Dear friend,

Hanukkah is here and I would like to take a moment and wish all of those celebrating a festive holiday. This year's celebration is bittersweet, however, given Hamas' continued attacks on Israel and the horrific rise in antisemitism that has followed here at home.

The Jewish community across Ohio and much of the United States has been subjected to unspeakable hardship in recent weeks. We've seen antisemitic incidents break out on the campus of the Ohio State University and on the eastern side of Columbus.

But the Jewish community has rallied in the face of such adversity. Their strength incredible resilience and strength should inspire us all to say that now, more than ever, hatred of any kind is unacceptable.

It's been a busy few weeks in Congress! This week, House Republicans voted to prohibit newly proposed federal regulations on gas-powered vehicles.

Our bill sends a clear message that House Republicans stand firm against any attempt by the federal government to ban gas-powered cars to hasten the transition away from fossil fuels.

This comes as the EPA has proposed some of the most aggressive tailpipe emissions in U.S. history. These proposed regulations, if implemented, would require a large majority of newly produced vehicles to be electric by 2032.

Central Ohio also got some big news this week as the Department of Transportation announced it was taking the first step towards expanding Amtrak in Ohio.

The Federal Railroad Administration has selected four key routes in Ohio as priorities for Amtrak expansion. Two of the routes will go through Columbus, one connecting Cleveland to Cincinnati and the other linking Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Chicago, Illinois.

As part of the effort, the Federal Railroad Administration is spending $500,000 to study the feasibility of expanding each route. Federal, state, and local officials will use the money to determine whether expanding the routes will be profitable for taxpayers.

Furthermore, I was honored this week to receive an award from the American Ambulance Association for my work to expand access to emergency medical services for the residents of the 15th congressional district.

Our district is America in miniature, including everything from downtown Columbus to suburbs like Dublin and swaths of beautiful rural Ohio near Shelby and Fayette County. In those rural areas access to emergency medicine and ambulatory services is vital, especially when the nearest hospital is miles away.

That's why I've introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a $50 million federal grant program to help emergency medical service agencies with hiring and retention, training reimbursements, facility upgrades, and more.

This week, I introduced a bipartisan bill to increase affordable housing for middle-class families across central Ohio and the rest of the country.

Many middle-class Americans, including police officers and firefighters, are in the difficult position of making too much money to qualify for housing tax credits, but not enough money to live where they work. This is especially true in Columbus and central Ohio, where home-building has not kept pace with population growth.

Our bill, named the Workforce Housing Tax Credit, seeks to help by building on the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. It creates new tax incentives for developers to build affordable housing for middle-class families making between 60% and 100% of the area's median income.

I was proud to work on this bill with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden of Oregon, Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, and my good friend and fellow House Ways and Means Committee member, Democratic Rep. Jimmy Panetta of California.

America needs more housing to accommodate middle-class families and young people starting their careers.

Last week, I was proud to be on hand with so many state and local officials, business leaders, and community advocates for the opening of Harriet’s Hope. This 52-unit housing complex is the first in Ohio to be dedicated to serving survivors of human trafficking.

Harriet's Hope is more than just a housing facility for those in need. This public-private partnership marks a commitment to eradicate human trafficking and help its survivors transition back into the community.

I ran for office to deliver real results for the people of central Ohio. Since the start of this year, our team has:

Secured $3.92 million for constituents from state and federal agencies.
Closed more than 1,216 cases.

Our team provides a wide variety of services to the people of Ohio’s 15th congressional district. If you are having any issues with Social Security, veterans benefits, or the IRS, our office might be able to help. Click HERE to get started.

There are thousands of federal grants available to constituents, everything from agriculture subsidies to small business loans. If you need help with a federal grant or want to apply for a federal click HERE for more information.

Our team is also looking for interns in both Washington, D.C. and Columbus, Ohio. If interested please apply click HERE to apply.