My vote on the Continuing Resolution

Over the weekend, Congress voted on a Continuing Resolution which extended our current spending levels. I opposed the Continuing Resolution that only furthers DC’s out of control spending addiction and fails to address the crisis at our southern border. Families in the 16th Congressional District must meet a budget and it’s past time that DC do the same. With $33 Trillion in debt, Congress needs to change the way it spends or we will threaten the economic future of our kids and grandkids.

Introducing legislation to support levee safety along the Mississippi River

In central and northwestern Illinois, inland waterways are critical to the economic viability of our communities and allow small businesses, farmers and manufacturers to export commodities around the world. Last week, I joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers from Illinois to introduce the Upper Mississippi River Levee Safety Act in the House on Tuesday. This legislation will give local levee districts along the Upper Mississippi River more flexibility to maintain their systems and allow them to better prepare for future floods by addressing the federal regulatory challenges that make levee maintenance and improvements difficult.

Combatting China's unfair trade practices

As a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, I joined Chairman Mike Gallagher and urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to take action against Qingdao Sunsong -- a Chinese auto component manufacturer with a pattern of blatant trade fraud and tariff evasion that has had a catastrophic impact on American manufacturers. The Biden Administration must take action against these blatant violations.

Legislation to improve HSAs approved by committee

The House Ways and Means Committee voted in favor of my bipartisan Health Savings for Families Act of 2023, legislation that would allow individuals to maintain a Health Savings Account (HSA) even if the individual’s spouse is enrolled in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA). Currently, individuals are not eligible to maintain an HSA if their spouse is enrolled in an FSA. This legislation allows patients to have more choice and control of their own healthcare dollars.

Introducing legislation to rename the Bloomington VA Health Clinic

I introduced legislation to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Bloomington, Illinois as the "Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic." The legislation, supported by numerous veterans advocacy groups in Illinois, honors Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith, of Clinton, Illinois.

The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Bloomington provides important primary care and specialty health services, including mental health care, laboratory services, and pharmacy services to veterans who served our nation with honor. Renaming the facility after Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith, who served our nation and the Union side with honor during the Civil War, will serve as a humble reminder of the sacrifice made by those who fought to defend our country. I am honored to recognize Corporal Jackson Smith's courage and I will continue to work with our veteran community in the 16th District to ensure they receive the resources and support they deserve.

Visiting with IL16 constituents

Enjoyed visiting with Major General Henry Dixon, Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Central and a native of Dixon, Illinois. We had a good discussion about our military readiness and presence in the Middle East and Central Asia. I am grateful for his service to Illinois and our country.

As always, thanks for subscribing to my newsletter!

Sincerely,

Darin LaHood
Member of Congress

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