NationBuilder

Good afternoon, and welcome to our Weekend Update.

On Friday, I joined President Donald J. Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, Chairman French Hill, and fellow members of the Financial Services Committee Republicans for the signing of the GENIUS Act into law.

As a Subcommittee Chairman on the Financial Services Committee, I’m working to advance President Trump’s agenda to “make America the undisputed [digital asset] superpower and the crypto capital of the world.”

The GENIUS Act establishes a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins, preserving the dollar’s dominance, protecting consumers, and unlocking American innovation in digital assets.

With this bill now law, the U.S. is back on a pro-growth, pro-private sector, pro-crypto path.

Click here or below to watch President Trump enter the event.

Click here or below to watch President Trump introduce me to the crowd.

Click here or below to read my statement on the passage of the GENIUS Act.

On Thursday, I joined President Donald Trump, members of Congress, and Angel Families at the White House for the signing of the HALT Fentanyl Act—a critical step to keep lethal fentanyl analogues off our streets and out of our communities.

In 2023 alone, 4,719 Pennsylvanians lost their lives to overdose, nearly 77% involving fentanyl. Without this legislation, a 2018 emergency order from President Trump—classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I—was set to expire, which would have made many of these deadly drugs effectively street-legal.

Thanks to this bill, law enforcement and border agents will retain the authority they need to seize these substances and go after traffickers. It also allows the medical and research communities to continue studying these substances responsibly.

And thanks to the Trump Administration’s strong border policies and enforcement efforts, the amount of deadly fentanyl coming across our southern border has already been cut in half. This is a strong, bipartisan victory for public safety.

I joined "Varney & Co." on Fox Business to talk about major wins for Pennsylvania and the country. The Energy and Innovation Summit—hosted by Senator Dave McCormick—highlighted over $90 billion in new investment coming directly into Pennsylvania. From natural gas and grid upgrades to AI-powered data centers, this is about unlocking American energy and bringing jobs and growth to rural communities. President Trump’s agenda for energy dominance is being implemented, and Pennsylvania is leading the way.

We also discussed the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will be signed at the White House later this afternoon—and I’ll be there for it. This legislation is critical—it permanently schedules fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, ensuring law enforcement can keep seizing these deadly compounds and prosecuting traffickers. With over 4,000 fentanyl deaths in Pennsylvania alone, this bill will help save lives and strengthen our border security.

And the investigation into President Biden’s use of the autopen continues to deepen. We now know that both pardons and executive orders were signed using the autopen, likely without his direct authorization. That’s not how the presidency is supposed to work, and the American people deserve answers. Click here or below to watch my interview.

Additionally, I joined NEWSMAX to discuss the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, where President Trump and Senator Dave McCormick announced significant investments in AI and energy for the Commonwealth. Click here or below to watch my interview.

On Monday morning, I joined “American Sunrise” on Real American Voices to reflect on the one-year anniversary of the assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler. We discussed the unforgettable events of that day, honored the memory of Corey Comperatore, and talked about the serious security failures that allowed this to happen. Click here or below to watch.

Later on, I joined “The Evening Edit” on Fox Business to discuss the deeply disturbing failures that led to the assassination attempt on President Trump. However, beyond the security breakdowns, we must confront another issue: the rhetoric that contributed to this attack. The shooter likely thought his actions were righteous. That’s not politics—that’s radicalization. It’s time to turn the temperature down. As we mark one year since that harrowing day in Butler, let’s recommit ourselves to restoring civility in our national dialogue. Click here or below to watch.

This week, I joined my good friend Rep. Mike Kelly and the Republican Study Committee to speak in support of H.Res. 571. This resolution is not only about marking the anniversary of the assassination attempt against President Trump—it’s about standing up for civil discourse, condemning those who incite violence, and making clear that hate-driven rhetoric and politically motivated threats have no place in our democratic-republic. Click here or below to watch my remarks.

I also called for the release of all the pertinent, credible Epstein files! That includes the infamous painting of Bill Clinton found hanging in Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. According to flight logs, Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane 26 times.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ken Langone, co-founder of The Home Depot, says he has “never been more excited about the future of America” than he is under President Trump. In an interview on CNBC, Langone praised President Trump’s economic policies, leadership, and return of the American spirit.

Click here or below to watch his interview.

Here’s what you missed:

On optimism: “If I told you how bullish I was, you wouldn’t believe it. I have never been more excited about the future of America than I am right now, right this minute, for a lot of reasons. Number one, like it or not, this guy is getting things done … He’s acting presidential. I’m impressed with the people he’s got around him.”
On his past reluctance: “I am sold on Trump … I think he’s got a good shot at going down in history as one of our best presidents ever … What I’m seeing happening is absolutely nothing short of a great thing. People are walking with more bounce in their [step] — it’s all around … When you made a mistake, admit it.”
On tariffs: “Initially, my concern was I don’t like tariffs; I like free trade. However, I think — damn it, give Trump credit. His instincts are good. Some of these things need to be fixed.”
On the One Big Beautiful Bill: “I was worried about inflation, and I was worried about the deficit. I think there’s a lot of merit to the notion that it’s going to trigger such significant economic growth that we might see tax revenues going up through the profitability bracket.”
On foreign policy: “The world is a mess, but I think it’s coming more in our direction than it was. I think that strike in Iran had significant symbolic meaning for the world that America is here and when our interests are at risk, we’re going to do something about it.”

On Tuesday, in the Financial Services Committee, I raised concerns about how Dodd-Frank’s excessive and unclear regulations are hurting consumers by making it harder for banks to fight fraud, offer loans, and serve their communities.

When banks are forced to navigate a maze of red tape from agencies like the CFPB, consumers suffer the consequences: less access to credit and fewer financial options, especially in rural and underserved areas. That’s why I’m working to roll back unnecessary rules and refocus regulators on what really matters: protecting consumers and strengthening access to capital. Click here or below to watch my remarks.

I would like to thank the Republican Study Committee for hosting Tuesday's “New” Media Row, which highlighted the growing influence of podcasts, streaming shows, and independent online platforms that reach millions of Americans outside the legacy press. I joined several outlets to discuss unleashing American Energy, strengthening national security, growing our economy, and delivering results through the One Big Beautiful Bill.

On Wednesday, Luzerne County welcomed our Vice President, J.D. Vance.

I am sorry that I won’t be able to personally welcome Vice-President Vance during his visit to Luzerne County, as I’m in Washington for some crucial votes.

Vice President Vance is doing an outstanding job fighting for Pennsylvania and our country, and we’re grateful for his leadership. While I can’t be there in person, I was pleased that the Vice President received the usual warm, enthusiastic welcome that Luzerne County is known for.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President, for your commitment to making Pennsylvania — and America — stronger and greater every day!

On Wednesday, I met with Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller to discuss a long-overdue and much-needed rate cut, the alarming rise in consumer fraud and scams, and the importance of a capital-neutral regulatory framework that keeps credit flowing to families and small businesses.

Governor Waller’s data-driven, pro-growth leadership is exactly the kind of disciplined thinking needed to keep our economy strong. He understands President Trump’s America-First agenda, recognizes where our economy is heading, and knows that supply-side growth is the key to lowering interest rates, stabilizing prices, and driving broad-based prosperity.

We discussed agricultural education, the future of farming in Pennsylvania, and the importance of continued support for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs—especially as Congress considers the future of Perkins funding, which supports over $47 million annually for Pennsylvania students pursuing careers in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and more.

Thank you to State President Sarah Firestone for leading an impressive delegation, and to all of the officers for your passion, insight, and commitment to agriculture. Pennsylvania’s future is bright with leaders like you stepping up.

On Thursday, I spoke on the House Floor in strong support of the GENIUS Act—smart, forward-looking legislation that supports the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency, provides a private-sector alternative to a government-run digital dollar, and reduces costs while expanding access for American consumers.

I would like to thank Chairman Congressman French Hill, Chairman Congressman Bryan Steil, Whip Congressman Tom Emmer, and the Trump Administration’s crypto leadership—especially Crypto Czar David Sacks and SEC Chair Paul Atkins—for their efforts in reversing the Biden-era overregulation and putting us back on a pro-growth, America First path. Click here or below to watch my remarks.

I urged my colleagues to support H.R. 1919—the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act—because defending the Constitution and protecting Americans’ financial privacy is non-negotiable.

Article I, Section 8 is clear: only Congress—not the Fed—has the authority to “coin Money, regulate the Value thereof.” A Central Bank Digital Currency would centralize unprecedented power in the federal government and could open the door to real time surveillance of every financial transaction in America.

This bill ensures the Fed cannot even consider launching a digital dollar and reaffirms Congress’s role as the rightful steward of our currency.

Thank you to Whip Congressman Tom Emmer and Chairman Congressman French Hill for leading this fight to check government overreach and defend the freedoms our republic was built on. Click here or below to watch my remarks.

Lastly, during President Trump’s first term, pro-growth policies led to a booming economy and rising revenues. Then, under President Biden, wasteful spending drove our annual interest on the debt from $400 billion to nearly $1 trillion.

We can’t afford to keep funding unnecessary programs and unaccountable agencies. It’s time to focus on what’s essential—and stop spending on what isn’t.

I spoke out in support of the passage of the rescissions package and codifying President Trump’s spending reductions into law. Click here or below to watch my remarks.

I want to recognize my summer interns — Sam DeLuca, Tess Meagher, Gowen Coates, and Thomas Aiello — for their tireless efforts on behalf of the constituents of Pennsylvania’s Ninth District.

Over the course of the summer, they’ve made meaningful contributions to our office through their work on legislative research, constituent services, daily operations, and much more. Their dedication and professionalism are truly appreciated. I look forward to their continued contributions in the weeks ahead.