.This week U.S. District Judge David Counts ruled to vacate a 2022 decision that granted the lesser prairie-chicken environmental protection. The judge’s order to remove the endangered species status of the lesser prairie-chicken is great news for Kansas farmers and energy producers because they deserve the right to preserve their own land. I penned an op-ed about the lesser prairie-chicken two years ago, and I’m glad the judge’s decision has liberated the lesser prairie-chicken from overbearing bureaucracy.

.Our nation's capital should be safe for the many people who visit, work and live there. Rampant crime in Washington, D.C., has been prevalent for too long. In my office, we saw the devastating effects of crime less than two months ago with the tragic murder of our intern, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym. My office and family, as well as Eric’s family and friends, are still grieving the loss of a bright and kind 21-year-old whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence.

Washington, D.C., has a homicide rate that is higher than all 50 states in America. The status quo from the D.C. council is not working – lives have been lost, and it's time to change course. President Trump agrees, and this week he declared a crime emergency in our nation’s capital. The president is mobilizing the District of Columbia National Guard to restore law and order in Washington. I support the president’s approach to drive down violent crime so our nation’s capital can be safe once again.

.This week our nation celebrated 90 years of the Social Security program, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he signed the Social Security Act into law on Aug. 14, 1935. The creation of this program has allowed America’s seniors to receive the benefits they paid into for much of their lives. 

It’s my honor to serve as the Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee in the House of Representatives, and it’s my priority to protect and strengthen the vital program that so many seniors rely on. 

Furthermore, my colleagues and I in Congress are committed to passing legislation to benefit seniors. Republicans’ recently passed One Big, Beautiful Bill delivers tax relief to seniors by increasing their tax deduction up to $6,000, allowing seniors to keep more of their hard-earned money.

.Earlier this week I visited Open Road Brands, a business in Wichita that manufactures signs, wall art and other decor right here in Kansas. We talked about the importance and benefits of policies that encourage manufacturing in America. I’m always grateful to meet with businesses in the district and learn about what they do.

.Last Sunday I joined the John Whitmer Show to discuss the southern border, the state of the economy, redistricting and more.

I spoke about how new laws were not needed to secure the border, but a new president was. President Trump was able to secure the border by enforcing the current laws, something President Biden was unwilling to do.

Regarding the economy, we spoke about how the federal government had a budget surplus for the first time in over nine years. We also talked about how Congress recently passed a rescissions package cutting over $9 billion of wasteful spending.

You can listen to my full interview below.