Over 500 K-12 schools across the United States have allowed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to establish itself in their halls under the guise of Confucius Classrooms, threatening to undermine American values and interests. As Chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, I helped advance three bills that passed the House this week to increase transparency and accountability in K-12 education, including the PROTECT Our Kids Act, CLASS Act, and TRACE Act. These bills would protect students by combating foreign interference in our classrooms, ensuring transparency in school funding, and empowering parents by ensuring they know who is funding their child’s education and whether there are strings attached.
Ahead of the 84th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I had the opportunity to honor a local hero and World War II veteran from Jackson, Herb Elfring, who passed away last year at the age of 102. Herb was one of the last known survivors of Pearl Harbor and dedicated his life to helping veterans, including by founding the non-profit One Stop Veteran Resources and mentoring young veterans. To recognize the life and legacy of this local hero, I introduced legislation to rename the Jackson VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic after Herb. I was fortunate enough to meet Herb before his passing and hear firsthand about his experiences during World War II and the bravery he displayed while defending our freedoms. By renaming the clinic after Herb, we will pay tribute to his legacy, which lives on through his non-profit and the many lives he has touched.
U.S. households pay an average of $16,016 annually in hidden regulatory taxes. This week, the House passed two pieces of legislation to reduce red tape and lower costs for hardworking Michiganders. The first bill, the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act, would prevent the Small Business Administration (SBA) from issuing regulations that will increase costs for small businesses to drive down costs for hardworking families. The House also passed the DUMP Red Tape Act, which would help small business owners report overly burdensome or unnecessary federal regulations to the SBA Office of Advocacy. By continuing to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses, we can make life more affordable for Americans.
On Tuesday, the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a legislative hearing on my bill, COPPA 2.0. This legislation would build upon the only online privacy law for children, COPPA, by prohibiting targeted advertising, establishing data minimization rules, and preventing internet companies from collecting personal information for both children and teenagers. We must protect young users from the many threats they face online in the digital age.
Meeting with Local Leaders
I had the privilege of presenting a congressional tribute to Art Kale, the Village Manager of Homer, to congratulate him on his retirement and recognize him for his meaningful career of service. While Art’s time at the Village comes to an end, his dedication and impact on the community will be felt for years to come. Art and I recently worked together to secure funding for a community project in Homer as part of the government funding bill signed into law by President Trump last month. This funding will allow the village to make critical water infrastructure improvements, strengthening its resiliency and ensuring the reliable, safe operation of Homer’s water delivery system for its residents.
