Combating Human Trafficking

Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act

January 10, 2026

Combating Human Trafficking

On Thursday, my bill, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act, was advanced by the Education and Workforce Committee. This vital legislation would provide Department of Labor staff with the tools and knowledge needed to detect and confront human trafficking and protect vulnerable people, including women and children, from exploitation. One of the biggest obstacles we face in the fight against human trafficking is a lack of awareness. The Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act will ensure DOL investigators and other employees are equipped with the knowledge they need to help catch traffickers and stop them from inflicting harm.

Pressing for Answers on Fraud

This week, I sent letters to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison amid reports of improper payments and misuse of taxpayer dollars in Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program. Whistleblower accounts and prior enforcement actions suggest that instances of improper billing, falsified attendance records, and noncompliance with licensing requirements have been identified over multiple years. These concerns underscore the importance of evaluating whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent improper payments and detect misconduct in a timely manner.

Reducing Costs for Families

After delivering historic economic relief in the Working Families Tax Cuts last year, House Republicans started the new year by passing more legislation to lower costs for hardworking Michiganders. This week, the House passed the Affordable HOMES Act, which would cut burdensome federal regulations to make homebuilding affordable for families and communities. Under the Biden administration, home costs doubled, mortgage rates hit their highest in decades, and rents surged. Now, Republicans are lowering the cost of building a new house by removing duplicative manufactured housing regulations. We'll continue to make life more affordable for hardworking Michigan families.

Securing Funding for Our Community

On Thursday, House Republicans continued the process of restoring to regular order by passing a package of 3 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. In this legislation, I was able to secure critical federal funding to support projects across Michigan's 5th District to improve water infrastructure and bolster the emergency communications system. The package also included priorities to lower costs for families, strengthen public safety, and restore our energy dominance.

Empowering Our Farmers

On Monday, I joined the Monroe County Farm Bureau for a roundtable to discuss their vital work and my efforts to ensure they have the certainty and stability they need to thrive. To empower farmers like these, I voted for the historic Working Families Tax Cuts legislation that also provides many vital tax provisions for farmers, including cutting taxes for farmers by over $10 billion. It also secures the legacy of family farming by preventing the death tax from hitting two million family-owned farms, strengthening risk management tools, investing in the farm safety net, and expanding agricultural trade and specialty crop programs to help Michigan farmers compete. Thank you for letting me stop by!