John,
It’s been a busy week in Washington, but I want to take a moment to share how we’re putting American agriculture first and delivering real results for the America First agenda.
I advanced a House Rules Committee report on a resolution for four bills that are vital to our communities’ well-being and in support of local economic development. The Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act reauthorizes substance abuse and mental health programs. The CEASE Act aims to limit the number of Small Business Administration (SBA) licensed lending companies to restore proper oversight capabilities. The Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act, introduced by my friend and colleague, Rep. Brad Finstad, aims to relocate offices that are currently in sanctuary jurisdictions. The American Entrepreneurs First Act will ensure applicants for business loans are American citizens. Advancing a Rules resolution is a routine, but necessary, step in the legislative process and an important responsibility of mine as a member of the Rules Committee.
Over 50 colleagues and I sent a letter to support the Trump administration’s engagement on agricultural trade priorities. We urged and expressed our strong support to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick for ongoing trade negotiations to greatly benefit American manufacturing, producing, and farming. President Trump’s decision to pause certain tariffs for U.S. agriculture has given us a 90-day period to come to agreements for longer-term negotiations. This is the right time to truly hone in on what the Trump administration does best: seal the deal. Our rural communities, especially farmers, deserve the long-term certainty that trade agreements provide in order to recover global market share, prevent the decline of commodity prices, and unleash our industries on the global stage. The administration has done an excellent job so far, and we’re ready to see what improvements can be made to support and uplift American agriculture.
I’m proud to co-sponsor the reintroduced Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields (SAFETY) Act. This important bipartisan legislation protects U.S. food producers from unfair foreign trade practices. Global competitors have increasingly targeted American-made food and beverage products by restricting the use of common names under the guise of geographical protections. That means products proudly made in states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, renowned for high-quality cheeses and agricultural exports, are being penalized for using familiar names like “cheddar” or “parmesan.” These tactics directly harm U.S. farmers, producers, and workers. It’s time we stand up for our food producers and ensure American-made goods are treated fairly on the global stage. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and level the playing field.
As always, thank you for your continued trust and support. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance with anything.
