week that are getting a lot of spring in the media coverage they’re getting. I’d like to walk you through why I voted the way I did.
- H.R. 6914 - One of the most important things to keep in mind about Congressional bills is that the names are contrived and often very (VERY) misleading about the actual content. Both Democrats and Republicans engage in these deceptive practices. I’ve personally tried to avoid that in all of my original legislation. But, it’s VERY important to keep in mind. So, know that H.R. 6914, is not ACTUALLY a bill that is aimed at supporting pregnant and new moms in schools. What it would do is require that higher education institutions provide, as a condition of receiving federal student aid, relevant information to pregnant students to carry a baby to term.
Regardless, this is probably the bill I’ve struggled with the most since I’ve been in Congress. I believe so strongly in empowering women to make fully informed decisions about their own reproductive healthcare. Choice. It’s about choice. And to make the best decisions for themselves and their families, women need information. Students in particular are in a uniquely vulnerable position. I had my sons (planned) during law school, and I would have LOVED to have more information about the resources that were available to me–whether it was federal benefits, affordable childcare, or a lactation room on campus. We have to actually get women the information they need. ALL of the information. After a lot of thought and research, and realizing that this bill was not it, I voted no.
- This week, we also voted on two very important border/national security bills. One was a pretty common sense bill to give the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the flexibility it needs to move and manage staff along the southern border–I voted yes. The other was a hyperbolic tirade in the form of a “resolution” that was not focused on changing laws, but merely expressing opinions – H.Res. 957. It was a resolution, not a policy change. I voted no. I’m the original co-sponsor of the only bipartisan immigration reform bill in Congress. We have an immigration crisis on our hands in this country and it’s Congress’ problem to solve. We are not merely pundits here in Congress, we’re policymakers. With nearly 20 years of immigration experience, I know what’s broken and I’ve got a clear vision for how to fix it. But more lawmakers are interested in political division that riles their base than actually getting things done. I won’t be deterred from continuing to try and come together with my colleagues to get things done.
These votes are complicated, sensitive, and important. I’ll never reduce such critical policy to political ping pongs. Your trust in me to be thoughtful and engaged–and to do the right thing–means far too much.
Committee Work
