This week, the House Republican Conference introduced our “Commitment to America” agenda for the 118^th Congress. For the past two years, American families have suffered under Democrat policies. Inflation has shrunk paychecks and increased costs. Children have suffered severe education loss reversing years of learning. An out-of-control border crisis has allowed fentanyl to flow into our communities, making it the leading cause of death in Americans ages 18 to 45. Violent crime has put innocent people in danger.

In response to the concerns of the American people, the House Republicans explained how their agenda would create an economy that's strong, a nation that's safe, a future that's built on freedom, and a government that's accountable.

To create an economy that’s strong, we must:

Tackle inflation
Lower the cost of living and reduce gas prices
Make America energy independent
Strengthen the supply chain
End dependence on China

To create a nation that’s safe, we must:

Secure our southern border and combat illegal immigration
Reduce crime and protect public safety by funding the policy and military to keep us safe at home

To create a future that’s built on freedom, we must:

Make sure every student can succeed and give parents a voice
Demand fairness from Big Tech to protect our freedom of speech
Protect the 2^nd Amendment

To create a government that’s accountable, we must:

Preserve our Constitutional freedoms
Restore the People’s voice
Hold Washington accountable
oversight of the FBI targeting former President Donald Trump and his supporters
oversight of the southern border crisis and enforcement of immigration laws
oversight of FBI targeting parents at school board meetings

House Republicans believe America is exceptional. But for the past two years, Democrat policies have created crisis after crisis at the expense of the American people, but we will not allow it any longer. The Commitment to America represents a new direction and better approach that will get our nation back on track. Starting Day One, we will work to deliver an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future that’s built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable.

H.R. 8873 – Presidential Election Overhaul Act – NO

Would allow a candidate who had lost after all votes were counted to be granted additional voting days after election day.
Gives candidates the ability to broadly define “catastrophic events” -- which could include major natural disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic or acts of terrorism -- and extend balloting up to 5 days in a Presidential Election, in some cases requesting this extension up to a full day after polls close.
Fails to prevent “another January 6^th” but instead uses the events that occurred that day to completely change decades-old voting laws.

S. 1098 – Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act – NO

Implementation of this bill is estimated to take between 12 and 18 months, meaning borrowers who are victims of domestic abuse could be left waiting while the abuser would be eligible to sue the victim for violating the loan contract.
Will result in the Biden administration expanding the pool of borrowers eligible for administration’s unlawful student debt cancellation.

H.R. 4118 – Funding Violent Cities Act – NO

Validates the Defund the Police movement by providing additional funding to mental health services rather than law enforcement.
Funnels money to highly liberal cities by having a homicide rate criteria.

H.R. 8542 – Mental Health Instead of Justice Act – NO

Allows grant funding to go to programs that seek to replace law enforcement with mental health professionals that respond to emergency situations.
Authorizes $250 million for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 for the grant program.

H.R. 6448 – Invest to Protect Act – YES

Creates a new grant program at the Department of Justice focused on improving the recruitment and retention of local law enforcement and providing training and access to mental health resources.
Keeps American communities safe by funding our police and the resources/training they need to carry out their duties effectively.

H.R. 5768 – VICTIM Act – NO

Fails to address the root cause of large backlogs which is cities taking funding away from their police departments due to their support for the defund the police movement.
This new grant program is authorized at $100 million dollars per fiscal year for ten years.

Transportation Today

Republican House Transportation Committee members call for review of SEPTA contract

U.S. Rep. Sam Groves (R-MO) joined U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Rick Crawford (R-AR) in calling for a review of a railcar contract from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

Groves, the ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said there were questions regarding whether SEPTA’s contract with China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation MA (CRRC MA) met federal Buy America guidelines. Davis, the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and Crawford, the ranking member of the House Subcommittee for Hazardous Materials, joined Grove in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General (IG).