Dear Friend,

This week, I was selected by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to serve as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics. The Committee on Ethics is a bipartisan committee comprised of 10 total members — five Republicans and five Democrats — that provides mandatory ethics trainings for Members and those employed at the House of Representatives, investigates alleged violations of the House rules by Members, officers, and staff, and reviews financial disclosure statements filed by Members, candidates, senior staff, and shared staff.

It’s necessary that the People’s House maintain the ethical standards of the people who elected us. I’m honored to lead the committee that will maintain the level of integrity that the American people expect from their Representatives.

"I’m proud to reappoint Michael Guest to the Ethics Committee. As Chair, he will work to maintain standards and restore the integrity of this institution. He will put the mission of the People’s House above all else and will help deliver transparency to the American people."

- Speaker Kevin McCarthy

Defending the Right to Life

On Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a pro-abortion event marking the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. In her speech, she referenced a portion of the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, which reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

In her speech, however, Vice President Harris omitted "Life" and "Creator" when referencing the founding document, which fundamentally changes the meaning of the original text. It should not be acceptable to change or omit portions of our founding documents, even to make an argument convincing. It is clear that the Founding Fathers intentionally included Life as an unalienable right of the American people that was endowed by our Creator, and that should never be forgotten by any elected official no matter their position. 

I have been a committed voice for the Right to Life movement in Congress, and I will continue to speak out on this issue to defend America's voiceless, unborn children. You can watch my speech on the House floor recognizing the importance of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision and how the fight for life should be the single unifying issue in our country. 

"[Congressman Michael Guest] and the House Pro-Life Caucus Chair Chris Smith helped lead the amicus brief in support of Mississippi's Dobbs case. The amicus brief was joined by more than 200 Members of Congress, including myself, and urged the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. [Congressman Guest] was instrumental in that fight."

- Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach

Mr. Speaker, on July 4, 1776 our Founding Fathers in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence wrote these words that formed the very foundation of our great nation:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

I stand before you today to say that we cannot, and we will not, forget the duty of this Congress to defend the unalienable Right of Life.

We will not forget the devastating impact that Roe v. Wade caused to families and to the unborn.

That devastation would have continued if Dobbs v. Jackson, a case that proudly originated in my home state of Mississippi, had not come before the Supreme Court and opened the pathway to allow states to protect the Right to Life.

If our great nation can unite around any singular issue, it should be that life is sacred, life is a gift from God, and that life should be protected.

Restoring America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve

This week, the House of Representatives is considering legislation that would require the Department of Energy to develop a plan to increase domestic oil and gas production on federal lands whenever the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is drawn down for non-emergency events. 

The SPR is meant to be used during emergencies, such as in times of war or natural disasters. However, following President Biden's early failures with his energy policies that led to record high gas prices, the President began syphoning oil from the SPR. This maneuver addressed the symptoms, but not the causes, of the energy crisis we saw last year, and it has weakened our national security. 

Currently, the SPR is at its lowest levels in almost 40 years, leaving America vulnerable to a serious energy crisis should an emergency arise in the United States. The legislation proposed by Republicans would require increased domestic energy production to help refill the SPR if assets are drawn down in non-emergency scenarios. I plan to support this legislation, which is an important step towards the Republican goal of restoring America's energy independence.