May 26th, 2023: Weekly Newsletter | Memorial Day: Honoring Our Veterans | U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud greets veteran Ed Gregurek during Warrior’s Weekend XVII last Friday in Victoria. | U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud joins colleagues to wash the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall ahead of Memorial Day Weekend on Thursday in Washington D.C. | America is the greatest country on earth — but it has not come without a cost. The freedoms we enjoy here are a gift from God, secured through generations of selfless American patriots willing to stand up and give their lives for their friends, neighbors, and countrymen. That sacrifice is something we must never forget. This weekend, as we take time with family and friends, let us reflect on their service that allows us to enjoy so many blessings here at home. Have a blessed weekend, and may God continue to protect our military and their families. | NOTICE: Offices Closed in Observance of Memorial Day | In observance of Memorial Day, our offices will be closed on Monday, May 29th. We will reopen at 9 am on Tuesday, May 30th. | This week, I voted in support of H.R. 467, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act, as it passed the House. The Biden administration’s open-border policies have allowed fentanyl to pour across the southern border, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans and devastating communities across the nation. Fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans aged eighteen to forty-five. This bill would increase penalties for drug traffickers by permanently scheduling all fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The legislation would also provide law enforcement with the tools they need to combat the impact of this deadly drug. | Addressing the National Debt | Watch my remarks on the House Floor. | This week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with President Biden to continue pushing Democrats on cutting spending. Everyone knows our government spending is completely out of control, and Congress has too often prioritized “wants” over “needs” while American families continue to struggle. It needs to stop now. We did our job weeks ago and passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act to responsibly raise the debt ceiling, but far more importantly, to cut out-of-control spending and burdensome regulations on American workers. However, Biden has insisted on maintaining reckless levels of spending, including trillions on pet projects, that will make inflation worse and send America over a fiscal cliff. It is not an acceptable position. Our goal is quite simple: shrink Washington and grow America. Without significant cuts to spending, there can be no deal. We are not finished. We will keep fighting. The future of the country depends on it. | Green New Deal vs. American Energy Independence | This week, I wrote an op-ed on why we must repeal Biden’s misguided Green New Deal subsidies. The Limit, Save, Grow Act would repeal these subsidies which are nothing more than a $1.2 trillion bailout for the wealthy, big corporations, and China. If we don’t, we risk ceding our global autonomy and authority to China, as well as stymieing our home-grown innovation engine. Biden's energy policies pose a serious threat to America for many reasons. That's why this week, I voted for S.J. Res. 11, which would terminate the EPA’s emissions rule on new heavy-duty vehicles. This rule would set stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles beginning in 2027. This rule is the first of many steps that this Administration is taking to force a drastic transition to “zero-emission vehicles.” Though it is not an explicit mandate for electric trucks, it would raise the costs of existing heavy-duty trucks by $8,300 according to the EPA. You can expect this cost to fall on the consumer, who will have to assume higher costs for goods transported by truck. The Biden administration’s aggressive standards for heavy-duty vehicles would hurt the trucking industry drastically, kill jobs, damage our nation's supply chain, and dramatically raise costs for the American consumer. Amidst record inflation, the federal government does not need to add more burdens to consumers and truckers. | Our office said goodbye to a couple fantastic interns this past week. In our D.C. office, Daniel was crucial in helping our legislative team function to their highest capacity. Additionally, he led tours of the Capitol for many of you. In the district, Christian aided in casework, attended meetings, and represented our office in a highly professional manner. We are grateful for their help this spring! If you know someone who would be interested in an opportunity to work on behalf of Texas’ 27th Congressional District, they can apply for an internship HERE. | - Hurricane Season: Less than one week away, June 1st marks the official start of the 2023 Hurricane Season, and it’s important our district stay prepared. Click HERE to read NOAA’s hurricane safety tips and resources so you can be ready and stay ahead of potential emergencies.
| Rep. Michael Cloud Member of Congress | Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on this issue and others! | Corpus Christi Office: 555 N Carancahua St. Tower II Suite 980 Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Phone: (361) 884-2222 | Victoria Office: 111 N. Glass St. Suite 102 Victoria, TX 77901 Phone: (361) 894-6446 | Washington D.C. Office: 171 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7742 | |