Congressman Allen's e-Newsletter

House votes to pass defense funding bill

On Thursday, I voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, the annual bill which authorizes and prioritizes funding for the Department of Defense (DOD).

This year's NDAA removes Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for our military.

Additionally, this bill secures funding for missions at the Savannah River Site and Fort Gordon and ensures that our men and women in uniform will have the resources necessary to keep America safe. Especially in a time of increased global threats, this NDAA will empower our Armed Forces to continue enacting peace through strength.

Bill honoring late Senator Isakson signed into law

This week, S. 4359, the Senator Johnny Isakson VA Regional Office Act, was signed into law. This bill renames the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Atlanta after the late, great Senator.

I was honored to co-lead identical legislation in the House, H.R. 8350, alongside Democratic Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), to designate the facility as a monument to recognize Sen. Isakson’s lifetime of service to our veterans.

A separate bill to rename the Atlanta VA hospital after late Sen. Max Cleland was also signed into law this week after having passed Congress with my support last month.

Protecting Americans' retirement savings

The Ensuring Sound Guidance (ESG) Act, a bill I introduced with Congressman Andy Barr (KY-6), was the subject of a recent feature story in the Daily Mail.

Our bill would require retirement plan fiduciaries to prioritize monetary factors when making investment decisions on behalf of workers and retirees. This comes as the Biden administration recently proposed a rule allowing asset managers to make investment decisions that take into account environmental or social goals, not just financial returns.

In a time of economic hardship, we should be prioritizing workers’ and retirees’ investments instead of Green New Deal-type initiatives.

You can read the full article here.

National Bible Week

Last week was National Bible Week and I joined my colleagues in delivering remarks on the House Floor to mark the occasion.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt convened the inaugural celebration of National Bible Week in 1941, because he recognized the Bible is an eternal source of hope.

I believe, as President Roosevelt believed, in the awesome power of God's word.

Click here to listen to my full remarks.

Joining SiriusXM Patriot's Wilkow Majority

Last week, I spoke to Andrew Wilkow about the Biden administration's failure to confront the many crises it has created through poor policymaking and inaction.

From neglecting our southern border to spending countless sums of taxpayer money, Democrats are taking our country down the wrong path.

Under the new Republican majority, the House of Representatives will once again focus on advancing common-sense legislation. Click here to listen to the full interview.

Apparo Academy Building Dedication

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the building dedication for Apparo Academy in Augusta.

Our community is blessed to have Apparo Academy that nurtures and supports students with individualized education, therapy, and integration to meet their needs.

Meeting with Columbus State University President

As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I always appreciate the chance to catch up with our state's leaders in higher education.

This week, I met with Dr. John Fuchko III. Dr. Fuchko serves as President of Columbus State University and also as Vice Chancellor for Organizational Effectiveness for the University System of Georgia.

Remembering the attack on Pearl Harbor

This week, we marked the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that occurred on December 7, 1941. We must never allow the memory of these American heroes to fade. We must always honor their sacrifice.

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Sincerely,

Rick Allen
Member of Congress