After spending the month of August traveling Michigan's 5th District to hear from constituents, small business owners, manufacturers, and farmers, the House was back in session this week. House Republicans passed critical funding to safeguard our national security, unleash American energy dominance, and bolster our economic competitiveness. The legislation also includes provisions to prohibit the sale of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party and supports one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for the extraction of critical minerals in decades to reduce our reliance on foreign countries.
On Wednesday, I participated in an Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing to examine our nation's low reading and math scores. The Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) has shown a disturbing trend, with Long-Term Trend scores showing little to no improvement since 1971. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. An inability to read significantly impacts a student's future. As Chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am committed to ensuring that our students have the skills they need to compete in our modern workforce.
Incentivizing Homeownership
It was great to participate in the Jackson, Hillsdale, and Lenawee Home Builders Association's roundtable and give a legislative update. House Republicans have incentivized homeownership through a permanent tax code that provides certainty and financial relief for working families across the country. Specifically, our historic legislation expands Opportunity Zones in economically disadvantaged communities to spur development and reinstates the Mortgage Insurance Premium tax deduction to save first-time homebuyers thousands of dollars a year on their taxes.
Combatting Fentanyl Abuse
Illicit fentanyl poisonings are now the number one cause of death among adults 18-49. On Monday, the House passed the STOP Chinese Fentanyl Act to sanction fentanyl producers in China and hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for their role in the deadly opioid crisis that is sweeping American communities. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimates that a majority of fentanyl is sourced from China. This legislation will strengthen our national security and keep Americans safe.
It was great to recently join the National Federation of Independent Business for a roundtable and discuss the permanent extension of the small business deduction. This critical provision is estimated to create over 1 million new small business jobs and generate $750 billion in economic growth for small businesses. House Republicans' historic legislation also doubles the limit on immediate expensing, allowing small businesses to invest in their employees and grow their business.
