Herald Palladium: Delivering for Southwest Michigan in 2023
Nearly a year ago, I was sworn into Congress to represent Michigan’s new 5th Congressional District. With the redrawn district, this was the first time in over three decades that Berrien County and other portions of southwest Michigan had new federal representation. Going into the year, I was keenly aware of the challenges in representing the vast entirety of Michigan’s southern border, but I immediately got to work opening a southwest Michigan district office in Niles and spending time in the community.
Over the past year, I’ve met with countless constituents and toured businesses and manufacturers across Berrien County, such as Frame Products in Buchanan, to better understand the issues that matter most to the community. I’ve hosted community gatherings in New Buffalo, Berrien Springs, Niles, and Stevensville to answer your questions on important issues like lowering energy prices, balancing our budget, and combatting harmful inflation for families across the county.
This year, I also had the privilege of attending the Lest We Forget Concert at the Mendel Center on Veterans Day to speak about my efforts to improve care for veterans and to offer a prayer for all those brave men and women currently serving overseas. Furthermore, I was honored to be awarded “Friend of Farm Bureau” during the Berrien Farm Bureau’s Annual Breakfast, in part due to efforts to push back against disastrous policies that would burden our local farmers.
While traversing the district and getting to know the community is critical to understanding concerns of southwest Michigan, it is also essential to bring these priorities back to Washington and act on them. This Congress, I am proud to have effectively delivered results. In 2023, I introduced four major pieces of legislation that have passed the House and a dozen more that have been passed out of committee and now await a vote on the House floor.
The PROTECT Kids Act, which I introduced, would help restore parents’ rights by ensuring schools cannot change pronouns, names, sex-based accommodations, or other markers without the full knowledge and consent of parents. This vital legislation was passed as part of the Parent’s Bill of Rights earlier this year.
Earlier this month, my CARS Act, which blocks the Biden administration from implementing a de facto electric vehicle (EV) mandate. My legislation to protect essential energy infrastructure also passed the House as did my bill to lower health care costs for small businesses and their employees.
Hearing concerns from the community, I have introduced legislation that would protect our energy infrastructure, lower energy costs, reform civil asset forfeiture, expand telehealth access, promote American leadership on a global stage, and much more. Many of these bills have been advanced with bipartisan support and could soon reach the House floor for a full vote.
Working with colleagues, we delivered other major victories for Michiganders, helping pass the Lower Energy Costs Act to provide relief to Michigan families and achieve American energy dominance. We also passed the Secure the Border Act, which is the strongest piece of border security legislation in history.
It’s been an honor to represent southwest Michigan in Congress this year. Please know I will continue to have an active presence in the community and deliver results.