Representative Hillary Scholten

Congresswoman Scholten with Coasties in DC

Dear Neighbor –

We’re heading back home for the October “recess” (or as I like to call it, the October “Getting STUFF done” period), having passed a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. It should not have taken this long, but it did. While my colleagues wasted time, I got to work. I’m so proud of all the ways I showed up for you this week, West Michigan! Here’s a look back at what we did, and a preview of what’s to come.

Legislative Action

The Big Bill

Once again this week, Republicans had a choice for how to use these precious three weeks in September. They could have stuck to the Fiscal Responsibility Act–our compromise agreement on the budget from 2023–and dispensed with the shutdown talks immediately. This would have given us three full weeks to pass the Farm Bill, reauthorize the Affordable Connectivity Program, do something about immigration, talk about getting tough on China, and advance a comprehensive data privacy bill to undergird our work on AI. They could have done that, but they did not. As my Republican colleague Chip Roy said on the House floor… they’ve done NOTHING.

Committee Work

Congresswoman Scholten at T&I Aviation Subcommittee Hearing

We had two important hearings on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week. First, on the Aviation Subcommittee, we brought in FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker to testify before the committee about the progress on additional oversight of Boeing. It is absolutely essential that the public have trust in our air travel. It’s up to us as Members of Congress to make sure the FAA is doing its job of overseeing Boeing.

Of course, I was never going to miss an opportunity to talk about the critical importance of air traffic control towers in ensuring safety. And at over 60 years old and the oldest ATC of the busiest airports in the country, the tower at GRR is LONG overdue for replacement. You can watch my questioning here.

We also had a hearing on the life and health of our U.S. Coast Guard service members. As we faced another looming government shutdown, I used this opportunity to talk about my Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act. It’s so essential that our Coast Guard men and women get paid while they are serving, just like other branches of the military do when the government shuts down. You can watch my question lines here.

Congresswoman Scholten at T&I USCG Subcommittee Hearing

Letters and Legislation

We were hard at work getting bills in the hopper for the end of the year. This week I cosponsored H.R. 1491, the Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act, and signed on to a letter, to Congressional Armed Services Leadership to Support LGBTQ+ Servicemembers by removing anti-LGBTQ+ provisions in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act.

A Word on Decency

You may have been following a truly challenging storyline where Donald Trump and JD Vance are peddling a false narrative about Haitian migrants eating cats and dogs. The Wall Street Journal did some pretty deep reporting on this and found that the story is totally untrue. But unfortunately, the fallout has been disastrous for Haitian migrants, not only in Springfield, Ohio, but around the country. The threat to the Haitian population is so severe that this week a lawsuit was brought to try to get Trump and JD Vance to stop spreading the lies.

Unfortunately, one of my colleagues took the attack another step further, and from his official House X (formerly Twitter) account, posted some truly vile and hateful words. I stood with my colleague Steven Horsford of Nevada on the House floor to condemn these words and ask that my colleague be censured. This is the People’s House, and I will always fight for it to reflect our values of civility and decency.

Showing up with Action

My absolute favorite part of the week is welcoming West Michigan here to Washington. Check out these visitors below. If your work or play brings you to Washington, please let us know!

Congresswoman Scholten with Leaders from Head Start Kent County

I met with leaders from Head Start Kent County to discuss the urgent need to fully fund Head Start nationwide.

I met with Dr. Cara Poland and the Association of Addiction Medicine – trailblazers in the work to support our neighbors through healing and recovery. Thanks to Dr. Poland's leadership, those who need it are getting help to treat and heal addiction, and I'm working hard in partnership to provide the resources needed for this necessary work.

Congresswoman Scholten with Dr. Cara Poland

I met with West Michigander and National Restaurant Association Vice Chair, Jeff Lobdell to talk about advancing the interests of our small business restaurant owners back home.

Grants Roundup

This September, Team Scholten has been hard at work for YOU. We secured nearly $30 million in grants for schools, fire departments, community partners... and MORE. This is why I do this work: to support our neighbors and secure them the resources they need to THRIVE.

The Week in Preview

Next week is my favorite kind of week — an at home week! I can’t wait to be around the district with you all, taking in some very welcome fall weather and foliage!

ICYMI

I spoke with Ms. Magazine about being pro-choice to support giving parents the option to choose to continue a pregnancy on their own terms. I shared the deeply personal story of giving our daughter every chance at life we possibly could.
The Government Accountability Office conducted an investigation and found that outdated air traffic control towers could jeopardize the safety of our airspace and air travelers. This is exactly why I was an original cosponsor and fierce advocate of the Air Traffic Control Tower Replacement Process Report Act. This bill, which was signed into law earlier this year, ensures more transparency and accountability on the FAA’s status of our nation's ATCTs.
Three of West Michigan’s schools were named Blue Ribbon award recipients – one of the top awards for schools in the nation. We already knew West Michigan was home to some of the BEST schools, but it’s great to get confirmation!
I announced a $65k+ grant to the Muskegon Heights Fire Department to modernize their equipment and keep their firefighters safe.
There’s a Diaper Drive happening for families in need, read more here on where you can drop off diapers to support our neighbors.

As always, it's an honor to serve you, West Michigan.

- HJS