Delivering Results For You

October 16, 2021
e-Newsletter Archive

This week, I introduced H.R. 5552, Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, with Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) to strengthen federal initiatives aimed at childhood lead screening, reporting, and prevention. The bill also codifies into law the CDC's Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and tasks the committee with making recommendations and reporting to Congress and the public on lead poisoning prevention best practices. Unfortunately, Michigan is all too familiar with the effects of lead poisoning. Our bipartisan legislation takes significant steps to protect vulnerable children and families, and we don't have a moment to waste in addressing this issue.

The Lead Poisoning Prevention Act is one of many legislative solutions I have championed so far this year. There are so many bad and divisive proposals coming out of Speaker Pelosi's House these days, that the media often overlooks some of the good, bipartisan work that still occurs in Congress.

While I am proud of my conservative record and always stand firmly by my convictions, I also know there is a need to work together when possible. In the 115th Congress, I was ranked by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a non-partisan collaboration between Vanderbilt University and University of Virginia, as the most effective member of Michigan's congressional delegation. In the following session of Congress, the Center for Effective Lawmaking recognized me as the top Republican legislator on technology issues. In the 117th Congress, I have been working hard to deliver commonsense results by:

  • Fighting Human Trafficking: Introduced H.R. 3957, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act, with Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP) to ensure Department of Labor employees have the tools and resources they need to detect cases of labor or sexual exploitation while investigation workforce law violations.
  • Reforming Civil Asset Forfeiture: Introduced H.R. 2857, the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), a bipartisan effort to curb abuses in the Civil Asset Forfeiture system, raise the level of proof, and increase transparency.
  • Securing our Energy Infrastructure: Introduced H.R. 3119, Energy Emergency Leadership Act, with Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) to elevate the energy security and emergency functions to a senior point person in the Department of Energy's leadership, which will enhance DOE's ability to appropriately and quickly address energy-related emergencies.
  • Preventing Lead Poisoning: Introduced H.R. 5552, Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, with Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) to strengthen federal initiatives aimed at childhood lead screening, reporting, and prevention.
  • Fostering a Healthier Environment: Introduced H.R. 3538, the Coordinated Action to Capture Harmful (CATCH) Emissions Act with Reps. Tim Ryan (D-OH). This bipartisan legislation offers a practical approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while fostering jobs and economic growth by modernizing the carbon capture tax credit to pave the way for increased investment in carbon capture technologies.
  • Protecting Seniors from Scams: Introduced H.R. 1215, the Fraud and Scam Reduction Act, with Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) to enhance our ability to prevent seniors from falling victim to fraud or scams. The bipartisan legislation passed the House on April 15, 2021.
  • Building a Skilled Workforce: Introduced H.R. 1032, the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act, with Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) to help close the workforce shortage in the telecommunications industry.
  • Protecting Children's Online Privacy: Introduced H.R. 1781, the Preventing Real Online Threats Endangering Children Today (PROTECT) Kids Act, along with Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) to better protect children in today's ever-evolving digital ecosystem.

Additionally, I have cosponsored these key pieces of legislation:

  • Lowering Prescription Drug Costs: H.R. 19, Lower Costs, More Cures Act, takes a multifaceted approach to lower drug costs.
    • Encourages innovation of groundbreaking new cures, promotes more low-cost options for patients, and curbs how drug companies can game the system.
    • Provides first-ever out-of-pocket cap for seniors in the Medicare Part D program.
    • Caps the cost of insulin for seniors in the Medicare Part D program.
      Increases transparency and removes uncertainty at the pharmacy counter.
    • Cuts the cost of drug administration, including cancer treatment, for Medicare beneficiaries by as much as half.
    • Stops subsidizing other developed countries' health care through stronger trade agreements.
    • Includes policy that has bipartisan, bicameral support and could be signed into law today.
  • Protecting those with Pre-Existing Conditions: H.R. 892, Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act aims to reaffirm guaranteed health care access, ensure that enrollees cannot have benefits excluded from a plan due to a pre-existing condition, and that patients will not pay more based on their health care status.

To learn more about my bipartisan efforts, including initiatives that have become law, please click here.