Visiting the Southern Border

We need a secure border to have a secure nation, and President Biden's lack of border security has created a humanitarian, drug, and national security crisis.

Last week, I visited the southern border in Texas with House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, Rep. Monica De La Cruz, and Rep. Jim Baird to meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers about the alarming number of illegal border crossings into our country.

According to CBP, nearly 6 million individuals have crossed the southern border since President Biden took office. 4.7 million were apprehended by CBP, and over 1.2 million were gotaways.

Enough fentanyl was seized at the southern border to kill over 320 million people in January. It is estimated that only 5-10% of illicit drugs are being seized by federal agents.

I've seen the deadly flow of fentanyl from the southern border come into my hometown of Tifton, Georgia, and last week I saw firsthand how dire the situation is in Texas. It's time for the Biden Administration to restore law and order at the border.

Read more here.

Reading to Cook Elementary

It is an honor to represent our district’s educators who are working hard to teach our youngest constituents. This week, I stopped by Cook Elementary in Adel, Georgia, to read to Mrs. Catherine Bagley’s 3rd-grade class.

Mrs. Bagley was recently named Teacher of the Year! After spending time with her class, I understand why. Congratulations to Mrs. Bagley and thank you to her class for allowing me to lead story time.

Read more here.

Recognizing Dr. Lucy Greene

Our district is home to many of our nation's finest patriots, and I recently had the honor of joining the Association of Defense Communities in naming Dr. Lucy Greene as one of their three 2023 Defense Community Champions National Honorees.

The Defense Community Champions Award is given to those who go out of their way to make a difference in defense communities both on and off base.

Dr. Lucy and her late husband, Parker Greene, established a local civilian network called the Moody Support Team to honor our servicemen and women here in Lowndes County. Her impact at Moody earned her the call sign "Dr. Lucy."

Through her many years of effort, Dr. Lucy has touched the lives of countless active-duty and retired military members. She also advocates for our servicemembers and promotes spousal employment, education programs, and posture initiatives for Moody.

Congratulations, Dr. Lucy, and thank you for your service to those who serve our country!

Read more here.

Agri-Pulse | Specialty crop, poultry producers appeal to House Ag for more insurance options

"Specialty crop producers and a contract poultry grower used a farm bill listening session in Texas Wednesday to urge lawmakers to provide them with more insurance options, while groups representing other commodities continued their call for reference price increases consistent with inflation.

House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, R-Penn., was joined at the Waco meeting by Reps. Pete Sessions, R-Texas; Austin Scott, R-Georgia; Jim Baird, R-Ind., Ronny Jackson, R-Texas; Tracey Mann, R-Kan.; and Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas. All but Sessions, who represents the Waco area, are members of the committee. 

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, whom Thompson jokingly referred to as his 'stunt double', also sat at a table with the lawmakers during the two-hour meeting."

Read more here.