E-Newsletter

On July 9, 2021, I joined some of my House colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden expressing concerns about his plans to send government workers door-to-door in an attempt to speak with Americans not yet vaccinated against COVID-19. I do not approve of government policy that involves invading Americans’ personal information. Their vaccination status is none of the… Read more »

In Cuba recently, thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets in protest of the 62-year long socialist dictatorship. In response, the unelected government of Cuba has fired into crowds of protestors and cut off internet access on the island. When all but a handful of communist countries have fallen or transitioned to more market-based economies, the leaders of Cuba continue to push… Read more »

The Importance of the Hyde Amendment It is no secret that Americans frequently disagree with each other on many issues, important or trivial. Freedom of conscience is a foundational right in this country. That freedom means more than simply thinking what you want. It means you should not be forced to act in violation of your conscience so long as you are not harming others. When it… Read more »

July 4th has long been celebrated as America’s birthday. The day in 1776 that the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence has been commemorated for generations by fireworks, parades, cookouts, and all manner of festivities. It is easy to see why when reading the Declaration and its words that changed the world: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that… Read more »

Google, EcoHealth Alliance, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology As the investigation into COVID-19’s origins continues, attention has fallen on the role of EcoHealth Alliance. This nonprofit organization has received federal grant dollars from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and it in turn funded research on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Republican… Read more »

A public servant can be defined in a variety of ways. The label might apply to a person holding a certain job, such as elected office or a governmental post, or it could be used for somebody without a specific title or portfolio but who constantly strives to do good for her community. However you define it, Barbara Stafford was a true public servant. She passed away on June 16, but she… Read more »

As President William Howard Taft prepared to leave the White House, he told his successor Woodrow Wilson, “This is the loneliest place in the world.” While Taft’s remark referred to the great burdens of his job, it could apply today to Members of the House of Representatives precisely because we are being prevented from doing our job properly by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). If Taft were… Read more »

The origins of the COVID-19 pandemic remain shrouded in mystery, but uncovering what we can is essential to preventing future pandemics. Two theories now dominate speculation about the development of the coronavirus in the Chinese city of Wuhan in 2019. The first is that it passed from an animal to humans naturally, possibly through a creature sold in one of the city’s wet markets. The… Read more »

Some things have to be seen to be believed. I found that to be the case during my recent visit to the southern border with other Members of Congress to investigate the disastrous results of President Biden’s policies. On his first day in office, President Biden ordered an immediate pause to construction of the border wall. As I saw on the border, this order has led to some absurd… Read more »

The United States enjoyed a period of energy dominance in recent years. Responsible development of our natural resources provided Americans with more affordable energy produced domestically. In September 2019, the United States became a net petroleum exporter for the first time since the keeping of monthly records began in 1973. Americans have paid less to heat their homes and fuel their… Read more »