Standing up for Farmers
Fighting for Farmers
Over the past few months, energy prices across the nation have soared. Increasing prices prove to be a significant financial challenge felt by all Americans, including our farmers who rely heavily on energy to sustain their operations. These agricultural expenses are expected to grow by over 5% and combined with the expected 12% rise in fertilizer costs, would be devastating to our family farms. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with farmers in Monroe County who expressed concern for the impact on their livelihoods. This past week, I took to the House floor to highlight the crisis farmers face and to demand that the Biden Administration allow increased American energy production to provide financial relief for all Americans.
Advocating for Energy Solutions
For too long, America has relied on Russia and other adversaries for energy. I continue to advocate for commonsense solutions that would allow the United States to regain energy independence. While I supported bipartisan legislation this week to cut off Russian energy imports, unfortunately House Democrats blocked a vote on a more comprehensive bill which I cosponsored, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. This legislation would unleash American energy production and provide relief to Michigan families and farmers.
We also held an Energy Subcommittee hearing this week that was another missed opportunity. Instead of focusing on the immediate need to increase domestic production and address the soaring price of energy that every American is currently feeling, the hearing focused on electric vehicles. During my time for questions, I put the spotlight back on energy solutions and energy security.
Hearing from You
On Friday, I held a community gathering in Adrian where I had the opportunity to listen to current concerns, especially regarding inflation. February's consumer price index was released this week, showing inflation hit 7.9% in February, which is a another 40-year record. The swelling inflationary rates are only worsening and will continue to drive down the purchasing power of all Americans. Further government spending will exacerbate inflation to a higher degree. To reduce the financial burden on American households, the Biden Administration must halt the crippling and unprecedented spending and focus on combatting inflation.
Fighting the Fentanyl Crisis
On average, over 270 Americans died each day last year due to drug overdoses. It is a tragic reality that we all have been touched by this epidemic, and there is a critical need for solutions to reverse this distressing trend. One of the key components is to prevent illegal fentanyl from entering the United States in the first place, most of which is smuggled across the southern border.
To read my full op-ed on the fentanyl crisis published in the Monroe News, click here.
Easing Regulatory Burdens
Farmers all across Michigan have dealt with the challenges imposed by the burdensome, overreaching 2015 expansion of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) definition. The Biden Administration's latest proposed expansion through rulemaking comes as the Supreme Court is preparing to hear a related case on WOTUS, which could ultimately waste government resources and lead to uncertainty for farmers. This week, I joined many colleagues in sending a letter to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers urging them to halt any rulemaking actions surrounding the WOTUS definition until the Supreme Court hears the landmark case.