Notes from Mike's Desk from the Week of March 4 – 8, 2024

Hello, friends! Thank you for subscribing to my weekly newsletter highlighting what’s happening on Capitol Hill and in Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District. I’m always grateful when you recommend this resource to others.

IN THE HOUSE

Thursday night, I gaveled in a Joint Session of Congress to witness President Biden’s State of the Union Address. It was my first State of the Union since taking over as Speaker, and while we hoped that the President would deliver a speech that unifies us, what we received was a hyper-partisan campaign speech that was divorced from reality.

Following his speech, I released a video response that emphasized the societal perils brought on by the border crisis, our struggling economy, and the rise in crime in states like Louisiana and others. Watch my response by clicking the image below.

Immediately following the speech, I joined Sean Hannity on Fox News from the Capitol to provide my instant reaction. Watch that here.

Just hours before President Biden delivered his address to the Nation, the House passed the Laken Riley Act—legislation that would force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and put on a path to deportation illegal immigrants who commit crimes in America.

Named after UGA nursing student Laken Riley, who was tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant last month, this bill should have passed unanimously through the House. Instead, 170 House Democrats voted against it, further proving that Democrats in Washington are not serious about securing our southern border. I joined America’s Newsroom on Friday morning to discuss.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Ahead of the State of the Union, my office released a 90-second video titled “Three Years of Decline,” which chronicles President Biden’s failures on U.S. border security, the economy, the botched withdrawal in Afghanistan, and America’s weakened standing on the world stage. The video has received more than 20 million views across all platforms, and I encourage you to watch:

As the Speaker of the House, I had the opportunity to invite several special guests to the State of the Union address. From angel and Gold star families to women’s sports advocates, to NYPD officers on the front lines of the crime crisis, our guests represented a broad cross-section of America. It was my honor to host them.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Before heading back to Washington last week, on Monday, I met with hospital staff, community leaders and business owners in Webster, Claiborne, and Union Parishes to discuss the issues on our constituents’ hearts and minds. It’s always great to be back in Louisiana, and I look forward to continuing these productive conversations to ensure Louisiana’s interests are being well-represented in Congress. See below for coverage of my trip.

I also recently held another district travel day in Louisiana and had the opportunity to visit with local elected officials, energy employees, and servicemembers and their families at Barksdale Air Force Base.

Click the image above to view coverage of my visit to Chesapeake Energy in Mansfield

Click the image above to view coverage of my visit to Barksdale Air Force Base

LAGNIAPPE

One of the most gratifying aspects of my job is being able to make the Speaker’s Office and the People’s House accessible to our Louisiana constituents. Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with dozens of constituents, including our great crawfish farmers who keep our state fed and our culture thriving. If you’re ever in our Nation’s Capital, please, come visit!