Friends, 

I hope you are doing well. As your Representative in Congress, it’s a priority to keep you informed of how we're serving you. If you would like to stay up to date, check out our website, and follow our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

Looking forward to seeing you in Georgia's 11th Congressional District or in Washington, D.C. soon.  

God Bless,

Rep. Barry Loudermilk

U.S. Congressman, Georgia's Eleventh District

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement to announce the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Georgia’s 11th Congressional District. Alberto Garcia Melchor, who attends Gordon Central High School, won First Place for his entry entitled, Vanishing Stripes.

“The Congressional Art Competition is something I look forward to each year because I get to see the incredible artistic abilities of the students in our district. Having your artwork displayed in the halls of the U.S. Capitol is a great honor; and I look forward to seeing our winner’s artwork every time I walk through the Cannon tunnel to the House floor for votes. I appreciate all the students, teachers, judges, and parents who had a hand in making this year’s art competition one of the best ever.”

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H.J. Res. 60 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Park Service relating to ‘‘Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Motor Vehicles.’’ (Sponsored by Rep. Maloy / Natural Resources Committee)
 
H.J. Res. 87 – Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ‘‘California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Emission Airport Shuttle; Zero-Emission Power Train Certification; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision.’’ (Sponsored by Rep. James / Energy and Commerce Committee)
 
H.J. Res. 88 – Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ‘‘California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision.’’ (Sponsored by Rep. Joyce (PA) / Energy and Commerce Committee)
 
H.J. Res. 89 – Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ‘‘California State Motor Vehicle and Engine and Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; The ‘Omnibus’ Low NOX Regulation; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision.’’ (Sponsored by Rep. Obernolte / Energy and Commerce Committee)
 
H.J. Res. 78 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to ‘‘Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt.’’ (Sponsored by Rep. LaMalfa / Natural Resources Committee)

This week, I authored a letter to Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith asking the committee to include a fix for the ARPA IRS 1099-K threshold in the upcoming Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reauthorization.
 
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law in March of 2021. This bill was former President Biden’s first reconciliation bill, and as part of the reconciliation process included a pseudo pay-for that lowered the reporting thresholds for third-party settlement providers (like Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, etc.) from $20,000 and 200 transactions to $600 and no minimum transactions. The estimated budget impact was around $8.4 billion in revenue over the budget window, although this projection was and still is contested.
 
Functionally, the lowered threshold means that platforms will have to report millions of untaxable transactions to the IRS and will have to provide Form 1099-K to hundreds of thousands of people who would otherwise not need it. For example, if you bought a couch for $1,000 and resold it (at a loss) to a neighbor for $700 when you moved, your third-party payment platform of choice now must report that transaction and send you IRS form 1099-K. Ordinarily, unless you are in the business of reselling used goods, this transaction wouldn’t need to be reported and wouldn’t be counted as income from a habitual sale. However, if you forgot how much you paid for that couch, or don’t know that proceeds from sales like this don’t need to be reported, you might overreport, overpay, or end up being audited. In either case, assuming you are even aware of this provision, you’d need to keep detailed records of every purchase and every incidental sale you make. This ends up being a huge burden, and a source of confusion, for both taxpayers and the IRS. As mentioned, it could lead to overpayment and audit but will also slow down the IRS as they take in thousands of unnecessary forms that aren’t of any use to them.

Co-signers: Representatives Tim Moore, John Rose, Zach Nunn, Chuck Edwards, Pete Sessions, Morgan Luttrell, Byron Donalds, Maria Salazar, Rich McCormick, Jefferson Shreve, Neal Dunn, Gus Bilirakis, Monica De La Cruz, Scott Fitzgerald, Troy Downing, Kevin Kiley, Pete Stauber, Ryan Zinke, Michael Baumgartner, and Jeff Hurd.

It’s more important than ever to be well-prepared before your international trip. Here are some essential tips to keep in mind:

1. Apply for or Renew Your Passport Early: Passports are in high demand, and processing times may take longer than usual. To avoid any last-minute stress, apply for or renew your passport well in advance—ideally 6 months before your planned trip. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months after your planned return date, so check your expiration date now. Our office is ready to help should you need assistance in securing your passport.
2. Check Travel Advisories: Always check for any travel advisories on the State Department website for the country you're visiting. Also, take a moment to read "Crisis Abroad: Be Ready" to plan your evacuation options, should they be needed.
3. Enroll in STEP: The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that keeps you updated on security information and allows U.S. embassies or consulates to contact you in case of an emergency. Plus, it makes it easier for them to reach your loved ones back home if necessary.
4. Know Visa & Entry Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the entry requirements for your destination country online at www.travel.state.gov. For example, effective January 2025, U.S. citizens traveling to the UK for six months or less must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Make sure you're prepared ahead of time. 
5. Get Travel Insurance: Protect your trip with the right coverage. Travel insurance can cover evacuation, medical emergencies, and even death abroad. Many reputable companies offer quotes based on your trip’s total cost and desired coverage level.

“Fraud Alert Friday" highlights waste, fraud, and abuse occurring across the federal government.

Alert: DOGE has referred 57 cases of potential voter fraud to the U.S. Justice Department, a DOGE official noted, Fox News Digital has reported.

Antonio Gracias noted that the individuals were "resident aliens who were registered to vote and may or may not have voted in elections," according to NBC News.

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DOGE Update: As of May 2, 2025, DOGE has saved American taxpayers $160 billion so far, breaking down to approximately $993.79 saved per taxpayer. To read more about the above alerts, click here, and see DOGE's recent social media post here.

1. Trump’s Treasury Department Targets Mexican Cartels Trafficking Fentanyl, Stolen Fuel
2. US economy adds 177K jobs in April, exceeding economic forecasts
3. Trump to require truck drivers to speak English, pass literacy tests as 'communication problems' mount
4. BP Plans to ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ in the U.S.

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