Last week, House Republicans delivered some strong conservative victories on the floor.

First, the House passed H.R. 5933, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act. This bill protects American students and universities from malicious foreign actors. The DETERRENT Act plays a vital role in safeguarding research and intellectual property (IP) at our nation’s universities from foreign influence by adversaries like China.

The House also passed H. J. Res. 88, a joint resolution that expresses our disapproval of President Joe Biden’s irresponsible student loan plan. Simply put, hardworking Americans aren’t responsible for paying off the student loan debt of others.

Earlier this Congress, I introduced the Student Loan Accountability Act – which is a long-term solution that prohibits the Biden Administration from canceling student loan debt on a mass scale. There is no such thing as “forgiveness,” and Joe Biden’s big government socialist proposal wouldn’t just miraculously make student loan debt disappear. Americans who have fully paid off their student loans, worked hard to pay for their education, or chose not to enroll in college would be stuck footing the bill under Biden's plan. It is fundamentally unfair and I will continue to fight back against this radical policy. 

The Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee held a hearing last week on the benefits pro-growth tax policies have on American families, workers, and small businesses. 

In my remarks, I expressed how our tax code should make America the best place in the world to do business, reward investment in new technology and in our people, and drive Americans to the workforce. 

Click here to watch. 

The House Committee on Ways and Means also held an Executive Session hearing regarding President Biden’s involvement with his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings. We heard credible testimony from two Internal Revenue Services (IRS) whistleblowers and voted to publicly release the 56 pages of evidence. 

In major news for our district, U.S. Soccer announced it will be building its new headquarters and National Training Center in Fayette County. The National Training Center will create an estimated 400+ new jobs and represents an investment valued at more than $200 million. I’m excited to see the Peach State be at the forefront of taking soccer to the next level in America! 

Meet Speaker Mike Johnson’s inner circle 
NBC News | by Scott Wong and Julie Tsirkin
December 8, 2023 

In 2016, Johnson’s election to the House was overshadowed by the election of another Republican: Donald Trump. The future speaker had to navigate a challenging political environment with a new, unpredictable president whose early-morning tweets would often dictate the day on Capitol Hill. Johnson did so alongside his fellow members of the class of 2016, and he grew close to several, including Reps. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga., Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa.

“When you come in together, your class is the closest friends that you’ll have most of the time, because you learn at the same time and at the same pace,” Ferguson said in an interview. “And this place is full of political landmines, and your class is the only group that steps on them together. Everybody else is happy to let you do it. You have to learn to trust one another for good advice.”

Ferguson, who previously served in leadership as Scalise’s chief deputy whip, conceded that Johnson has been “dealt a tough hand” with a minuscule majority and a mounting to-do list. But he said the speaker is viewed by his colleagues as “smart,” “talented” and an “honest, transparent broker.”

Thank you to our fall interns, Libby and Luke! They have been an awesome addition to our team over the past few months and I’m grateful for all their hard work. I wish them all the best in their bright futures! 

If you are a college student interested in interning in either my district office or Washington, D.C. office, applications are still open for the spring semester.

Click here for more information.