This week, the United States Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia visited Wisconsin. I was privileged to tour the Milwaukee Job Corps Center, alongside Secretary Scalia, which prepares Wisconsin's young students for the skilled jobs of tomorrow.

During our visit to the Milwaukee Job Corps Center, we discussed the resurgence of manufacturing in the Midwest, how we can continue to grow the industry and steps to prepare the next generation for these good, high-paying skilled jobs. In America today, we have more jobs available than unemployed people, and that gap is particularly evident in the skilled labor market. We need to expand access to career and technical education, in order to better prepare students to enter the skilled labor force in Wisconsin.

I thanked Secretary Scalia for visiting, and look forward to working with him to better prepare our students for future success and achieving the American Dream.

Last year, I introduced H.R. 848, which requires an individual to be a U.S. citizen in order to receive federal welfare benefits, such as housing assistance, Medicaid and food stamps. The Weekly Standard praised this bill in an article as “a better strategy to support immigrant self-sufficiency and protect taxpayers”. It is estimated that H.R. 848 would save taxpayers $60 billion in its first year.

A study published in 2018 shows that both legal and illegal immigrant households use the welfare system far more than native-born households. Moreover, Politifact confirms that half of immigrant families receive some form of welfare.

Initially set to start on October 15, 2019, President Trump's "public charge" rule finally went into effect this week after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of it. This rule will encourage those immigrating to our country to achieve the American Dream, much like H.R. 848 is designed to do.

I applaud President Trump for his efforts to make the American Dream more attainable for our country’s immigrants. Historically, America has improved itself by accepting hard-working immigrants who improve both the economic and moral strength of our nation. I’m glad that we will be returning to this approach.

However, any cheers should be somewhat muted in that four of the nine Supreme Court justices tried to strike down this policy. Also, since it is not a statutory change, the policy can be overturned by future administrations.

Following the news of this court decision, I took to the House floor to discuss the policy’s benefits. To view my remarks, please click on the picture below.

In December 2019, President Donald Trump signed the "T21" rule into law, raising the legal age to buy tobacco to 21. In order for this to be fully enforced, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must take responsibility to clearly and effectively implement it. I support this new law because it is designed to protect youth from addictive tobacco products that can be harmful to their developing bodies.

This week, the Democratically controlled House passed H.R. 2339, the so-called "Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act". This is another example of a bill with a nice sounding name, that hides devastating ramifications. This bill will make all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, illegal to sell in the United States. The bill would also create a new excise tax on nicotine used in vaping. While I am not a tobacco user, I don't think the federal government should strip law-abiding adults of their right to buy a product.

To show that I am committed to raising the age to buy tobacco, I, along with many of my colleagues, sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn asking him to prioritize implementing the age 21 rule. 

To read the full letter, please click here.