Chair of the Social Security Subcommittee | Passing the Laken Riley Act

.Dear Friend,

I hope you’ve been able to stay safe and warm as our district has experienced significant winter weather over the last week.

Now that the new 119th Congress is in session, Committees are busy getting organized for the work ahead. I am honored to share that I was named Chair of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee and will continue serving on the Tax Subcommittee.

Social Security is something Kansans care deeply about, and it’s something I’ve committed to preserving and protecting during my time in office.

As Chair of the Social Security Subcommittee, I’ll work to ensure Congress does not wait until the last minute to address Social Security's impending insolvency. Social Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund is at risk of depletion within eight years if no action is taken, meaning beneficiaries will receive an automatic 21% cut in benefits. No one wants this to happen.

I’m eager to work on bipartisan solutions to ensure that Social Security is stable and available to current, near and future retirees. We’ll also examine ways to get frontline Social Security Administration employees back in the office so that the agency can become a constituent-focused organization and provide better service to all Kansans and Americans.

In one of my first actions as chairman, I joined Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith in a letter to the Social Security Administration’s Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin urging SSA to provide Congress and the public with clear guidance on how it will deliver immediate relief to public service retirees, such as firefighters and teachers, who have been impacted by the flawed WEP and GPO programs. While the bill to repeal WEP and GPO was not perfect, it passed Congress last year, and it’s imperative that SSA implement it quickly and with clarity to beneficiaries. You can read more about it and the full letter on my website.

Sincerely,

Member of Congress

.After the failed open border policies of the last four years, Kansans and Americans want a secure border – and for good reason. The open border has allowed criminals, terrorists, gang members and others to stream into our country. Some of these illegal immigrants have then gone on to commit further crimes and atrocities in our communities, like the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. That’s why in the new Congress' first legislative vote, we passed the Laken Riley Act – a bill that makes policy changes to secure our nation. It even received support from 48 House Democrats and now looks poised to pass the Senate with bipartisan support. I was proud to vote for this strong, common sense bill that will begin to improve the security of our nation.

.This week the House passed the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, which imposes sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC embarrassed itself earlier this year when it issued arrest warrants for the Israeli leaders Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant alongside the barbaric Hamas leaders seeking to destroy Israel. This was absolutely absurd and an apparent attempt by the ICC to target Israel, which is not even a member of the ICC.

The bill passed overwhelmingly, with 45 Democrats joining nearly all Republicans in voting in favor of the legislation. America stands with Israel and its right to self-defense.

.Did you know that Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers started in Wichita? The Simon family and business partner Scott Redler opened the first Freddy’s in 2002 on 21st Street and Tyler Road. The restaurant was named after World War II Veteran Freddy Simon. Freddy’s is known for its shoestring fries, frozen custard, steakburgers and retro vibe. Today, there are more than 500 Freddy’s locations worldwide, making it one of the fastest-growing franchises in the United States – all from its founding here in the heartland.