John,

Good afternoon, and welcome to our Weekend Update. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This weekend, I attended the Trump 47 Retreat in Palm Beach. I am honored and 100% committed to ensuring that President Donald J. Trump wins the White House in November. That begins with our main role, which is ensuring that President Trump wins Pennsylvania! President Trump announced that he was counting on GOP U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick and I to help lead us to victory in Pennsylvania. This event gave us a great opportunity to talk at length with Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Tim Scott,  RNC Chair Michael Whatley, and RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump about campaigning with us in Pennsylvania.

I was joined by so many great leaders, including Vivek Ramaswamy, my good friend U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Scott, Senator J.D. Vance, Senator Rubio, Senator Marsha Blackburn, former Ambassador Carla Sands, and so many others committed to re-electing President Trump and getting our country back on the right track. (Pictured on stage with President Trump and supporters)

(Pictured below with Senator Rubio and Dave McCormick)

(Shelley and I pictured below with Senator Tim Scott, Carla Sands, and Senator Marsha Blackburn) 

We’re seeing a high level of destruction on college campuses nationwide. While the antisemitic protestors want to be called anarchists, what they really are is simply criminals. There is a big difference between creating change through destruction and creating change through production. This liberalism, this practice of appeasement, is all about tearing down, not building up. The worst of racism is taking place at Columbia and other universities, and not much is being done about it. It’s disgraceful. I joined “Mornings with Maria” on Fox Business to discuss the issue further. Click here or below to watch.

On Friday, I was in Philadelphia for a Field Hearing of the House GOP Judiciary Committee to discuss rising crime in the city. Philadelphia’s anti-law enforcement policies, which include defunding the police by $66 million in recent years, coupled with District Attorney Larry Krasner withdrawing and dismissing 66% of violent crime cases, have emboldened criminals and led to a rise in violent crime. Homicides, for example, have tragically increased by 30.15% in Philadelphia since Krasner took office. I want to thank Chairman Jim Jordan and my colleagues for holding this Field Hearing today to shine a light on the serious issue of violent crime in Philadelphia. Check out my opening statement and questioning of witnesses by clicking here or below.

There has been discussion in D.C. about filing a motion to vacate the speaker’s position. I believe that action is inappropriate right now and would only help Democrats. Democrat Leadership is not interested in saving Mike Johnson’s speakership; they’re only interested in saving their political careers. Everything they do is political, and this is no different. This is nothing more than a sad attempt to appear rational rather than the party of the extreme left that has created policies to open our borders, weaken our economy, crush American energy, and cause chaos around the world. I joined the “National Report” on Newsmax to discuss further. Click here or below to watch to watch.

Small businesses are the heart of the American economy, employing more than 61 million people across the country and 70% of our District’s workforce.

This is National Small Business Week, and we recognize the vital role small businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs play in every industry. I hope you support your neighbors by shopping locally today and every day!

It is fitting that the House unanimously passed my bill, the Investing in All of America Act, during National Small Business Week. This legislation will incentivize the deployment of private capital to small businesses in rural or low-income areas and small businesses in the national security technologies sector. Dollars invested in these areas will not count against individual SBIC’s existing $175 million leverage cap at no increased cost to the American taxpayer. By prioritizing support for these communities, the legislation strengthens small businesses nationwide and fuels economic growth and revitalization, particularly in eastern central Pennsylvania. Click here to learn more. I spoke about my bill on the floor of the U.S. House. Click here or below to watch.

The Small Business Committee hosted a “Small Business Showcase” to spotlight a diverse selection of entrepreneurs from across America. I was happy to invite Vince and Selina Pulizzi, owners of Labels By Pulizzi, Inc. Labels By Pulizzi offers high-quality printing services to local businesses across Pennsylvania. They've served notable clients like Wegmans and even sponsor Little League teams, displaying their commitment to quality service and community involvement. It was great to have them and many other small business owners in Washington to share their experiences and insights, including the challenges posed by high inflation and limited access to capital on Main Street America. Click here or below to watch my interview with Vince and Salina.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act is heavy handed government at its worst, making it difficult for entrepreneurs to understand and adopt the new rules. Biden regulators give no thought to the small businesses they regulate, only centralizing government at the expense of the backbone of America.

At a House Committee on Small Business, we heard from small business experts about the challenges Beneficial Ownership Reporting poses for small businesses nationwide. It’s time for the U.S. Department of the Treasury to hear how harmful this is and make a change. Click here or below to watch.

The Biden Administration's recent decision to extend a license for Russia to facilitate $14 billion in oil sales through the U.S. financial system is a direct contradiction to its stance on Ukraine. This will inevitably finance Russia's military efforts. How can Biden reconcile this with his support for Ukraine? Unleash American energy, and stop financing Putin, a war criminal.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Job growth was “much less than expected” in April — as the unemployment rate jumps back to its highest in more than two years.

That’s the “STAGFLATION” of the Biden economy.

The economy added just 175,000 jobs in April — far below economists’ expectations — while the previous two months saw significant downward revisions. Overall, unemployment ticked up, as did unemployment among Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, veterans, and Americans without high school diplomas.

Overall, 777,000 more Americans are unemployed than one year ago — while more foreign-born workers have joined the labor force under Biden than native-born American workers.

The sluggish headline number is far from the only bad news. Permanent job losses and temporary layoffs both increased, as did the number of Americans with part-time jobs for economic reasons and the number of long-term unemployed Americans.

Labor force participation still remains well below pre-pandemic levels.

It's the latest indication of a slowdown in Biden’s economy, which has been roiling Americans’ finances since the day he took office.

Bidenomics has been a disaster for American families. The only way back to prosperity is by re-electing President Donald J. Trump in November.

On Thursday, I was happy to host the Republican Study Committee's weekly lunch. We brought a bit of Pennsylvania to the Capitol today, serving Philly Cheesesteaks (or as close as you can get in DC) and Yuengling Beer samplers for Members to take home.

I joined the Firefighter's Association State of Pennsylvania - FASP this week for their annual "Breakfast on the Hill." At the breakfast, I expressed my appreciation for the important role PA firefighters play in our communities. We discussed the vital federal programs supporting fire departments nationwide during the event. As a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I will continue to work on behalf of the Commonwealth’s first responders to ensure they have the resources necessary to do their jobs safely and effectively.

I enjoyed meeting with the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers (PACB). The PACB proudly advocates for the unique needs and perspectives of more than 100 community banks chartered within the Commonwealth. Our conversation focused on the invaluable role community banks play in their local economies and how they can best deliver for their customers across NEPA.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Regional Presidents from PNC Bank across Pennsylvania. We discussed their pivotal role as one of the nation’s largest banks and their significant contributions to the Pennsylvania economy. We also spoke about how to best foster strong competition in the U.S. banking system.

I was pleased to meet Sharon Miller, President of Bank of America’s Small Business Lending. We had a frank conversation regarding how the bank's strong underwriting standards and responsible deployment of taxpayer dollars can help safely fund small businesses and provide new opportunities for entrepreneurs.

This week, we commemorated the 119th anniversary of the Pennsylvania State Police. On this day, we honor the memory of those troopers who demonstrated unwavering bravery and courage, making the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard our Commonwealth. I sincerely thank the dedicated law enforcement officers, both past and present, who tirelessly work to ensure the safety and security of Pennsylvania and its residents.

On the House floor, I honored the memory of Bryan Kendall, who tragically lost his life in a farming accident over the weekend. Bryan was proud to be a dairy farmer, known as the heart of Villa Dale Farm – a legacy spanning three generations. He touched the hearts of many in Lebanon County and beyond, and his passing has left an immense void in Bryan's family and our community. My prayers remain with his wife, Alyssa, and their two children during this difficult time. Click here or below to listen.

On Thursday, we celebrated the National Day of Prayer. Let's unite in prayer for our nation and the world. Together, unified in prayer, we shall be stronger and more resilient than ever. Faith will guide, empower, and give us the courage to persevere.

We are excited to catch up with you next week. God Bless, and see you soon,

Dan Meuser
https://www.meuserforcongress.com/