During a time of so much division in Congress, it is refreshing to join my colleagues across the aisle on important bipartisan legislation to modernize America’s retirement system. Last week I joined Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Committee Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC-05), and Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chair Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) in introducing the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement (RISE) Act (H.R. 5891). The RISE Act will put our nation’s retirement system on a stronger footing by providing workers and employers with more options and incentives to increase retirement savings.

The legislation:

• Establishes an online, searchable “Retirement Lost and Found” database at the Department of Labor to help workers locate their hard-earned retirement savings as they move from job to job.
• Allows 403(b) retirement plans to participate in multiple employer plans and pooled employer plans.
• Ensures more part-time workers are offered opportunities to join retirement savings plans.
• Clarifies rules regarding the recovery of inadvertent overpayments to retirees, minimizing hardships.
• Enables employers to provide small financial incentives, such as low-dollar gift cards, to incentivize workers’ participation in retirement plans.
• Simplifies and clarifies reporting and disclosure requirements related to retirement plans.

I’m proud to share that the RISE Act passed through committee last week and I will work with committee leaders to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote.

Thank You, Veterans!

Every year on November 11^th we honor our nation’s veterans – heroes who selflessly served in uniform. Thank you to the Augusta Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars for the opportunity to speak at the CSRA Veterans Day Observance and express my gratitude for our vets.

I had the privilege of speaking at the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Event in Grovetown and helping present Certificates of Honor and Medals.

Visiting Plant Vogtle

Georgia’s 12^th District is proudly home to Plant Vogtle, where units 3 and 4 are the first new nuclear units built in the U.S. in more than three decades. My staff and I had the opportunity to visit the site and receive an update on ongoing construction. I will continue to support policies that expand nuclear energy, which helps put us back on the road toward energy independence without any carbon emissions.

Touring Heritage Academy

As a member of the House Education and Labor K-12 Subcommittee, one of my priorities in Congress is ensuring parents have choices when it comes to finding a learning environment that meets their children’s needs. I am so proud of Heritage Academy for truly partnering with parents and the local community to provide students in Richmond County with a quality, faith-based education.

Augusta Exchange Club

Thanks to the Exchange Club for letting me share a brief legislative update. With House Democrats’ eyes set on passing Biden’s trillion dollar tax and spend proposal, I provided a breakdown of all the bad provisions in the bill.

Infrastructure Update

After progressive Democrats essentially tied the two bills together, the House recently passed infrastructure and Democrats took a vote to take another step forward in advancing Biden’s Build Back Broke bill. To be clear, neither of these bills will do anything to build back better; they will destroy our economy as we know it.

I’m disappointed that the Trojan Horse infrastructure bill passed, and every single member who voted for it will be responsible for the tax increases, rampant spending, and expansion of IRS that comes if Build Back Broke passes in the coming weeks.

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.