DHS Funding Update

Supporting Our Homeland Defenders

Over 100,000 DHS workers, including 50,000 TSA officers, have missed a full paycheck as a result of the Democrats' shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Fortunately, President Trump has taken executive action to get many workers paid, despite the antics coming from Democrats. Instead of supporting the House's bipartisan efforts, the Senate pushed the welfare of criminal illegal aliens above American citizens by forcing through a bill at 3 am on Friday that would defund nearly 26% of DHS, and force many workers to go without pay indefinitely. We must fully fund the Department of Homeland Security and the salaries of the men and women on the front lines. That is why I voted for a clean continuing resolution to ensure all DHS personnel are paid, and all critical security operations can continue. 

Three times, the House has passed the bipartisan, bicameral DHS funding package. We have passed a clean continuing resolution to get workers paid. We will not pass a bill that forces workers to go without pay indefinitely while reopening our border.

Preserving the Health of the Great Lakes

As a member of the Great Lakes Task Force and the Natural Resources Committee, I am dedicated to advancing efforts to address the threats facing the Great Lakes. I have been a longtime supporter of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which has been a vital tool in the protection and restoration efforts of some critical areas of concern. This week, the House passed the American Water Stewardship Act, which would reauthorize funding for several long-standing programs to maintain and improve water quality throughout the nation, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

 Securing Funding for New Buffalo 

I recently visited the Galien River Sanitary District (GRSD) Sewer Authority in New Buffalo to discuss federal funding I secured for a project to replace the authority's tertiary filter, an essential component of the water treatment process. For the past year, I've partnered with local leaders to identify important infrastructure needs across Michigan’s 5th District. With this federal funding, the GRSD Sewer Authority will be able to make critical improvements to the city’s water treatment system, ensuring harmful materials are removed from water discharged into Lake Michigan and protecting public health and safety for the millions of people who rely on this important water source.  

Protecting Schools from Foreign Influence

As Chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, I held a hearing to examine how foreign adversaries, particularly geopolitical rivals like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), are actively competing against our nation’s interests on the battlegrounds of our university campuses. Last year, the House passed the DETERRENT Act with a strong bipartisan vote, which would bring much-needed transparency to foreign gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities. We must ensure that academic collaboration strengthens America, not our adversaries.

Honoring a Monroe County Veteran

It is a privilege to honor Sam Struth of Monroe as the Veteran of the Month for March. Sam served in the United States Army from 1975 to 1980 and has stayed actively involved in the veteran community, volunteering for Angels for Veterans and AMVETS of Monroe County. Sam also co-founded Flags O’er Veterans with Ken Moore after identifying that several local cemeteries lacked American flags honoring deceased veterans. The organization pays tribute to veterans in Monroe by raising funds to install flagpoles, American flags, lighting, and memorial plaques in cemeteries where they are laid to rest. Sam's remarkable life reflects the very best of American service.