Friends,
Are you worried about the future of our nation?
As a dad and your congressman, I continually think about the kind of future and opportunities the next generation of Americans will have. According to a recent poll, an astonishing 75% of Americans are experiencing economic hardship largely because of ineffective policies by President Joe Biden and House Democrats. The cost of goods across the board continue to rise due to rapid inflation and prices at the pump remain near record highs nationwide. American families cannot afford these price hikes, yet Democrats in Washington have continuously stalled efforts to address them properly and have largely doubled down on their reckless spending.
Last week, House Democrats pushed through a massive appropriations package that will likely make America’s inflation crisis even worse by recklessly increasing federal spending on misguided, progressive projects. Their bill includes massive budget increases for government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as well as for partisan “Green New Deal” provisions that take little account for whether they will work or how this will impact you directly. They also open the door for your tax dollars to fund abortions.
At a time when inflation is forcing folks to dip into their savings just to get by, the last thing we need is more borrowing and spending on programs that don’t address the real challenges impacting you and your family. Instead, Congress must take steps to lower needless spending, increase private sector growth and lower costs. A key part of this is unleashing American energy in all forms – a move that will lower fuel prices and create jobs across the country. As your congressman, I will continue to work to implement these reforms and make life easier for you and your family.
Beyond their spending package, last week House Democrats also continued their attack on your constitutional right to bear arms by advancing an “assault weapons” ban. Democrats imposed a similar ban in 1994 and it did little to stop violent crime or prevent tragedies like Columbine. Like red flag laws, this new ban may sound reasonable to some, but it would have little or no impact in the real world.
Unfortunately, time and time again, Washington Democrats rush to advance gun control measures like bans or red flag laws because it makes them feel better. However, data and experiences have proven that taking guns away from law-abiding citizens does not work and leaves folks unable to defend themselves. Just last week, we saw the importance of this when a brave 22-year-old with a conceal carry permit stopped a mass shooter at an Indiana mall.
I have been a strong and vocal defender of the Second Amendment since my first day in Congress and I will always defend the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. Additionally, I will continue to promote commonsense solutions to address the root causes of gun violence and protect your family. This includes provisions like my STOP II, Secure Every School and Protect our Nation’s Children Act which would use unspent COVID-19 funds to protect schools, improve mental health, and save lives.
While the majority in Congress has focused on unnecessary spending and gun grabs, I focused last week on advancing solutions for an increasingly important area of our lives: data protection.
On Wednesday, the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. This bipartisan measure is a major step forward to establish national data privacy protections for all Americans by creating provisions to limit Big Tech’s ability to track and share data about your online activity, as well as increases protections for kids using online platforms. As this bill is considered by the House, I will continue to support efforts to protect your online security.
There is plenty to be worried or frustrated about when it comes to the future of our nation. Rest assured I will continue to focus on growing our economy, defending your rights, and delivering solutions for the issues that matter most.
Until Next Week,
