Intelligence Committee holds hearing with John Durham

Last week, the House Intelligence Committee held a hearing with Special Counsel John Durham. This was an important opportunity to continue the necessary conversation about the reauthorization of Section 702 this year and reforming the FBI, FISA, and Section 702. FISA and Section 702 provide the IC with an important national security tool to protect Americans, but there have been far too many abuses of civil liberties.

As a former state and federal prosecutor, I remain concerned about the disregard FBI personnel have shown for critical protections established to safeguard the American people from unlawful surveillance, which Special Counsel Durham describes in his report. The actions taken by FBI personnel that Durham outlines should have never happened, and Congress has a responsibility to prevent them from occurring in the future.

There is a clear, bipartisan consensus in Congress that a clean reauthorization of Section 702, without serious reforms to prevent future abuses, is a non-starter. The hearing with Special Counsel Durham underscored the essential work Congress and our HPSCI Section 702 Working Group must do to codify clear guardrails that prevent future FBI abuses and help restore the public’s trust in our law enforcement institutions.

Ways and Means Committee releases IRS Whistleblower Transcripts

I joined Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, and my colleagues on the Committee, to release IRS whistleblower transcripts that allege serious misconduct and interference by Biden's IRS and DOJ in the Hunter Biden tax case. As a former federal prosecutor, these transcripts raise serious concerns about the DOJ's actions. No constituent of mine would get this sort of soft treatment. A two-tiered justice system is unacceptable, and House Republicans will conduct rigorous oversight on the IRS and DOJ.

I joined Fox News last week to discuss the whistleblower transcripts and the need to continue our oversight work in Congress. 

Watch: Fox News: Biden DOJ is intentionally protecting Hunter Biden: Rep. LaHood

Legislation introduced to strengthen broadband in rural communities

Last week, I introduced the ReConnecting Rural America Act. This bipartisan bill makes improvements to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Program, which offers loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations facilitating broadband deployment in areas of rural America that currently do not have sufficient access to broadband. Access to reliable and fixed broadband is critical to our communities in the 16th District of Illinois, one of the largest rural and agricultural districts in the country. As we work to bridge the digital divide, I am proud to join this bipartisan group to introduce legislation that will expand broadband access for those who need it most in our rural communities.

Read more: LaHood, Bipartisan Group Introduce Bill to Improve Broadband Access in Rural Communities

Supporting Illinois' waterway system

I announced last week that $75 million was included in the FY2024 House Energy and Water Appropriations bill to upgrade the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers’ navigation infrastructure. In central and northwestern Illinois, the inland water waterway system and locks and dams infrastructure are vital to the economic and environmental sustainability of our communities. Inclusion of our funding request for the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway in the FY24 House Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill is a win for Illinois, especially in our rural and downstate communities. I am proud to continue our strong, bipartisan support for these important Illinois resources.

Read more: LaHood Applauds Inclusion of Funding for River Infrastructure Upgrades in Energy and Water Bill

Visiting with IL16 constituents

I recently spent time at the Illinois Cancer Care facility in Peoria, visiting with staff and touring the facility. Illinois Cancer Care serves over 20,000 patients each year and I am grateful for their important work to care for individuals with cancer.

I enjoyed visiting with the Illinois Electric Cooperatives’ Youth Tour. These outstanding high school students from downstate won the opportunity to represent their co-op, school, and community in DC.

They have incredibly bright futures ahead!

Thanks to employees from CNH for stopping by during their visit to DC last week. We had a good discussion about the upcoming Farm Bill, ethanol production, E-15 year round, and issues facing our manufacturers. 

As always, thanks for subscribing to my newsletter!

Sincerely,

Darin LaHood
Member of Congress