Dear Friends,
Americans in all income classes continue to suffer from record high energy prices and rapidly escalating grocery bills, fueled by the highest rate of inflation in over 40 years. President Biden’s determination to destroy our energy industry, coupled with the failed policies of the Democrat Majority, has led us here.
While they persist in doubling down on these disastrous policies and expect the American people to shoulder the burden, something I staunchly oppose is the Biden administration’s student loan agenda. Simply put, I do not believe that hardworking Americans should be responsible for paying off the student loan debt of others.
To address this, I recently introduced the Student Loan Accountability Act. This legislation prohibits the administration from canceling student loan debt on a mass scale. Their radical big government proposal would come at the expense of taxpayers – many of whom have fully paid off their student loans, worked hard to pay for their education, or chose not to enroll in college at all.
To make matters worse, Biden’s plan allows the IRS to snoop into private tax filing data in an effort to determine who qualifies for its forgiveness program – an extreme authoritarian overreach that is simply unconstitutional. Even though the President lacks statutory authority to implement a mass scale cancellation of student debt, the Student Loan Accountability Act puts this fundamentally unfair discussion to rest. Instead, Congress must focus on market driven solutions that bring down the cost of higher education, including reducing the government’s role in the student loan market.
Click here to read more about the legislation.
|
| Committee Update |
Last Wednesday, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss what the administration is doing to address inflation. As our nation is facing historically high gas prices, I discussed how President Biden promised to end fossil fuel production here in America – and how he has kept that promise at the expense of American consumers.
Click here to watch my full remarks.
|
| Fighting Back Against Biden's Inflation Crisis |
Yesterday, I joined Fox Business' Evening Edit to discuss Biden's skyrocketing inflation crisis that's impacting every single American. The President and Congressional Democrats cannot continue to allow Americans to get drained by surging prices at every turn. As I've said before, I don't think you can mess things up this bad unless you're trying to mess it up this bad – and this administration continues to mess up everything they touch. We have to stop this now and I will continue fighting back.
Click here to watch the full interview.
|
| A BIG Solution to Address Student's Mental Health |
The Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act is an important tool that would empower schools and local communities with the resources necessary to ensure the safety and health of each student. It would do so by developing best practices for schools to establish behavioral health intervention teams, which can use evidence-based tactics to identify students who are at risk of harming themselves or others and address their mental and behavioral health needs.
I recently penned an op-ed with my physician colleague, Congressman Michael Burgess, on this important bipartisan legislation. Read more of my thoughts in the Washington Examiner.
|
| The Week Ahead |
Today, we celebrate the 247th anniversary of the U.S. Army! We thank every soldier for their loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage in defending America and the freedoms we hold dear.
We also celebrate Flag Day today! There is no greater expression of freedom and democracy than the American flag. We celebrate our flag and remember all those who have served to protect it.
The House will consider the following pieces of legislation this week:
H.R. 6270 - AAIM Act, as amended
S. 516 - Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act
H.R. 2020 - Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act
H.R. 7211 - Small State and Rural Rescue Act
S. 3580 - Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022
H.R. 2773 - Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2022 (Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 2543 - Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act
H.R. 7606 - Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act (Subject to a Rule)
As always, I’m here to serve you. Please contact my office with any questions, comments, or concerns. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to keep track of upcoming legislation and events!
Sincerely,
|
|
| FOLLOW US |
|
|
| In This Edition |
- Accountability
- Committee Update
- Fighting Back Against Biden’s Inflation Crisis
- A BIG solution to Address Student's Mental Health
- The Week Ahead |
| Top News |
|
A BIG solution to gun violence
Washington Examiner
Our hearts are broken over the recent string of mass shootings. While debates stream across America, many have doubts that Congress will deliver any meaningful change.
Members of Georgia delegation look at legislative options following mass shootings
Insider Advantage
And Congressman Drew FERGUSON (R-GA-03) joined Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) in writing an op-ed in the Washington Examiner, providing a bipartisan legislative response to some of the recent mass shootings.
Fox Business’ Evening Edit
FERGUSON joins Fox Business’ Evening Edit to discuss rising inflation.
Republican Leaders Introduce Bill to Recover Unchecked Unemployment Fraud
Public
Ways and Means Republican original co-sponsors of the bill include: Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Rep. Drew FERGUSON (R-GA), Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS), Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), and Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN).
The Jolt
AJC
On the other side of the aisle, U.S. Rep. Drew FERGUSON penned an op-ed for the Washington Examiner proposing a program to share guidelines for schools to identify and intervene with students who may become a harm to themselves or others
ICYMI: Ferguson and Burgess Op-ed: “A BIG solution to gun violence”
Foreign Affairs
Today, in the Washington Examiner, Congressman Drew FERGUSON, D.M.D. (R-GA) and Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) penned an op-ed providing a bipartisan legislative response to some of the recent mass shootings. Their legislation, the Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021, or simply the BIG Act, received strong bipartisan support in the House and is waiting for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring it up for a vote in the Senate.
Ferguson Questions Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at Ways and Means Hearing
YouTube
|
|
