The Herald Palladium: Happy to serve Michigan’s 5th Congressional District

Following the conclusion of each census, new congressional districts are drawn, often changing representation for Americans across the country. Starting this new term, I have the distinct honor of serving Michigan’s 5th Congressional District, a new district that includes the southern portion of Berrien County. The diverse district also includes the full counties of Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe, St. Joseph, as well as parts of Calhoun County and southern Kalamazoo County.

While the 5th District covers a large area stretching from Lake Michigan to Lake Erie, I have always prioritized meeting constituents in their community. Already, I have gotten to know so many great people and will continue to stay actively engaged at the local level. Last week, I traveled across Berrien County visiting Warren Dunes State Park, discussing ways to protect the Great Lakes and natural resources, and touring several small businesses and manufacturing facilities in Niles, Stevensville and Three Oaks. I also had productive meetings with local officials in New Buffalo and Niles and sat down with Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey.

My wife, Sue, and I have been married for 48 years and we reside in rural Tipton, Michigan, in the heart of the Irish Hills. When Sue and I began to date, we spent many days admiring the natural beauty at Warren Dunes and Lake Michigan. I am an avid outdoorsman and enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren. Prior to taking public office, I served as a pastor in both Michigan and Indiana, as president of the Warren Reuther Center for Education and Community Impact, and as a division manager for Moody Bible Institute.

During my time in Congress, I have stayed true to my convictions and never forgotten that the power lies with the people. Since taking office, I have hosted hundreds of community gatherings and telephone town halls, allowing me to hear the issues that matter most to the hardworking people of Michigan. Many families and small businesses have expressed concerns about soaring inflation and energy prices, the uptick in crime, and government overreach on the freedoms we cherish.

In the 118th Congress, I will fight to strengthen our economy, uphold the Constitution, make our communities safer, conduct rigorous oversight, and hold the Biden administration accountable for its reckless spending which has poured gasoline on the inflation crisis. As a member of both the Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce Committees, I will work with my colleagues to promote commonsense legislation which will unleash domestic energy production, combat inflation, and improve quality of life for hardworking families.

Proudly, I hold the designation of Michigan’s most conservative member of Congress according to the American Conservative Union. At the same time, I have also been recognized for my track record of getting important work done and delivering results for constituents who expect effective representation. In my time in Congress, I have gotten more than 20 pieces of legislation signed into law on topics ranging from rural broadband expansion and combatting opioid addiction, to improving government transparency and cutting waste.

As southern Michigan’s representative, I am here to serve you. This goes beyond fighting for our legislative goals to being a resource to help cut through government red tape. My office has a team of dedicated caseworkers eager to help constituents resolve issues with federal agencies, such as the VA, IRS, or Social Security Administration. I encourage constituents to visit my website at walberg.house.gov to learn more, share thoughts on the issues that are important to them, or seek help with federal agencies.

With this new term underway, I am already hard at work on behalf of Michigan’s 5th District. Thanks for the warm welcome, and I’ll see you soon.

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, represents Michigan’s 5th Congressional District, which includes southern Berrien County and Cass County.

This op-ed originally appeared in the January 25 edition of The Herald Palladium.