Visit to Tyler Truss Systems
Last week, I visited Tyler Truss Systems in Pendleton, a leading manufacturer of trusses, which are used to support stages and hold equipment for concerts and events in stadiums and other venues. We discussed my bipartisan RESTART Act and how it can help save the live entertainment production industry which supports more than 10 million jobs nationwide.
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Major Tool and Machine Visit
Founded in Indy in 1946, Major Tool and Machine has over 400 highly skilled employees operating five manufacturing facilities on their campus. On Tuesday, I visited their facility and discussed the manufacturing sector in Indiana and how we’re supporting them during this time of uncertainty.
Roundtable with Corn and Soybean Farmers
Last week, I stopped by Chris and Sylvia Jackson’s family farm in New Washington to meet with farmers from the Indiana Corn Growers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance. We focused on how broadband funding, coronavirus food assistance funding, and trade can help Hoosier agriculture with coronavirus recovery.
Law Enforcement Roundtable
On Friday, I met with law enforcement in Clark and Floyd Counties to discuss criminal justice reform and ways to improve transparency within our police force. We agreed defunding the police won't bring the policy changes we need. Instead, we must identify realistic solutions to improve the criminal justice system and support our law enforcement.
New Op-ed: Save America From Communism
My new op-ed published by American Mind is on the importance of protecting free speech.
Free people become and stay free because of open dialogue, because of the exchange of information and ideas, even ones we disagree with; because of patience with perspectives that are not our own; because we study our history and celebrate its highs and learn from its lows. That is why it was painful to read recently that 62% of Americans are now hesitant to admit their beliefs or air their opinions for fear of offending others and the associated consequences. But this is the logical reaction when Americans are regularly canceled for things said or written decades ago with no chance of grace or allowance for growth.
The freedom to raise our voices and state our opinions, to disagree and debate, are what make us American, and these freedoms must be protected. Read the full American Mind op-ed, here.
Nearly $15 Million in Grant Funding for Hoosier Airports
Last week, the United States Department of Transportation announced more than $15 million in grant funding for airports in Huntington, Indianapolis, Warsaw, Columbus, and South Bend. Funding for these infrastructure projects will help advance my goals of ensuring that these airports can continue to safely and effectively serve Hoosier travelers and businesses.
I’ll continue to advocate for investments that strengthen our state’s infrastructure so we can remain the Crossroads of America. More here and here.
Double Track Funding is a Major Step Forward for Northwest Indiana
On Wednesday, the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) announced that it will allocate $50.6 million to the South Shore Line Double Track Project. This is a major step forward for a project that has been at the top of Northwest Indiana Hoosiers’ wish list for years and years, and a top Indiana infrastructure priority of mine. This down payment complements the tireless work local and state leaders have already done to see this game-changing project through.
The $50.6 million award is a portion of the $173 million in federal funding requested to add a second track stretching more than 26 miles from Gary to Michigan City. Additionally, platform upgrades will be made at five stops along the line.
Click here to learn more.
Third Anniversary of the Rohingya Genocide
Last week, I joined a bipartisan group of Senators on a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging the Trump administration to take additional action to support the Rohingya community, to hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities, and to refer to these crimes by their proper term: genocide.
Since August 25, 2017, close to 800,000 Rohingya have fled violence in Burma by escaping into neighboring Bangladesh. Most of them are living in refugee camps in horrific conditions, joining hundreds of thousands of other Rohingya forced to flee from Burma due to widespread government-sanctioned violence.
Throughout this time, the systemic campaign of violence against the Rohingya has been well-documented by the State Department and many others. The Burmese military has murdered thousands of Rohingya, committed horrific human rights abuses such as rape and sexual violence, destroyed hundreds of villages, thrown children and babies into fires, and used mass graves to attempt to conceal their reprehensible crimes.
With Indiana being home to the largest Rohingya population in the United States, it is my duty to ensure that those responsible for these human rights abuses are held accountable.
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