Good afternoon, and welcome to our Weekend Update.

I want to acknowledge the tragic murders of two American soldiers and an interpreter in Syria yesterday by ISIS. Three other soldiers were injured in the attack. We extend our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of those killed and injured. This was an attack on America, and as the President said, "we will retaliate."

On Tuesday, we were honored to welcome President Donald J. Trump to Mount Pocono, and the event was outstanding. Thousands of Pennsylvanians came out in the cold because they believe in President Trump’s plan to strengthen our economy, cut taxes and regulations, and put working families first—and he delivered that message clearly.

I greatly enjoyed the event and certainly appreciated the opportunity to travel with the President back to Washington. His commitment to Pennsylvania is strong, and we’re going to keep working together to advance policies that support our workers, our energy producers, our small businesses and all Pennsylvanians.

I was able to speak to the crowd before the President’s remarks. Click here or below to watch.

I have posted additional pictures below from this great event, including with Senator Dave McCormick, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, my colleagues, Congressmen Rob Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and our Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

(Pictured below with State Representative Robert Leadbetter from Columbia County)

On Monday, I joined "Wake Up America" on Newsmax to talk about the economy. Pennsylvanians remember exactly where we were headed under Biden: soaring prices, out-of-control spending, a border crisis, and shrinking manufacturing. Today, inflation is down, energy costs are stabilizing, domestic production is ramping back up, and consumer confidence is returning.

And this is only the beginning. President Trump has put us back on the right track, and tomorrow in the Poconos, he’ll lay out how we build on this momentum by accelerating economic growth, strengthening supply chains, lowering costs even further, and expanding opportunity for families and businesses. I’ll continue to stand with President Trump as we work to rebuild prosperity and deliver long-term results for the American people. Click here or below to watch.

In the lead-up to the President's visit to Mount Pocono on Tuesday, I conducted an interview on "Mornings with Maria" on Fox Business. We discussed our successful efforts to correct the Biden administration's and Democrats' failures, and the groundwork that President Trump and Republicans have laid for a successful economic rebound. We also touched on efforts to rein in the high costs of health care and health insurance. Click here or below to watch.

I joined "The Situation Room" on CNN to discuss the President's visit and the progress his administration and Congressional Republicans have made in combating the 20% rise in inflation during the Biden administration. Click here or below to watch.

Later, I joined "NewsNation Now" on NewsNation to discuss the rally and rebut our failed Pennsylvania Governor's comments. Click here or below to watch.

On Wednesday, I joined "Varney & Co." on Fox Business to recap the President's visit to Pennsylvania and further discussed the economy and fixing broken Obamacare. Click here or below to watch.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: After four years of the Democrats' failed economy and record-high inflation, President Trump is delivering on his campaign promise to supercharge our economy and deliver real affordability for hardworking Americans.

President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut Act (One Big Beautiful Bill) is the most pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family legislation in history – lowering costs and putting Americans first. 
 

 The Working Families Tax Cut Act delivers historic wins for the American people: 

• Babies born in the U.S. will receive a $1,000 Trump Account. 
• Increases take-home pay by over $10,000 a year for typical hardworking families.
• The largest tax cut in history for working and middle-class Americans.
• No Tax On Tips or Overtime.
• No Tax on Social Security.
• No Tax on Made in America Auto Loans.
• Removes 1.4 million illegal aliens off Medicaid, strengthening it for Americans who need it. 
• Delivers 100% expensing for new domestic factories.
• Rescinds BILLIONS in Green New SCAM funding.

While President Trump delivers real relief, Democrats fought this bill every step of the way— defending trillion-dollar spending binges on free healthcare for illegal immigrants and a radical green agenda that drove prices through the roof.

At the House Committee on Small Business hearing on Wednesday, we heard directly from veteran entrepreneurs and small business owners on how we can ensure they have the tools and resources necessary to thrive.

The 9th Congressional District is home to more than 45,000 veterans, many of whom own a small business, and they deserve stronger transition support, reduced burdensome regulations, and assured access to capital and loans. Programs like TAP are supposed to prepare service members for civilian life, yet as we heard today, the system still has a way to go. SBA, the VA, and DOL must work hand-in-hand to modernize these programs and deliver the support our veterans deserve. Click here or below to watch.

At a recent Financial Services Committee Republicans hearing, I spoke about our work to unleash AI’s full potential. With the investment and energy dominance needed to support this growing infrastructure, my home state of Pennsylvania is doing everything we can to make sure America wins the race.

But this rapid growth brings serious risks. We’re already seeing scams, fraud, profiling, and other threats becoming more sophisticated. AI is an incredibly strong tool for detecting and shutting down these schemes, but it can also create them, which is why our oversight matters.

I highlighted Google's work uncovering the Chinese-linked Lighthouse operation that targeted Americans with fake EZ-Pass and postal service messages—scams my own constituents encounter far too often. We also heard from Nasdaq about how AI is helping investors get better trade execution through their Dynamic M-ELO system.

AI offers enormous opportunity, but we must stay focused on stopping the bad actors while putting these tools to work for consumers, markets, and America’s economic future. Click here or below to watch.

I rose in strong support of the INVEST Act, led by Chairman Congressman French Hill and Chairman Ann Wagner—legislation that broadens opportunities for everyday Americans to invest in public and private markets, and expands access to capital.

It also includes my ACCESS Act, which lifts outdated crowdfunding limits so small businesses aren’t forced to burn their early capital on unnecessary accounting costs.

This is a significant bipartisan step that puts everyday Americans first and fuels growth on Main Street, not just Wall Street. Click here or below.

On Saturday, we marked 389 years of the National Guard! Fort Indiantown Gap, home to the Pennsylvania National Guard, is located in Pennsylvania’s Ninth District and plays a key role in training those who stand ready to serve. Since 1636, Guardsmen have served with dedication and have always lived up to the motto “Always Ready, Always There.”

On Thursday, Shelley and I joined colleagues from both sides of the aisle at the White House Christmas Party, graciously hosted by First Lady Melania Trump and President Trump. We were grateful to share a special evening with fellow Members of Congress, their families, and members of the President’s Cabinet. The spirit of the season was on full display, and hearing the President share his holiday wishes was a fitting reminder of what this time of year is all about.

Over the weekend, I attended events at the annual Pennsylvania Society weekend. This year, they honored former U.S. Ambassador David Cohen. David, whom I have known for over 20 years, is someone I have always had the utmost respect for and appreciate his service to our Commonwealth and country. I consider him a good friend. After receiving the Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement at the Pennsylvania Society, David attended Chuck Volpe’s after-party and sat down for an interview.

It was great to see many friends and supporters as we celebrated the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(Pictured with David Cohen and Chuck Volpe)

(Pictured below with Jeff Bartos, Senator Dave McCormick, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler)

(Pictured below with State Treasurer and GOP gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity)

(Pictured below with Kevin Hassert. Great guy, super-smart, focused on growing America and making us stronger… Perhaps the future Fed Chairman)

(Pictured below at the Pennsylvania Society dinner with our good friend Chuck Volpe and his wife, Ellen)

May God continue to bless our nation. I look forward to seeing you soon,