While the streets of America are filled with holiday cheer, business-as-usual Washington, D.C., is not. As the clock ran out on government funding and Democrats’ House majority, Congress was desperately trying to keep the lights on because one-party rule failed to do their most basic duty—govern. Rather than address the needs and will of the American people, the Lame Duck Democrats released a 4,155 page Far Left wish list in the dead of night with a nearly $2 TRILLION price tag for the American people and future generations to pay off. Democrats effectively overturned the people’s will of voting for a Republican majority in the coming Congress by locking in their spending priorities for the next year. Rest assured, in the new majority, House Republicans will move to restore spending sanity and follow the time-tested rule of actually passing a budget in the time that the law requires. In a touch of good news, however, the IRS acquiesced to the demands of my colleagues and myself that they delay the intrusive measure of bombarding Americans with 1099-K forms for every $600 and above payment they make on Venmo and similar platforms. We will work to abolish that provision for good come next year.
The year has had many challenges, yet Christmas and the coming new year offer the chance to celebrate the blessing of the birth of Jesus Christ and the promise of renewal in the coming year. From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed holiday season and time with friends and family.
Taxpayers Get Coal as Democrats Give the Gift of Inflation and Debt
In a final touch to the sad and destructive legacy of Speaker Pelosi’s House of Representatives, Democrat-controlled Congress rammed through a massive $1.7 trillion spending package and did so right on the cusp of Christmas, just as holiday shoppers are still dealing with rising prices and energy bills, and the Nation is facing over $31 trillion in debt. Democrats’ bloated omnibus spending spree represents exactly what’s wrong with Washington: a 4,000+ page, over $1.7 trillion government funding deal negotiated in secret that we were forced to vote on at the last minute.
Furthermore, just look at some of the egregious provisions my colleagues and I found in this bill:
-$3.2 billion to continue processing and releasing illegal migrants at a faster pace and larger scale, encouraging more chaos at our border
-$335 million to prepare for an influenza pandemic, including the use of surveillance tools to fund a health federal police state
-$410 million to “remain available” to reimburse Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Oman for “enhanced border security.” At least $150 million of that must go to Jordan, according to the bill, while at the same time the bill insufficiently funds our own border security in the face of the worst open border crisis in the history of America.
-$2.3 million to the Department of Education to encourage student loan holders to enroll in the Biden administration’s unconstitutional student loan bailout scheme
-It fails to promote American domestic energy production by allocating $370 billion in Green New Deal style handouts to “green” industries and Democrat donors
-The bill also gives the IRS over $12.3 billion more of Americans’ tax dollars, on top of the $80 billion Democrats already allocated to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to spy on Americans’ bank accounts and go after their hard-earned money
In the end, with over 4,000 pages and just 72 hours to read it, this bill makes it impossible to know the total cost that will fall on the backs of American taxpayers — and worsens inflation that’s devastating working families. Americans have to live within their means, while Congress spends into oblivion with money we don’t have. It’s pure Washington dysfunction in action, and it must be stopped. That’s why I voted against this bill, because the American people who elected us deserve a Congress that spends responsibly, not more than we can afford. To read my full statement on the bill’s passing.
Rest assured, come January, Republicans will start governing and offering solutions to the multiple crises facing our Nation. We will confront an open border, out-of-control spending that’s resulting in near 40-year high inflation, a surge in crime across America, and conduct rigorous oversight of Biden’s federal bureaucracy that has waged war on Americans’ freedoms.
The IRS Acquiesces to House Republicans’ Demands
In a touch of good news, however, you may recall that last month I joined my colleagues in sending a letter demanding the IRS delay the intrusive measure of bombarding Americans with 1099-K forms for every $600 and above payment they make on Venmo and similar platforms. I am glad the IRS finally listened to us and is set to delay that provision for a year. But with Republicans in the majority come January, we will work to make sure that specific provision is abolished for good and that the IRS gets off our backs.
Life Outside of Washington: A Very Merry Christmas to You and Yours
Despite the challenges America faces at home and in the world abroad, the Good News is among us. Truly, Joy to the World this Christmas season! While all the children of the Sixth District are hoping to stay off Santa’s naughty list this year, let us remember the true meaning of Christmas. From my family to yours, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” ~Luke 2:11
COVID-19 Update
Last week in Virginia there was an average of 24 daily cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents, up from 20 last week. This week’s COVID-19 test positivity rate was 16%, up from 14% last week.
