President Biden’s war on fossil fuels has led to the most dramatic energy crisis this country has seen since the 1970s.

Record-high gas prices and rising costs for consumers all point to the urgency of embracing our potential as a global energy leader. While the Biden administration has sought to expand alternative energy sources at the expense of domestic oil and gas production, the choice should not be either/or; it should be "all of the above."

In that spirit, I traveled with my colleagues on the House Energy Action Team to Bad Creek Hydro Station in South Carolina to witness how alternative power sources are helping to bridge the domestic energy gap in communities across the southeast.

Going forward, America must have an all-of-the above energy portfolio that includes nuclear and other alternative energy sources like those we saw this week. However, House Democrats must also reverse course and acknowledge that oil and natural gas remain essential in delivering the baseload power necessary to sustain American homes, businesses, and livelihoods.

As a member of the Healthy Future Task Force, I’ve spent the last several months working with my colleagues to develop solutions that will make health care more accessible and affordable nationwide.

To accomplish this, we must embrace a free-market approach that gives Americans more transparency and choice in selecting treatment options that are right for them, and right for their budget.

Here is a brief overview of our solutions:

• Expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to enable more Americans set aside pre-tax dollars to cover medical expenses.
• Allow small business owners to band together through Association Health Plans to offer more affordable coverage options to their employees.
• Require providers and insurers to disclose cost information up-front so patients can make informed decisions about their care.
• Put an end to harmful billing practices that result in higher medical costs.

Modernizing our health care system MUST be a priority for Congress, and I am working hard to improve the affordability of medical treatment.

For more information on our work, please click here.

Reducing wasteful government spending

Funding our national defense, raising troops' pay

I recently voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which fully funds our national defense, secures critical funding for Fort Gordon and the Savannah River Site, and gives our troops a well-deserved pay raise.

You can learn more about this year’s NDAA by clicking here.

Honoring the late Sen. Johnny Isakson

I recently had the privilege of co-leading bipartisan legislation to honor the late Senator Johnny Isakson by dedicating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Atlanta Regional Office to his memory.

Senator Isakson’s legacy as a champion for America’s veterans was forged over a 45-year career in public service that concluded with serving as chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the United States Senate.

Throughout his life, Sen. Isakson distinguished himself as a man of character with an unmatched dedication to the people of Georgia, and I was proud to co-lead this legislation to dedicate this facility as a living monument to his tireless work in advancing policies that benefit our nation’s veterans.

GA-12 farmer testifies before House Ag Committee

This week, the House Agriculture Committee subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing on “Stakeholder Perspectives on Title XI Crop Insurance”.

During the hearing, one of our GA-12 constituents, Lee Cromley, testified on behalf of the American Cotton Producers. The topic of discussion in that hearing, crop insurance, has never been more relevant.

While commodity prices have increased, farm input costs have risen at an even faster rate. As Congress prepares the next Farm Bill, we must thoughtfully analyze this problem our farmers are facing. Their profit margins are disappearing; this issue is not sustainable, and we must address this issue.

This week's office visitors

It was great to welcome several groups of visitors to our office in Washington, D.C. this week to talk about the issues that matter most to them.

Those photographed include:

• Pastor Bryan Cockrell, Christians United for Israel
• Chris Womack, CEO, Georgia Power
• Franklin Dismuke, Beer Institute
• Representatives from We Are Boys With A Future
• Dr. Bryce Gartland, Emory Healthcare

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As always, my office is here to help. If you'd like to email me, please click here. 

To contact one of our district offices, please click here. 

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Sincerely,

Rick Allen
Member of Congress