This month offered the American people a clear difference in a way forward for our Nation. The path the President laid out in his State of the Union Address was more government dependency, higher taxes, and more spending. Republicans on the other hand believe in lower taxes, less dependency, controlling spending — and an overall belief that individuals and families know what’s best for themselves and can spend their money better than a government bureaucrat. Congress also began investigating the weaponizing of agencies within the federal government, voted unanimously to condemn China for their spy balloon incident, and passed legislation disapproving of a Washington, D.C., provision allowing non-citizens to vote. Also, I introduced the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act, which would give Veterans an option to use their GI Bill benefits to start a small business or purchase a franchise. As always, I enjoyed meeting with folks visiting the Capitol and discussing the challenges facing our great Nation.
The Real State of the Union
Earlier this month, President Biden gave his view of the State of our Union, and after hearing his version, it was clear that our President lives in an alternative reality. His failures of the last two years have left us with a beleaguered economy, crippling inflation, high interest rates, skyrocketing energy costs, a wide open border, a deadly drug crisis, and a more dangerous world.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer. House Republicans have already gotten to work by passing legislation to defund 87,000 IRS employees and agents, restore our Strategic Petroleum Reserve, establish a select committee to compete with China, halt the COVID vaccine mandate for servicemembers and end the COVID national emergency, and fully reopen the Capitol to the American people. Oversight on the border crisis and DOJ politicization are also underway, and solutions and accountability will follow. We are just getting started. To use the words of President Biden: House Republicans plan to ‘finish the job’ — but the right way for the American people.
Veterans Entrepreneurship Act
As supporting Veterans in the Sixth District and across the country remains one of my top priorities, earlier this month I introduced the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2023. Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Lou Correa (D-CA), and Chris Pappas (D-NH), co-led the bill. This bipartisan legislation will expand the options under which Veterans can access their benefits in the GI Bill.
Currently, GI Bill benefits can only be used to help Veterans further their education. However, not all Veterans wish to continue their education when transitioning to civilian life. Many wish to pursue professional development, enter the workforce, or start their own small business. This legislation will allow funds under the GI Bill to be applied to special business training programs or to resource grants to help Veterans achieve their goals. The bill establishes a 3-year pilot program where 250 Veterans will participate in a training program and receive assistance in putting together a business plan that, if approved, will win them a grant which they can use to realize their plan. The Veterans Entrepreneurship Act is grounded in the idea of allowing Veterans to choose how to best use their earned benefits to help accomplish their goals.
The Slippery Slope Towards Insanity
In fulfilling our constitutional oversight duties over the District of Columbia, House Republicans passed a resolution expressing our disapproval of D.C.’s Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 for devaluing the voice of American citizens by allowing illegal immigrants to vote in local elections.
Our democracy must be protected and preserved – and step one is to ensure only American citizens can vote, not illegal immigrants.
