I had the distinct honor of welcoming the Northeast Oklahoma (NEO) Veterans Freedom Tour to Washington, D.C. this week. This group of 67 veterans was able to tour the war memorials and monuments dedicated to their service to our country, free of cost. An incredible range of veterans were in attendance, including those who have served from the Korean War, all the way to the war in Afghanistan, and across all branches. I could not be more thrilled to have had the privilege to greet them. God bless our veterans for their service.

Last year, Democrats used their second impeachment resolution to once again weaponize one of the most grave and consequential powers of the House. This was never about the Constitution; it was rooted in personal politics. On Wednesday, I led 28 colleagues in introducing a resolution to expunge the second impeachment of President Trump and hereby clear his name as history tells it. Click here to read more about the resolution.

THE PRICE OF INFLATION

Hard-working Americans don’t need the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) to confirm what they have been experiencing for months: pain.

Even at face value, however, the CPI remains above eight percent, inflation remains at a 40-year record high, and Americans are left shouldering the burden. Shelves across the country are bare, gas prices are at an all-time high, and small businesses are struggling to stay afloat amid supply chain issues and increased production costs. According to CNBC, inflation is costing U.S. households nearly $300 more per month. 

Democrats dismissed inflation as “transitory” while they continued to recklessly spend your taxpayer dollars. From the American Rescue Plan’s $1.9 trillion price tag, to the $1.2 trillion “Infrastructure” bill, to the proposed $5 trillion Build Back Better spending bill, Democrats seem numb to the magnitude of “trillion.” 

This is not monopoly money. In February, our national debt broke $30 trillion for the first time ever. That equates to $91,000 per American. Now, your children will have to pay for President Biden’s inflation too.

The consequences of inflation are hitting Oklahomans disproportionately hard. The majority of businesses in the Second District are small businesses. After surviving the pandemic, small business owners now face the challenge of raising their prices and absorbing higher costs. For example, fertilizer costs are up 220 percent. Additionally, transporting goods across Oklahoma’s rural landscape now comes at a higher cost.

Despite claims to the American people that he is doing “everything in his power” to alleviate the pain at the pump, President Biden’s actions tell us anything but. Joe Biden’s administration has stifled our domestic production, meaning gas prices will continue to rise as he continues to push his green priorities. Just last week, his administration canceled three leases off the coast of Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, meaning there will be no further oil and gas lease sales this year. That doesn’t sound like lower prices to me.

Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. At the beginning of this month, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by an entire half percent. This is the sharpest increase in 22 years. Higher interest rates will make it more expensive to buy a car, mortgage a home, and carry a credit-card balance. Not to mention, recent talks of canceling student loan debt would increase inflation if they are indeed carried out.

The American people elect their officials to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. If inflation is a “top priority” of President Biden’s as he says, he should start acting like it.

THE BLAME GAME CONTINUES

Democrats have shifted the blame of surging gas prices so many times, they can't keep straight who or what is to blame. This week? Price gouging. Let me be clear: the pain American's are feeling at the pump is directly correlated to the Biden Administration's assault on American energy. Gas prices have increased every single month under the Biden Administration. In fact, the average price of a gallon of gas broke a new record high nine days in a row over the past two weeks.

For this reason, I opposed H.R. 7688, the Socialist Energy Price Fixing Act. Government price controls on oil and gas were tried before in the 1970s, which resulted in decreased production, massive shortages and rationing, and mile-long lines at the pump. This is not the answer to the pain at the pump. We must unleash domestic production and support our producers here at home. This support includes streamlining permitting processes, approving pipeline projects, restarting leases on federal lands and waters, and permitting the construction of LNG exports.

WORKING IN WASHINGTON

I'm glad to return home to the great state of Oklahoma after a productive week in Washington. In between the large volume of votes and committee hearings and markups, I had the chance to meet with a good amount of you and discuss issues relevant to the Second District.

Thank you to Paula and Jim from Bikers in the Beltway for stopping by. We discussed ways to keep motorcyclists safe on the road.

Thank you to Tim Starkey from the Great Salt Plains Health Center and Scott Rosenthal, CEO of NEOHealth and OKPCA Board President for taking their time to meet.

I met with oil executives from the American Exploration & Production Council to hear firsthand the state of the industry. We spoke about the Biden Administration's assault on our domestic energy production including the stifling regulations they have put on the industry.

Thank you to the Alzheimer's Association for taking the time to meet this week. I couldn't be more grateful for the work they do to provide resources, advance research, and improve the lives of those suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Thank you to the representatives from Better Medicare Alliance for stopping by!

I had a productive meeting with the American College of Physician (ACP) Services this week. We discussed health care policies and how they pertain to the needs of the state.

WEEKLY WRAP UP

Votes for the week of May 16th:

H.R. 6824 President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act (NO)

H.R. 6825 Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act (NO)

H.R. 5658 DHS Roles and Responsibilities in Cyber Space Act (NO)

H.R. 7309 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (NO)

S. 2520 State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act (YES)

H.R. 6873 Bombing Prevention Act (YES)

H.R. 6871 DHS Acquisition Reform Act (YES)

H.R. 6868 Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act (YES)

S. 3527 To authorize the VA Secretary to transfer the name of one VA property designated by law to other VA property (YES)

S. 1760 To designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs planned to be built in Oahu, Hawaii, as the “Daniel Kahikina Akaka Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic” (YES)

S. 2514 To rename the Provo Veterans Center in Orem, Utah, as the “Col. Gail S. Halvorsen ‘Candy Bomber’ Veterans Center” (YES)

H.R. 7500 Fiscal Year 2022 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act (YES)

H.R. 5754 Patient Advocate Tracker Act (YES)

H.R. 6604 Veterans Eligibility to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act (YES)

S. 2687 Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act (YES)

H.R. 7375 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update the payment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow for electronic fund transfer of educational assistance, administered by the Secretary, to a foreign institution of higher education (YES)

H.R. 6376 Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act (NO)

H.R. 7153 Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act (YES)

H.R. 6531 Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act (NO)

S. 2938 – Designating the “Joseph Woodrow Hatchett United States Courthouse and Federal Building” and the “Lynn C. Woolsey Post Office Building” (NO)

H. Res. 1125 Condemning Rising Antisemitism (YES)

H.R. 5738 Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act (YES)

H.R. 7335 MST Claims Coordination Act (YES)

H.R. 6961 Dignity for MST Survivors Act (YES)

H.R. 6064 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a review of examinations, furnished by the Secretary, to individuals who submit claims to the Secretary for compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for mental and physical conditions linked to military sexual trauma (YES)

H.R. 7791 Access to Baby Formula Act (YES)

H.R. 7790 Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act (NO)

H.R. 350 Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (NO)

H.R. 2992 TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act (YES)

H.R. 6943 Public Safety Officer Support Act (YES)

H.R. 2724 VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act (YES)

S. 4089 Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act (YES)

H.R. 6052 Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act (YES)

S. 2533 Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act (YES)

S. 2102 Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act (YES)

H.R. 7688 Socialist Energy Price Fixing Act (NO)