As we commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day last Sunday, we remember the millions of innocent lives that were so tragically taken and affected during the Holocaust.

We must never again allow such hatred and devastation to take hold.

The House Education and Labor Committee held its first Full Committee Meeting, and I am proud to announce that I have been selected to serve as the Senior Republican on the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee for the 116th Congress.

With nearly 7 million available jobs throughout our nation, it is critical that we cultivate a qualified workforce to fill these positions – and this mission starts in the classroom.

I also took a moment to speak on the House floor about serving as the Senior Republican on the subcommittee.

I am looking forward to hitting the ground running to best serve our brilliant students in Georgia and across the nation!

Additionally, I was proud to join the Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC), as well as my fellow Republican subcommittee leaders Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) in signing a letter asking the Department of Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, to support sexual assault prevention efforts at educational institutions.

I caught up with WRDW to discuss the re-opening of government agencies affected by the partial shutdown and the importance of effectively securing our border.

It’s now time for Speaker Pelosi to stick to her word and negotiate in good faith with President Trump to fix our broken immigration system and address the crisis we are facing at the southern border.

To view my full interview, please CLICK HERE.

We also discussed some of our Georgia-12 farmers who may be in need of assistance with existing farm loans, disaster relief, and other transactions.

With affected government agencies now re-opened, all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices nationwide are readily available to assist farmers with all transactions. Additionally, if you or anyone you know is having issues with a federal agency, please contact one of my district offices. We are here to be a resource for you!

On Tuesday, President Trump will give his State of the Union address from the House Chamber, and I recently sent out a survey so you can let me know what you would most like to hear the President discuss.

Just click the photo above to visit my website and fill out the survey!

You may also be interested to know that I recently sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide them with information on the water levels in December of 2016, when the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act was signed into law.

This bill required that in any alternative that fulfills the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project’s requirement to pass fish to their traditional spawning ground, the pool should be maintained as in existence on the date of enactment.

I have maintained strict oversight throughout this process to ensure that the pool is not lowered and I will continue fighting to have the best option that the whole community can support.

Under a new majority in the House, Democrats have made their priorities clear to the American people – increase the size and scope of the federal government and take power from state legislatures, local elected officials, and voters. Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have reserved H.R. 1 for the 116^th Congress for legislation known as the For the People Act – but the title couldn’t be further from the truth.

The House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on this bill this week. This legislation undermines the democratic framework of our country by attacking the rights of states to set their own voting qualifications, district lines, and procedures for preserving election integrity.

With many pressing issues facing the 116^th Congress, Speaker Pelosi is more focused on violating our First Amendment rights, forcing states to extend early voting periods, making it unlawful to take simple steps to verify voter residences, and restoring voting rights of convicted felons – even if it contradicts state or local policy. Rest assured, I will continue to fight this legislation every step of the way, as it simply proves how out-of-touch Speaker Pelosi is with the American people.

I enjoyed getting back to the district today to attend the Emanuel County Eggs and Issues event.

Our local officials did a great job talking about their priorities for the area and I was happy to give a quick update on what I’m doing at the federal level on behalf of the 12th District. Thanks to the Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce for having me!

This week, I want to highlight another piece of legislation that I feel very passionate about and have proudly cosponsored for the 116^th Congress. H.R. 20, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, would permanently prohibit any taxpayer funding for abortion.

This legislation is short and simple, but extremely important. As your Congressman, I believe it is my duty to stand up for life, to be a voice for those who do not yet have a voice, and to ensure that your hard-earned tax dollars are not being used to fund the practice of abortion.

I am thankful for my friend and colleague, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), for sponsoring H.R. 20 during the 116^th Congress.

Do you have a bill that you would like to see highlighted or that you would like me to support? Share your thoughts with me! You can email me ⇒  HERE, contact any of our offices or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

Sincerely,