.For more than three and a half years, the Biden-Harris administration has waged war on American energy production, leading to the historic high gas and energy prices that have been crushing Kansans – gas is still nearly $1 more per gallon than January 2021. In a Budget Committee hearing this week, we discussed the damaging effects of the administration’s energy policies and what can be done to reverse them. You can watch my full remarks below.

.This week, the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the need for strong digital trade rules in order to protect U.S. innovation. This hearing was a well-timed complement to our Tax Team trip to Silicon Valley where many people we spoke with highlighted their concerns regarding intellectual property theft and extraterritorial foreign taxes, like digital services taxes. 

Policies like this that hurt innovation hurt all Americans because they slow the economy, reduce jobs, and give foreign adversaries a competitive advantage. 

You can listen to my full remarks below.

.1. The Kansas Livestock Association represents the many Kansans who feed our state and our country. I was pleased to talk with them earlier this month about the work KLA is doing and the need for open markets, as Kansans want to expand exports and grow our rural economies.

2. The Kansas Automobile Dealers Association knows the vehicle market firsthand, with more than 200 new-vehicle dealerships in the state. It was great to talk with their leadership about automobile prices and the challenge of the federal government’s push for EVs in the face of dismal consumer demand. While there’s good reason to encourage EV innovation, auto dealers in rural and urban parts of Kansas can’t afford to push something that buyers simply don’t want right now.

3. On the Kingman and Harper County line, I watched as Blattner Energy installed a blade on one of the many wind turbines being built in the area. I spoke with the team about their work and how wind is part of an all-of-the-above energy policy that ensures Kansans have access to multiple forms of energy. I also talked about property rights and usage, emphasizing the importance of working with communities and stakeholders to accomplish projects like this one.

4. Earlier this month I spoke with the team at Horizons Anthony Child Advocacy Center along with local law enforcement and other community partners regarding child advocacy. It can be difficult for Kansans to hear about neglect and abuse that happens throughout the state, but I was encouraged to hear about the work Horizons and its partners are doing to help victims and families in Anthony and surrounding areas.

5. Meeting with Harper Industries, I was able to see the expansion that has occurred at this local business since my last visit a few years ago. While the growth is evident, I also learned about the challenges Harper Industries has faced since tax provisions that encourage research and development expired. I shared about my work as chair of the U.S. Innovation Tax Team and how I’m working to restore those tax provisions that have proved to be successful at expanding U.S. R&D, which in turn produces job growth and more innovation.

6. The Wichita Pachyderm Club welcomed me as a guest speaker earlier this month, where I shared about the impact of the Biden-Harris open border policies, our devastating $35.3 trillion debt, inflation that has grown to 20.2% (now it’s 20.3%), and the Tax Foundation’s calculation of the impact of TCJA expirations on 4th District Kansans, which is an average increase of $1,930. One slide I shared shows 3.1 million nationwide border encounters from 2017-20 compared to the 10.1 million nationwide encounters from January 2021 to July 2024. I also talked about my work chairing the U.S. Innovation Tax Team. You can watch my full remarks online.