Schumer Shutdown | Fixing Social Security

.Dear Friend,

The Democrats shut down the government this week by refusing to pass a federal spending bill, placing their political priorities over the American people.

My Republican colleagues and I in the House of Representatives passed a nonpartisan spending bill two weeks ago, known as a “clean continuing resolution.” Democrats voted for this same bill 13 times when Biden was president, and they even voted for it in March of this year. Now they are requesting $1.5 trillion of funding demands, including nearly $200 billion in health care for illegal aliens, all paid for by American taxpayers. The Democrats’ proposal reverses the provisions Republicans enacted earlier this year that prevent states from using federal dollars for their health care programs for illegals – something states were actually doing despite Democrats’ claims that it’s illegal and not happening.

On the Senate side, most Democrats have voted against the clean continuing resolution four times – although two Democrats and one Independent have crossed the aisle to vote with a majority of Republicans on this common sense bill.

Under this Democrat shutdown, many federal employees do not receive their paychecks, but Members of Congress still do. I don’t think this is fair, so I requested my paycheck be withheld until Congress reaches an appropriations agreement.

Republicans have done our job – I hope my Democrat colleagues will put Americans first and end this shutdown soon.

Sincerely,

Member of Congress

.Supporting Kansas Ethanol
This week I joined a letter written by Sen. Chuck Grassley to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin. We requested the finalization of their proposed rule about Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) levels. The new RFS levels prioritize America-made energy, supporting Kansas ag and biofuel producers. You can read the letter we sent here.

Disaster Declaration
From July 17 through July 22, 2025, our state was hit with severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. I joined my Kansas delegation colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump requesting federal support for the communities affected by the storms. We wrote in support of the governor’s request for a major disaster declaration.

.Social Security provides an economic lifeline to Kansans in the Fourth District and tens of millions of Americans. As Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee of Ways and Means, my priority is to protect and strengthen the important program. President Trump shares my commitment, and his implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act this year has ensured that Americans receive the benefits they deserve.

Last month I met with the Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano in Wichita, and I shared the need to improve customer service at the Social Security Administration. I’m looking forward to continuing to advocate for improvements to Social Security in Congress.

I wrote more about Social Security in my latest op-ed for the Washington Examiner. You can read it here.

.Music has an important role in bringing our nation together and inspiring generations. That’s why I’m happy to share that I will serve as the co-chair of the Congressional Musicians’ Caucus. Earlier this year, I led the charge to help introduce and pass the Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act (HITS Act), which was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The HITS Act is a tax provision that benefits sound recording producers and artists. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to support the music industry.

Recently I was happy to speak to the Aero Club of DC about the aviation industry. I enjoyed speaking about my role on the House Aerospace Caucus and the benefits for aerospace in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or the Working Families Tax Cut.

.The Working Families Tax Cuts modernizes Air Traffic Control systems by investing $12.5 billion in safety improvements and infrastructure. Specifically, the legislation allocates funding for a new air route traffic control system, remote towers, radar replacements, and more. Additionally, the legislation provides funding for new aviation technologies.

.Did you know that the method in which Kansas selects its state Supreme Court Justices is distinct from any other state in the country? Known as the Missouri Plan, Kansas Supreme Court Justices are nominated by a bar-controlled commission. A nine-person commission evaluates candidates for Justice, and they select their top three choices in with little to no transparency. The governor of Kansas is required to appoint one of the three choices as a state Supreme Court Justice. The nominating commission itself consists of five people from the Kansas Bar Association, selected out of public view, and four others appointed by the governor. Kansas is the only state in the country that selects their state Supreme Court Justices this way.