Weekly Newsletter July 4th, 2022 Miller-Meeks Mailer Friends, Thank you for signing up for my weekly newsletter, where you can find updates on my work in Washington and across the Second District. Visit My Website The American Spirit On the Fourth of July, we celebrate the birth of American independence and recognize the liberties, freedoms, and rights that were granted to us at the birth of our nation. 246 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. This pivotal day signaled the end of tyrannical rule our founding fathers were subjected to and established a precedent of freedom and justice for all. While today is a day of celebration, we must also remember that these freedoms were not obtained without sacrifice. This important day also serves as a day to recognize, remember, and honor those who gave their lives to fight for our freedoms. I hope that families across Iowa and the United States come together today and celebrate our freedom. Wherever you are enjoying this holiday, I hope you will join me in celebrating the birthday of our great republic, as well as acknowledging the steps we can take to make it a better place for all Americans. Legislative Roundup This week, I introduced bills to cut wasteful government spending, secure the U.S.-Mexico border, and crack down on undisclosed foreign influence in our politics. My Border's Unused Idle and Lying Dormant Inventory Transfer (BUILD IT) Act would transfer any material associated with the construction of the southern border barrier to any state, upon request, for the materials' original purpose. This would allow for states to use materials that have already been purchased by the taxpayers. The Biden Administration has shown us that they are not interested in or capable of securing the U.S.-Mexico border and keeping Americans safe. Every day we are seeing record-high numbers of illegal crossings and our law enforcement officers are overwhelmed. I have visited the border multiple times since coming to Congress and have spoken with law enforcement about the need for increased border security, including building the wall. We need to cut back wasteful federal spending and secure our border; the BUILD IT Act will do just that. My bipartisan Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act would close a loophole that the Chinese Communist Party frequently exploits to conceal its role in lobbying efforts. Federal lobbying law requires both lobbyists and the organizations that retain them to register their activities with the government to provide transparency in policy influence efforts. However, think tanks and law enforcement agencies have identified schemes in which the CCP has used closely-connected organizations and businesses to push their interests when lobbying the U.S. government. The company, which may be registered under the law, effectively becomes a proxy for the government or political party, which is not registered. The Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act makes clear that foreign governments and political parties that participate in the planning, supervision, direction, or control of a lobbying effort must disclose their activity, regardless of any financial contribution to the lobbying effort. Iowans have a right to know who is funding efforts to influence their government officials. For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has taken advantage of loopholes in federal law to push its agenda, and that is unacceptable. Federal policy decisions should be made with the best interests of the American people in mind, not Xi Jinping’s dictatorship. I am proud to lead this bipartisan group to ensure that our government serves the people it represents. 24 County Tour It is always great to meet with Iowans as I travel across the Second District! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to as many Iowans as possible allows me to stay informed of what is going on in their communities and what I can do to help them! This week, I had the chance to speak with small business owners, North Liberty Mayor Chris Hoffman, and several members of North Liberty's city council. During our meeting, we discussed pertinent issues such as inflation, labor shortages, supply chain issues, immigration reform, and other challenges that they face in their community. I was also fortunate to tour Iowa Renewable Energy in Washington. Iowans know that renewable forms of energy are the future, over 50% of Iowa's energy comes from renewables. Fuel sources like Iowa-made ethanol are cheaper and cleaner than other types of energy. As Iowans continue to face record-high gas prices, I will continue to vote and advocate for increasing the availability of ethanol to consumers around the country. On Wednesday, I toured Clow Valve in Oskaloosa where they manufacture a wide range of products, including fire hydrants. These fire hydrants are used in communities around the country. Additionally, they are currently researching new types of fire hydrants that can detect leaks, which would save cities and municipalities thousands of taxpayer dollars every year. Be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more updates. ### Rep. Miller-Meeks | 1716 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]