Good afternoon, and welcome to our Weekend Update.

This week, I appeared on “Mornings with Maria” on Fox Business, where we covered a wide range of issues, from responsibly funding the government and cutting waste and fraud to supporting President Donald J. Trump’s agenda to make life more affordable for American families.

Housing is a priority for Congress and the Trump Administration. We are working to lower costs and expand access to homeownership. Even as inflation continues to decline under President Trump, outdated regulations and slow permitting can add as much as $100,000 to the cost of a new home before a shovel ever hits the dirt.

That’s why I am helping advance the FSC and Congressman Mike Flood’s bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act. This legislation cuts red tape, streamlines permitting, houses veterans, and modernizes the building process to make it easier to build new homes.

House Republicans continue to deliver wins for families by building on the Working Families Tax Cuts, unleashing domestic production, and keeping economic relief at the forefront of our policies. Click here or below to watch.

President Trump and Republicans’ key policies, tariffs, tax cuts, immigration enforcement, and deregulation, are producing MAJOR results:

• Low inflation
• Real wages rising
• Productivity surging

A strong foundation—with more work to do. 

Government spending is finally coming down under President Trump and a Republican Congress. The appropriations bill for FY26 are solid and focused on reining in regulations, expanding energy production, strengthening housing supply, and keeping the economy moving in the right direction.

On health care, doubling down on failed Obamacare subsidies is not the answer. Temporary COVID-era handouts drove up costs and ballooned deficits. Instead, we are focused on advancing a solution that lowers premiums, protects taxpayers, and responsibly extends support for patients.

This work goes hand in hand with strong oversight across the federal government. We will continue to root out waste, fraud, and abuse across federal programs and bring real accountability. I am pleased to help lead that effort in Congress through my work as Chair of the FSC's Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee. I joined “Wake Up America” on Newsmax to discuss. Click here or below to watch.

As we approach the midterm elections, the Democrats' message continues to be stuck on Trump Derangement Syndrome and obstruction... rather than delivering solutions. ABC News ran an article discussing the Democrats' ongoing pressure from their party's extremes to "impeach Trump." Click here to read the article. I was quoted as stressing the importance of winning back the House:

"They will do anything to stop the Trump agenda. People, if they don't want a two-year president, who they voted for pretty overwhelmingly in 2024, can't allow the House to flip."

It was great to spend the day at the Pennsylvania Farm Show alongside the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, and Dr. Ben Carson, talking with folks from across the industry about how we are Making American Agriculture Great Again.

I was joined by my colleagues, Agricultural Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson and Rep. Scott Perry, along with Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, to discuss farm-fresh food policies, common-sense nutrition, and how we can continue supporting the men and women who grow, raise, and produce what goes on our dinner plates. We also celebrated yesterday’s passage of Chairman Thompson’s bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, a win for dairy farmers, families, and children across the country.

In related news, Whole Milk is Back!

President Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, allowing schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk, expanding beverage choices for students and boosting production for dairy farmers. Click here or below to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: This week, the House Democrat Progressive Caucus held a press conference announcing their official position to defund the Department of Homeland Security – and they are willing to put Americans through another government shutdown to do it. 
 

Not only do they want to withhold all funding from DHS, but they also want to impeach Secretary Kristi Noem and prosecute our brave ICE agents who are keeping our country safe. 

Another Democrat shutdown will not only leave hardworking Americans without pay and resources once again, but it will put American communities and our National Security at risk. 

Democrats have made it clear they don’t care about keeping Americans safe or removing the most violent criminals from our country. They only care about pushing their radical, anti-Trump agenda – no matter the cost. 

Starting Monday, January 26, Americans can begin filing their 2025 tax returns. Because of the Working Families Tax Cuts passed last year, many hardworking Americans are expected to receive larger refunds. This relief keeps more money where it belongs and supports local businesses and Main Street America.

On Friday, we recognized National Religious Freedom Day as a reminder that faith and freedom go hand in hand in America. The right to worship freely, without government interference or intimidation, is foundational to our republic.

Today, we observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. Martin Luther King, a man committed to the fight for justice and equality. His famous words are stitched into the heart of this great nation and continue to inspire generations of Americans to work together for a better, more perfect union. President Ronald Regan was quoted as saying upon the signing of the bill making MLK Day a national holiday:

"All right-thinking people, all right-thinking Americans are joined in spirit with us this day as the highest recognition which this nation gives is bestowed upon Martin Luther King, Jr., one who also was the recipient of the highest recognition which the world bestows, the Nobel Peace Prize.

"In his own life's example, he symbolized what was right about America, what was noblest and best, what human beings have pursued since the beginning of history. He loved unconditionally. He was in constant pursuit of truth, and when he discovered it, he embraced it. His nonviolent campaigns brought about redemption, reconciliation, and justice. He taught us that only peaceful means can bring about peaceful ends, that our goal was to create the love community."

Last but not least, I will soon announce details about our campaign for reelection to represent the 9th Congressional District. Petition circulation begins on Tuesday, February 17th and continues through Tuesday, March 10th. We must collect 1,000 signatures from Republican voters in the District. We will need your help to ensure our campaign is successful and that we can continue serving in the U.S. House. It is critical that we continue the work to Make America Great Again and support President Donald J. Trump and the Congressional GOP's America First Agenda.

May God continue to bless our nation. I look forward to seeing you soon,