Dear Friend,

Good morning, happy Groundhog’s Day, and welcome to our Weekend Update. For those who didn't watch, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter.

First, I want to send my heartfelt prayers to the families of the victims of the tragic plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia that occurred on Friday evening. A medical plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Northeast Philadelphia airfield. I want to thank the brave first responders working to take care of the victims and clean up the large crash site. We will learn more about why this accident occurred in the coming days. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and all the residents of Northeast Philly.

Additionally, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones involved in the tragic mid-air collision on Wednesday evening near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, involving an American Airlines flight from Wichita and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Our thoughts and prayers are with them… prayers for the families of the passengers and soldiers, for all who were on board, and for the brave, hard-working first responders who aided in the rescue and recovery efforts. Fortunately, President Donald J. Trump and his administration have put the full weight of the federal government behind the recovery efforts.

This tragic accident will lead to discussions about improving and modernizing our transportation system to prevent future tragedies as air travel becomes more congested. We pray for the victims, their families, and all those affected. When the time comes, I look forward to working with my friend, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, to bring our transportation system into the 21st century. This includes the development of local airports and limiting the congestion at urban airports. This has met resistance in the House Transportation Committee before, and that needs to be corrected.

This week, I joined Speaker Mike Johnson and my House Republicans colleagues at this year’s annual Policy Conference. This week, we’re laying the groundwork for the America First agenda and detailing how to effectively advance it throughout the 119th Congress. The American people gave President Trump a mandate, and the Republicans in Congress will deliver on it. (Shelley and I pictured below with Speaker Johnson)

On Monday, House Republicans were able to hear from President Trump. During this week’s Policy Conference, my colleagues and I worked on charting a course forward on how to best advance the America First agenda. We must have a unified Congress to work with the White House to usher in the new Golden Age of America.

Check out my interview on "National Report" on Newsmax, where I discussed the Trump administration's temporary pause on certain federal loans and grants. This decision is part of his Administration’s commitment to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. While Social Security and Medicare are protected, the focus remains on examining and preserving the programs that matter most to Americans. With billions allocated to foreign aid and ideological government programs, the Trump administration is dedicated to thoroughly reviewing how taxpayer money is spent, ensuring it goes where it's genuinely needed. Click here or below to watch.

Check out my interview on “The Volpe Report” on FOX56 WOLF TV. I discussed Mike Johnson’s re-election as Speaker, advancing President Trump’s America-First agenda, and the GOP's 100-day plan to deliver results for the American people. Click here or below to watch or tune in again today at 10:30am.

Check out my recent interview on "The Rich Zeoli Show" on TalkRadio WPHT. We covered several pressing topics, including the House Republican Policy Conference and the ongoing efforts to advance President Trump’s America-First agenda. I also shared insights on how the Trump administration is driving economic growth, strategies for cutting excessive government waste, and the confirmation hearings for Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, and RFK Jr. Click here or below to listen.

It was great sitting down with David Webb on SiriusXM Patriot as we wrapped up the GOP Policy Conference. Thank you for having me on to discuss my experience at the conference and share my outlook on this week’s confirmation hearings.

On Saturday, President Trump made a much-needed leadership change at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Now is the time to rein in the unaccountable agency by bringing it under the appropriations process, increasing transparency, and ensuring it prioritizes consumer protection over bureaucratic overreach.

I’ve often said that a more accountable CFPB should talk to the industry it regulates and find common ground on how to protect consumers best. That includes a focus on expanding access to capital, fostering competition, and empowering consumers through choice—not stifling them with excessive regulation.

On Saturday, President Trump signed an order that states beginning Tuesday, there will be a 25% Tariff on any and all Canadian and Mexican Goods entering the United States; the only exception will be Energy Products, including Oil and Natural Gas, which will see a lower 10% Tariff. Order also includes a 10% across the board tariff on all Chinese goods.

Trump Administration Officials have stated that the Tariffs will remain in place until the countries take “Strong Action” to prevent Fentanyl and Chemicals that produce Fentanyl from entering the United States. The American people voted for President Trump to stop the flow of illegal aliens and drugs from streaming across the border. President Trump is keeping his promise.

On his first day in office, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order requiring all federal employees to return to in-person work, ending remote work across federal agencies. While it is years after COVID-19, the U.S. Small Business Administration continued to abuse work-from-home policies, leaving small business owners struggling to access the support they desperately need. With the pandemic long behind us, I’m pleased the SBA is returning to in-person operations to deliver the hands-on assistance that will help Main Street America succeed.

I congratulate Scott Bessent on his confirmation as Secretary of The U.S. Department of the Treasury. I look forward to working with him to advance President Trump’s pro-growth agenda and see supply-side common sense back at the Treasury Department. Our economy needs more seasoned, business-minded market participants like Scott at the controls.

As a member of the Financial Services Committee Republicans, I see his confirmation as a crucial first step in correcting the course of the American economy.

Additionally, I applaud other cabinet members for their confirmations, including our new Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and Secretary of Environmental Protection, Lee Zeldin. President Trump has a team of patriots committed to the America First Agenda.

President Trump took immediate action to secure our border when he was sworn in. As a direct result, illegal border crossings are down 94% compared to Biden’s final days in office. President Trump is quickly fulfilling his commitment to address illegal immigration and keep our communities safe. Check out the results below.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: This week was National School Choice Week—a time to highlight the importance of giving families the ability to choose the best educational opportunities for their children. School choice empowers parents and ensures every student has access to a high-quality education, regardless of zip code. It’s also an opportunity to recognize the vital contributions of public, private, parochial, and other schools in equipping students with the tools they need to succeed and thrive.

DEFENDING PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY:  President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order expanding educational freedom and opportunity for families. It recognizes that parents, not the government, play a fundamental role in choosing and directing the upbringing and education of their children.

• It directs the Department of Education to issue guidance on how the States can use federal funding formulas to support their K-12 scholarship programs.
• It directs the Secretary of Education to prioritize school choice programs in the Department’s discretionary grant programs.
• The Order requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on how states receiving block grants for children and families can use those funds to support educational alternatives, including private and faith-based options.
• It directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a plan to the President for how military families can use Department of Defense funds to send their children to the school of their choice.
• The Order also directs the Secretary of the Interior to submit a plan to the President for how families with students attending Bureau of Indian Education schools can use federal funds to send their children to the school of their choice.

EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOL CHOICE: Every child deserves the best education available, regardless of their zip code. However, for generations, our government-assigned education system has failed millions of parents, students, and teachers. This Executive Order begins to rectify that wrong by opening up opportunities for students to attend the school that best fits their needs.

• According to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 70% of 8th graders were below proficient in reading and 72% were below proficient in math. 40% of 4th graders did not even meet the basic reading levels. 
• Standardized test scores have essentially been flat for over 30 years, despite hundreds of billions of dollars spent on government-run education.
• A dozen states have universal or near universal school choice programs and 33 states have some form of school choice program.
• School choice programs have a strong record of improving students’ academic performance.
• School choice has proven to be cost effective and saves taxpayer dollars.
• Parents report higher levels of school safety for their children who participate in school choice programs.
• Support for school choice is overwhelming, with 70% of Democrats, 73% of Black Americans, and 69% of Hispanic Americans in favor of it.
• President Trump is dedicated to ensuring every child has the opportunity to receive a world-class education.

FULFILLING THE PROMISE TO STRENGTHEN EDUCATION THROUGH FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY: President Trump promised to bring school choice to every family in the Nation. Today’s historic executive order is a critical step in delivering on that promise, and builds on the long list of accomplishments from the first Trump Administration, including:

• Calling on Congress to pass the School Choice Now Act and the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act.
• Providing in-person learning options for low-income parents forced to send their children to virtual school during the pandemic.
• Re-authorizing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program twice.
• Investing nearly $1.5 billion in the development of public charter schools, helping this innovative sector grow to 7,500 charter schools serving more than 3 million students.
• Allowing parents across the nation to withdraw up to $10,000 tax-free per year from 529 education savings plans to cover public, private, or religious K-12 schooling costs, thanks to the President’s historic tax cuts.

Parents can be confident that under his Administration, President Trump will provide every available opportunity for parents to enrich the education of their children through individual choice. Unfortunately, in Pennsylvania, several surveys show our state ranks in the bottom 12 states in education. This is unacceptable, especially since the national standards are so far down.

Gold Shield Families deserve lasting recognition as they navigate their hardships while upholding the legacy of their fallen heroes. Gold Shield Families are defined as the families of fallen police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), correction officers, emergency dispatch officers, and emergency service providers who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty protecting and serving their communities. I’ve reintroduced H.Res.76 to acknowledge and honor the commitment and sacrifices of families of fallen first responders, whose unwavering courage and resilience inspire us all. I want to thank Matt Guedes, Executive Director of Camp Freedom, who gave us the idea for the gold shield legislation. Click here or below to learn more.

President Trump officially signed the Laken Riley Act into law, ensuring that illegal immigrants who break the law are detained and removed from our country before they can commit acts of violence against Americans. If someone is here illegally, breaks our laws, and endangers our communities, they are not welcome in the United States.

Around the district, I joined industry leaders at Deer Park Lumber in Tunkhannock to discuss challenges facing the hardwood industry, from burdensome regulations to growing global competition. This second-generation family-owned business has been creating jobs and high-quality lumber products since 1982, supporting local and international markets. The hardwood industry plays a vital role in Pennsylvania’s economy, supporting over 60,000 jobs and generating $39 billion in economic activity. In Congress, I’ll continue working to advance pro-growth policies that benefit the hardwood industry and all job creators.

I met up with Dave and Dina McCormick in Luzerne County as they were traveling through and making a thank-you tour of various parts of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Senator McCormick has hit the ground running and will be the outstanding U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania, just like we all knew he would be. 

On Saturday, Shelley and I attended a train tour event supporting Rep. Doyle Heffley. (Shelley and I pictured with former representative Kurt Masser, his wife, Brenda, and granddaughter Willow.)

(Pictured below with a great team of federal and state elected officials, including State Rep. Jamie Barton, Rep. Tim Twardzik, Rep. Martina White, Rep. Doyle Heffley, Rep. Jesse Topper, Senator Dave Argall, and Congressman Ryan Mackenzie)

This week, we celebrated International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We honor the memory of six million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust, as well as the millions of others who suffered persecution.

This solemn day also reminds us of the ongoing threats the Jewish people face and the urgent need to combat antisemitism and hatred in all its forms. Let us renew our commitment to ensuring that "Never Again" is not just a phrase but a shared responsibility to prevent history from repeating itself.

May God continue to bless our nation. I look forward to seeing you soon,

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