Kicking Off Back to School Season at the White House
Kicking Off Back to School Season at the White House
On Monday, I was proud to join President Trump at the White House to discuss how we have been empowering our nation's students as they head back to school. As Chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, I have been working closely with the President and his Administration on efforts to ensure our nation's students have the tools necessary to compete and succeed in today's modern workforce. I also remain committed to ensuring that parents are involved in the key choices affecting their children at school. In May, the House passed the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, legislation I introduced to increase transparency in K-12 schools, strengthen parents’ rights, and ensure federal education dollars are not used to teach or advance gender ideology. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump and Secretary McMahon to empower students, families, and educators.
Honoring a Calhoun County Veteran
My office had the opportunity to recognize Sam Dougherty of East Leroy as the Veteran of the Month for August at the Calhoun County Fair. Following his service in the Marine Corps Reserve, Sam worked as the Director of Southwest Michigan Operations for the Michigan Workforce Development Institute, where he helped job seekers, including veterans, find employment opportunities. He has also served as the Michigan State Representative for Helmets to Hardhats, served as a volunteer for a freedom hunt for disabled veterans at Fort Custer for 20 years, and currently volunteers with the Michigan Wounded and Returning Warrior Program. For his volunteer work with veterans, he has been awarded the Marine Corps League Distinguished Citizen Award. Thank you, Sam, for your commitment to service and for helping your fellow veterans find reliable employment.
To nominate a deserving veteran in Michigan's 5th District for this honor, please click here.
Empowering Businesses in Adrian
I recently enjoyed stopping by Uckele Health and Nutrition in Adrian, where we discussed my work in Congress to provide economic relief to small business owners and create job opportunities for our local communities. Last year, Congress passed the Working Families Tax Cuts (WFTC), which permanently extended the successful tax provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Provisions in this bill help small businesses grow by making permanent the 20% small business deduction, creating over 1 million new small business jobs and generating $750 billion in economic growth. I will continue to work to expand economic opportunity for Michigan families.
Bringing the Education and Workforce Committee to Michigan
As Chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, I had the opportunity to host a field hearing in Richmond, Michigan, to discuss what schools, communities, and government can do to better serve those who have served all of us. Unfortunately, too many servicemembers face professional obstacles because of their military service, both while they are deployed and when they return home. This Committee has received troubling reports of elected school board members facing criticism, harassment, and intimidation because their military service required them to deploy. We have also seen numerous reports of teachers losing their jobs or being denied pay raises because they were deployed. Military service in our schools should be a cause for celebration, not discrimination. I’m proud to support our servicemembers, and I’m profoundly grateful for their service and sacrifice.
Protecting River Raisin National Battlefield Park
On Tuesday, I enjoyed stopping by the River Raisin National Battlefield Park and welcoming the new Superintendent, Geoff Avery, on the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service. To ensure that the hardworking men and women of the National Park Service have the proper support to safeguard our national heritage, I voted for, and the House passed, the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendment Act. This bipartisan legislation would preserve and protect America's historic battlefields by reauthorizing the American Battlefield Protection Program, providing support for the local communities and hardworking Americans restoring these national treasures.