The latest border numbers are in and they are alarming. It’s time for President Biden to acknowledge and address this crisis that his Administration has created by refusing to secure our border and enforce our immigration laws. This week I spoke on the House floor, sounding the alarm on the crisis along our southern border.

The numbers speak for themselves:

Rather than work to address the surge in illegal immigration, this week House Democrats advanced two bills that would grant blanket amnesty to millions of illegals. Here’s why I opposed both of these bills, along with a brief overview of other legislation voted on this week in the House:

Recent Votes –

H.R. 6, the “Dream and Promise Act of 2021”:

• This bill will provide mass amnesty to millions of illegal aliens, including criminals, and create a taxpayer-funded grant program to help illegal aliens to apply for their green cards.
• It does nothing to address illegal immigration; will only incentivize more groups to enter illegally in hopes for amnesty.

H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act:

• This legislation will provide amnesty to illegal immigrants by creating a new “certified agricultural worker” status for agricultural workers here illegally.
• Once certified, they are protected from deportation - even after the agriculture season ends - and their children and spouses can qualify for amnesty, too.
• I have long advocated for making reforms to the current legal H2A process, but unfortunately, this bill does nothing to reform current programs that agriculture employers use to legally hire workers for temporary labor, but will only further encourage illegal immigration over using proper legal channels.

H.R. 1868, Democrats’ Medicare Cuts:

• In the recently passed $1.9 trillion Pelosi Payoff “COVID-19 Relief” legislation, Medicare funding was put at risk and now Democrats are ignoring our skyrocketing debt to try and fix the problem they created.
• This legislation reduces Medicare payments to providers by up to 2 percent across the board, among reductions to other programs.

H.J.Res. 17, Removing the Deadline for the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment:

• Every American is entitled to equal representation under the law, but the Equal Rights Amendment would add an unnecessary amendment to the Constitution that would allow activists to advance radical policies through the courts that would infringe on our constitutional rights.
• This resolution paves the way for unlimited, unrestricted access to abortions, subsidized on the backs of the taxpayer while invalidating any pro-life protections.
• It would also strike conscious protections in state and federal law, ultimately requiring employers to include abortions in their health plans, even if it goes against their faith. 

H.R. 1620, the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021”:

• This bill is a politicized and expanded reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) and injects radical policies on race and gender into the fight against domestic violence and sexual abuse.
• It extends services to men who identify as women, allowing them to utilize programs specifically designed to protect and assist vulnerable women.

Tax Time Allies Virtual Community Briefing

I joined community and business leaders for a virtual event, hosted by Tax Time Allies, to inform local residents about free Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Georgia-sponsored taxpayer assistance programs available to eligible taxpayers, such as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Free File, and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE).

• For more info on IRS-sponsored services, visit irs.gov/filing/e-file-options
• For more info on Georgia free file programs, visit dor.georgia.gov/free-file-alliance

IMPORTANT NOTE: This week the IRS announced the deadline to file your taxes has been extended to May 17, 2021. I put together this FAQ document that you may find helpful.

Visiting Georgia’s State Capitol

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to visit Atlanta and catch up with state lawmakers. I had a great time, including meetings with Governor Brian Kemp and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.

Meeting with Augusta Family YMCA

Thanks to the YMCA for their investments in our nation’s youth through early learning, afterschool and summer learning programs! During our meeting we had the chance to discuss policies that help nonprofits meet community needs.

2021 Congressional Art Competition

This week I launched the 2021 Congressional High School Art Competition. This contest is open to all high school students (9th – 12th grade) in Georgia’s 12th district. The winning piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and other winners’ artwork will be displayed in my Washington, D.C. and Augusta offices.

The deadline to enter is Monday, April 16^th. For more information, visit my website.

CDC’s Updated School Reopening Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that schools can reopen safely with only three feet of social distancing, and removed their recommendation for physical barriers. This is great news for families throughout the nation who want to resume in-person learning. I’m proud of the 12^th District for leading the way in reopening and providing families with the option to attend class in person.

The House Intelligence Committee has access to highly classified information, and the American people should have confidence that the members who serve on the Intel Committee can be trusted with this info as a matter of national security.

That’s why I am a cosponsor of H.Res.243, which would remove Congressman Eric Swalwell from the Intel Committee due to the fact that he has been compromised by a Chinese spy who helped raise money for Representative Swalwell’s political campaigns and facilitated the potential assignment of interns into Representative Swalwell’s offices. Democrats should hold their members accountable instead of rewarding bad behavior.

As always, my office is here to help. You can email me ⇒ HERE, contact any of our offices or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.