June 11, 2022

ENSURING OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE

As the nation continues to mourn the tragic shooting in Uvalde, I joined my House Republican colleagues in cosponsoring two pieces of legislation that would redirect billions worth of unused ARPA funding towards hardening our schools and protecting our children in the classroom. The Securing our Students Act will implement evidence-driven safety measures that protect our children and foster safe learning environments. The Secure Every School and Protect our Nation's Children Act will prioritize school resource officers and mental health counselors, close loopholes in security, and ensure emergency preparedness. 

I am proud to support legislation that addresses the root causes of gun violence, such as mental health, not legislation that furthers Democrats' own gun control agenda and strips Americans of their Constitutional rights - neither of which would have done anything to prevent the shooting.

YOU NEVER CHANGE ANYTHING YOU'RE WILLING TO TOLERATE

Over the weekend, I joined the Great America Show with Lou Dobbs to discuss the Republican party's fight against socialism, the importance of strengthening state laws, and to share a story of a special moment between my son and President Donald J. Trump. Click here to listen to the full episode.

ILLUMINATING THE PATH OF LIFE FOR ALL EXPECTANT MOTHERS

As a father of six amazing children, three of whom came into our lives through the blessing of adoption, I could not be more proud to represent and reside in the most pro-life state in the nation. I applaud Governor Stitt and all of those who fought for us to get here. While we celebrate this victory, it’s impossible not to acknowledge the tragic reality of what lies on the other side of this debate.

Our society must do better than offering expectant mothers cruel and inhumane ways to kill their children. For those who experience an unplanned pregnancy, it is shameful that many in America have led them to believe that abortion is the only choice.

As Christians, as parents, as neighbors, it’s necessary we assure expectant mothers that they are not alone and that this lie is just that: a lie and nothing else. The pro-life movement stands strongly in support of providing the resources necessary for mothers to embrace life.

This commitment is demonstrated by the more than 2,700 pregnancy care centers across the country that serve millions of people annually, offering services such as counseling, material assistance, care coordination, and housing support. There are also 3,000 adoption agencies across the United States working to find children a loving home.

In the Second District alone, there’s a long list of centers that work day-in and day-out to serve expectant mothers, offering them hope for the future and a reason to believe in life. Examples of these centers include the Pregnancy Center of Bryan County, Agape Pregnancy Center in Okmulgee, and Compassion Women’s Center in Claremore, to name a few.

I couldn’t be more grateful for the Oklahomans who have made it their life’s mission to fight for life. While the country awaits the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision, we must continue to remind our loved ones and friends that there is support for those who need it. I believe every child is fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator, and it’s an honor to support pro-life initiatives in Congress alongside so many who do the same across our state and our country.

WORKING IN WASHINGTON

Thank you to those who took their time to meet with me in Washington, D.C. this week. I was blessed that my wife Christie was in town this week and was able to join a few of our meetings too. 

Thank you to Tim and Ray from the National Grocers Association for stopping by today! We discussed the importance of independent grocers in rural communities like the ones in the Second District.

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Sara Neumann, an audiologist for Hearts for Hearing. We discussed the great work she does for those in the Second District and across Oklahoma who are suffering from hearing loss. 

Thank you to Denise and Jane from the American Nurses Association for taking the time to meet with me this afternoon. Nurses play a vital role in America’s health care system, and it's important we address the ways we can best support them.

I had the chance to meet with representatives from the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. We discussed my bipartisan bill, the Medicaid VBPs for Patients (MVP) Act, and how value-based payment models will open the door to more innovation and cures for patients.

More than half of the nation will be facing increased risks of power outages this summer as a direct result of the Biden Administration’s climate agenda. I joined my Republican colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee in sending letters to Secretary Jennifer Granholm and FERC demanding action and answers in response to these warnings. Blackouts are extremely dangerous, and I believe Americans deserve to know what the administration is doing to ensure their safety. Ignoring the problem is not the answer. Click here for more information on how the House Energy and Commerce Committee is fighting for your safety and America’s well-being.

ADVOCATING FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

On Thursday, I led nine of my Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, urging the Secretary to abandon his proposed provisions to white collar overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Further raising the minimum salary to qualify for overtime pay exemptions will do nothing but cripple small business owners who recently survived the pandemic, only to now face ongoing supply chain disruptions, record-high inflation, and labor shortages. Click here to read the letter. 

HONORING THE GREATEST GENERATION

“The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!” – General Dwight D. Eisenhower

On June 6, 1944, Americans soldiers and Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in the fight against true evil. On Tuesday, we recognized the 78^th anniversary of D-Day to honor and remember the courage of these brave troops.

WEEKLY WRAP UP

Democrats can't have their cake and eat it too. Despite the fact they sounded the alarm on domestic terrorists for years, they were silent when a suspect was apprehended outside Justice Kavanaugh's home with a gun in an attempt to kill him. They even blocked a bill in Congress this week to provide more security for the justices and their families. You can watch this week's wrap up on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

Thank you for reading my weekly e-newsletter! You can stay in touch by visiting my Facebook and Twitter pages and as always, don’t hesitate to contact me if I can help in any way. Watch 

Votes for the week of June 6, 2022:

H.R. 7910 Protecting Our Kids Act (NO)

H.R. 7352 PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act (YES)

H.R. 7334 COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act (YES)

H.R. 5879 Hubzone Price Evaluation Preference Clarification Act (YES)

H.R. 7622 Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act (YES)

H.R. 7664 Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act (YES)

H.R. 7670 Women-Owned Small Business Program Transparency Act (YES)

H.R. 7694 Strengthening Subcontracting for Small Businesses Act (YES)

H.R. 7776 Water Resources Development Act (YES)

H.R. 7667 Food and Drug Amendments Act (YES)

H.R. 2377 Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (NO)