Congressman Fred Upton is proud to represent the common-sense values of Southwest Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District. A diverse section of the state that stretches from the shores of Lake Michigan, the Sixth District is home to key industries that range from agriculture to auto parts manufacturing to high-tech biomedical innovation centers. It includes all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties, and most of Allegan County.
Prior to his election to Congress, Fred worked for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). While at OMB, he learned from President Reagan’s example that it does not matter who gets the credit, as long as the job gets done. That has been Fred’s approach since he was first elected to Congress in 1986 and continues today.
Southwest Michigan has been my home for some 60 years now. It’s an honor to represent a diverse section of the state that stretches from the shores of Lake Michigan to the eastern edge of Kalamazoo County.
Today, we are facing unique, complex challenges, from addressing the public health crisis to getting our economy back on the road to recovery.
From agriculture to manufacturing to technology, Southwest Michigan is home to innovative companies and businesses large and small. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Washington and our local leaders to promote commonsense solutions to address and solve our largest challenges.
My office also employs dedicated folks to help constituents navigate the federal government. Although I cannot override the decisions made by a federal agency, I can often intervene on a person’s behalf to answer questions, find solutions, or help cut through the bureaucratic red tape. For more information please click here. As your member of Congress, I strive to be open, transparent, and accountable to everyone across Southwest Michigan. Below you will find some specific examples of the bipartisan results we’ve been able to accomplish on behalf of everyone here in Southwest Michigan.
21st Century Cures and Our Cures 2.0 Effort
When President Obama signed my bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act into law in 2016, it was a major victory for patients across the country. 21st Century Cures was historical legislation that safely accelerated the discovery, development, and delivery of life-saving drugs and devices. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 21st Century Cures is as important as ever. Because Cures helped to accelerate medical innovation and streamline the advancement of treatment options and products, the world will have a vaccine for COVID-19 faster than it otherwise would have.
Now Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) and I are working on a Cures 2.0, which looks to modernize the delivery of health care in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Our new bipartisan legislation will build on the successes of 21st Century Cures and help us take the next step toward finding and delivering more life-saving cures for patients in Michigan and across the country.
Addressing the Coronavirus Crisis
The coronavirus crisis has ravaged our communities in Southwest Michigan and around the world. Loved ones have passed away. Millions have lost jobs. And our economy will need help restarting.
Since the beginning of this crisis, I have been working from sun up to sun down with my staff and colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – on solutions to help the folks of Southwest Michigan. On the health front, we worked with the local, state, and federal government, private companies, and universities to secure personal protective equipment for our health care and all front-line workers.
We have also been fighting to protect jobs. We worked day and night with our local small businesses to help them navigate the Paycheck Protection Program, securing funding so that they could keep their doors open and their employees on payroll.
My team and I have also been working to get information and resources out to constituents. We launched a new website – a one stop shop with helpful resources and updates. We helped U.S. citizens return home from more than 14 different nations. We participated in a teletown hall nearly every week, providing the latest news and updates to constituents.
The impacts of the coronavirus crisis will be felt for a long time, and our team is committed to helping folks as we begin our road to recovery.
Combating Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic
No community is immune and all too many of us have experienced the devastation and loss firsthand caused by the opioid epidemic. Make no mistake - the opioid crisis cuts through all demographics, races and socioeconomic statuses.
In 2018, Congress took a monumental step to combat this crisis. Thanks to a bipartisan effort, we passed and President Trump signed the Substance Use-Disorder that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, which represents the most significant congressional effort to confront a single drug crisis in American history.
Developing new, non-addictive pain medications is essential to combating the opioid epidemic. We must also continue our oversight efforts to make sure laws such as the SUPPORT Act and my 21st Century Cures Act - which provided an additional $1 billion to states to address opioid addiction treatment and prevention – are being implemented the way they were intended.
Fighting to Protect the Great Lakes and Stopping Asian Carp
I continue to work with other Members from the Great Lakes region to ensure we have the proper resources to fend off invasive species, including the Asian carp, round goby, sea lamprey, zebra mussel, and alewife. These large non-native fish and other invasive species threaten to destroy the $70 billion economy supported by the Great Lakes. I support the physical separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River water sheds to ensure that future threats from invasive species are mitigated. I do not consider our current infrastructure of electric barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System a viable long-term solution alone.
In July 2019, I joined a bipartisan group of members from our Michigan Congressional delegation to visit the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. In May 2019, the Army Corps of Engineers sent Congress a plan to install noisemakers, electric cables and other devices at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in order to prevent Asian carp from spreading into Lake Michigan. We need to secure the resources necessary to implement this plan and ensure Asian carp stay out of our Great Lakes.
Protecting our Lakes from Nuclear Spillage
My fondest memories of growing up in St. Joseph are centered around spending time on Lake Michigan. Many Michiganders share my appreciation for the Great Lakes. These mighty lakes are a part of our state’s history and heritage. When I was elected to Congress, I promised to do all that I could to protect these lakes for future generations of Michiganders.
In 2019, my friend Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and I fought to make sure we are protecting our Great Lakes from nuclear waste.
In the Energy and Commerce Committee, we introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2019 that disallows the permanent or long-term storage of nuclear waste near the Great Lakes by the governments of the United States or Canada. I was pleased to see that the amendment passed unanimously in committee.
While not every member of the committee is from a Great Lakes state, everyone understood the importance of the Great Lakes as one of the greatest natural resource this nation has to offer.
Great Lakes votes are always easy for me – they are always a YES. As long as I’m in Congress, I will continue to fight for the Great Lakes.
Agriculture has always had strong roots in Michigan, where our farmers produce everything from asparagus to zucchini. As Michigan continues its economic recovery, agriculture remains a driving force in our economy and provides many good-paying, local jobs. I am committed to ensuring our farmers have the resources they need to continue producing the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supply in the world.
Immigration & Labor
Without a doubt, the number one issue for our farmers is immigration reform. In order for our farms to effectively produce quality agricultural products in the Sixth District we need to provide a reliable workforce for all farms. That means real immigration reform now.
In 2019, my colleagues and I introduced and the House passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to help build a legal and reliable workforce for our nation’s agriculture community. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would provide agricultural workers an opportunity to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment, improve the H-2A visa program, and establish a mandatory E-Verify for the agriculture industry. Click here to learn more about the legislation.
Coronavirus and Agriculture
Our agriculture community has been greatly impacted by the coronavirus crisis, and we have been working overtime to support it. We led two letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture advocating for specialty crops and another asking for more flexibility for producers. We also advocated for more PPE for farm workers, as we look to bolster food safety and secure supply. Furthermore, our office has been in discussions about ways we can bring financial relief to our farms in Southwest Michigan.
2018 Farm Bill
I was immensely pleased with the bipartisan hard work that was put into completing the 2018 Farm Bill as it not only represents a foundation for farm policy for the upcoming years, but also provides economic certainty to an entire industry across the country.
I am expecting the same process this time around, and I looking forward to hearing from all of you through the process as well as working with Chairman Conaway on a Farm Bill that puts Michigan agricultural issues front and center.
Protecting Local Growers from Higher Operating Costs
I have long supported bipartisan solutions to ensure federal regulations do not interfere with day-to-day farm operations or needlessly raise energy prices and other operating costs for Michigan farmers and ranchers.
Farmers are the best stewards of their own land and it is in their best interest to keep it healthy. I have championed a number of bills that seek to scale back the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) red tape agenda where needed, including legislation to prohibit the regulation of farm dust and another bill to ensure that the EPA and State Department do all they can to make the fumigant methyl-bromide available to farmers in need.
It is critically important to ensure the food we consume is safe. If our food safety standards and procedures are to be effectively implemented, our local farmers must have a voice in the rule-making process. Needless over-regulation where our farmers are already doing the right thing does nothing but endanger U.S. agriculture and harm our economy.
Supporting Livestock Health
I helped lead the successful effort to modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) review process for new and generic animal drugs. An improved approval process gives Southwest Michigan employers like Zoetis and Perrigo the predictability they need to compete on equal footing with companies overseas as well as deliver their life-saving drugs to livestock and poultry producers in a timely manner, keeping our food supply safe and helping our farmers compete globally. This bipartisan animal health legislation (H.R. 1407) was signed into law during the Obama administration.
Promoting Michigan Agricultural Exports
I supported the new United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. We need to ensure that we are protecting Michigan growers against foreign growers. We also need to ensure the playing field is level. I am supportive of a side agreement with Mexico and Canada regarding fresh fruits and vegetables that protect American growers.
Throughout my tenure, I have worked to increase the deployment of telecommunications services to all American families and businesses. These new tools have helped create incredible job and economic growth. I have also fought to ensure that free speech and private innovation remain the hallmarks of this industry, while guaranteeing that our children are protected from online predators and indecent material.
Stopping Bad Robocalls
In 2019, I voted for and the House passed the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act which will direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue rules to protect consumers from calls they didn’t agree to receive. These new laws will require carriers to implement a call-authentication tool and offer call blocking services to consumers free of charge. I am a co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation to end robocalls once and for all.
25 billion robocalls have been placed throughout the nation, including approximately 110 million robocalls in Southwest Michigan alone. I am proud to be a part of the effort to fix this problem so that people are no longer burdened and scammed by these calls. Enough is enough.
Making Investments in Broadband Infrastructure
In the 21st century, Internet broadband infrastructure must be reliable and secure for everyone. Recently, the Energy and Commerce Committee reviewed six bipartisan proposals specifically aimed at improving broadband deployment meant for consumers across the country. I will continue to be a bipartisan leader to ensure that families and businesses right here in Southwest Michigan have the access they need to the Internet, which remains the driving force of our 21st century economy.
Self-Driving Vehicles
Self-driving cars are the next frontier of innovation, safety, and economic growth. As the birthplace of the automotive industry, Michigan is a well-known home to innovative suppliers and manufacturers that make our cars and trucks safer, more efficient, and more affordable. Michigan also has a dense nexus of engineering talent, automotive research and development centers, and universities that are developing cutting-edge vehicle innovations.
In 2017, I joined Michigan Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in sending a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao urging the new administration to designate a Michigan site as a proving grounds for automated vehicle testing. I look forward to continuing valuable public discussions on the safety improvements and revolutionary changes self-driving vehicles are bringing to our society.
From the beginning, I have been working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the health crisis and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus crisis has ravaged our communities in Southwest Michigan and around the world. Loved ones have passed away. Millions have lost jobs. And our economy will need help restarting.
THE CARES ACT
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed and the President signed the CARES Act, bipartisan legislation that provided relief to workers and small businesses. The CARES Act included:
SECURING PPE FOR OUR FRONT-LINE WORKERS
Getting PPE to our front-line workers was a top priority for me. We worked with several private companies to get tens of thousands of masks donated to our large hospitals. We also worked with Western Michigan University to get them FDA schematics to 3D print masks. We partnered with different private companies on making hand sanitizer. And, throughout the crisis, my staff and I were on numerous calls with members of the Michigan delegation, the governor, and members of the Administration to help get more federal allocations of PPE and testing to the state.
THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM
The Paycheck Protection Program is a solemn promise to our community’s small businesses. The program provides loans to small businesses that would be forgiven if the funding was used on payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities.
I helped lead the call for additional, continuous funding for this program. It is critical to helping small businesses stay afloat and keeping employees on payroll. My office and I worked hand in glove with lenders and small businesses.
ASSISTING CONSTITUENTS
My staff in D.C. and here in Southwest Michigan worked closely with constituents to help them navigate the federal government during the coronavirus crisis. We helped residents return home, get them off cruise ships, and get information about their stimulus checks. We put together a resource website and a Southwest Michigan Resource Guide to help answer the most common questions folks had.
My top priority is promoting job creation and economic growth here at home in Southwest Michigan. With the coronavirus crisis, we are facing a number of new challenges on the economic front. Folks lost jobs here in Southwest Michigan and across the country, and job creation and economic growth are priorities. I am working to ensure that our region has a seat at the national table on issues of importance to Michigan families and businesses, just as I always have.
Helping Michigan Drug and Medical Device Manufacturers Compete
As a major life sciences innovation corridor, Southwest Michigan is a national leader in healthcare research and manufacturing. In past Congresses, I led the way in the House for the successful reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) user fee programs for prescription drugs and medical devices. By improving the federal evaluation and approval processes, we significantly help Michigan manufactures like Perrigo, Pfizer, and Stryker better compete with companies overseas, allowing them to bring their life-saving products to patients faster. My FDA reform bill also supports advancements in generic drugs and biosimilars, helps prevent future drug shortages, and promotes treatment options for children with rare diseases. This important reauthorization was again finalized in 2016, marking a win-win for both job creators here at home and patients across the country.
My bipartisan 21st Century Cures legislation also includes provisions that help American companies compete in the research and manufacturing sector. By investing in these efforts, we can keep good paying, local jobs right here in our corner of the state.
Enacting Pro-Growth Tax Reform
Plain and simple: our old tax system was broken. It was a complicated mess that imposed burdensome paperwork on Michigan families and small businesses, rewarded some while punishing others, and forced businesses to move overseas. I long supported comprehensive tax reform to create a system that is simple, efficient, and fair to all taxpayers. By enacting a pro-growth tax system, we can promote innovation and job creation in the private sector, help U.S. businesses compete on an even playing field with overseas competitors, and allow taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned dollars
I supported wholeheartedly the pro-growth Tax Cuts & Jobs Act that was signed into law at the end of 2017. Our economy was strong before the coronavirus crisis hit, and we will need to work together on solutions that once again help put us toward strong economic growth.
Protecting Small Businesses from Harmful Regulations
Unnecessary regulations and red tape unilaterally imposed by un-elected Washington bureaucrats are cutting into the bottom line of Michigan employers, making it more costly for them to do business and harder to create jobs.
Affordable and reliable energy is also critical for a growing economy. I have led the fight to protect jobs and keep energy costs down by preventing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies from imposing costly new regulations on U.S. manufacturers and energy producers.
USMCA
The new US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement will help American workers, American jobs, and the American economy, and I was proud to support it. Canada and Mexico are two of our state’s and our nation’s most important trading partners, supporting more than 2 million jobs nationally at 43,000 manufacturers. The bottom line is it’s a win for Michigan workers. Trade is absolutely vital to our state’s economy, and our auto suppliers, manufacturers, and farmers will all benefit greatly from this new agreement.
As a father of two and a former member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I understand the importance of ensuring that our youngest citizens receive a quality education. I have long been committed to the improvement of the education system in our nation and believe that an educated workforce means a stronger and more stable economy. Moreover, a proper education is necessary for success in today’s world. One of my greatest pleasures is hearing from and speaking to Southwest Michigan students.
Reforming our Education System
I supported the Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced the outdated No Child Left Behind legislation with commonsense, bipartisan reforms - marking the first time since 2002 we had updated federal K-12 education laws. Among the reforms, the legislation, which was signed into law, will reduce the federal role in K-12 education to give more flexibility to local and state officials as well as provide individual school districts with more flexibility. It also removes the high stakes federal consequences for annual assessments and empowers parents by providing more information about local school performances.
Making Higher Education More Affordable
The costs of sending a child to college places a tremendous financial burden on any family. To keep higher education affordable for all Americans, I have been a strong supporter of federal need-based financial aid programs that help remove the obstacles that stand in the way of a degree.
I was proud to support the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act (H.R. 1911), which moves all federal student loans (except for Perkins loans) to a market-based interest rate, as opposed to a fixed rate that is arbitrarily chosen by Congress. Based on the current Treasury note, H.R. 1911 will help reduce interest rates for millions of student loan borrowers. Taking the politics out of student loans is good news for students, parents, and taxpayers. This bipartisan legislation was signed into law in past Congresses.
Supporting Math and Science Education
Today in the United States, we are witnessing a disturbing trend in K-12 education, as students from other countries are outperforming our own in math and science education. At the same time, we are also facing a critical shortage of qualified teachers in the sciences. To address this national deficiency, I have supported efforts that will aid future college graduates as they pursue a career as an educator of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM), as well as retain teachers once they are in the field.
I am also a long-time supporter of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics programs which promote STEM education.
Head Start
Since first being elected to Congress, I have been an outspoken champion of the Head Start program. In my numerous visits to Head Start centers throughout Southwest Michigan, I have been consistently impressed with the teachers, parents, and especially the children themselves. I have stood by Head Start centers to ensure that our most disadvantaged children have the resources available for a first-rate education.
As Republican Leader of the House Energy Subcommittee, I am committed to developing policy that fosters job growth and fosters a reliable and affordable energy supply. Through a commitment to North American energy production, we can ensure a steady supply of affordable and reliable energy, spur job creation and manufacturing in Michigan, and fortify our long-term energy security. With advancements in technology and the discovery of game-changing oil and natural gas reserves, we are experiencing a new era of energy abundance. Building the infrastructure to move these supplies to consumers is emerging as the real challenge of the 21st century.
An "All of the Above" Approach
An “all of the above” energy plan focuses on emerging clean energy technologies like renewables - solar, wind, and hydropower - as well as traditional energy solutions - safe nuclear, coal, oil, and natural gas - that keep costs low and energy affordable for Southwest Michigan families and businesses.
I believe an "all of the above" approach, mixed with commonsense updates to our outdated energy laws, will spur job creation and economic growth and keep prices affordable for everyone.
Pipeline Security and Safety
Pipelines remain the safest and most environmentally sound way to transport energy. In 2011, I worked with Michigan Congressman John Dingell, the former Democratic Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to craft and shepherd through comprehensive pipeline safety legislation that was signed into law in January of 2012.
Four years later, we did it again, with Republican and Democrats working together to pass another bipartisan pipeline safety bill.
But that bill’s authorization expired October 1, 2019. After months of discussing a bipartisan reauthorization with our Democratic colleagues, they decided to move forward on their own path, crafting a partisan plan without Republican input.
2.7 million miles of energy pipelines deliver trillions of cubic feet of natural gas and billions of barrels of liquid petroleum products to communities across the nation every year. A disaster could devastate our economy, our environment and the wellbeing of American families, which makes playing politics with this reauthorization simply irresponsible.
We cannot let political games and minor disagreements get in the way of a solid bipartisan bill that would protect our pipelines and ensure the safe delivery of our nation’s energy resources.
Ensuring Grid Reliability and Security
As the top Republican on the Energy Subcommittee, I have been leading the charge to secure our electricity grid from a myriad of threats whether they be cyber, physical, natural, or man-made. In 2015, Congress passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which included language I authored giving the Department of Energy (DOE) more authority to prevent and react to threats to the electrical grid. While the FAST Act was a good start, I will continue to work with my subcommittee to ensure that our grid is as secure and reliable as it can be.
Supporting the Advancement of Safe Nuclear Power
I support a visionary nuclear policy that will create jobs, spur manufacturing, and reduce our reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
When it comes to nuclear energy, it is absolutely critical to make sure these plants operate safely. I have remained in close contact with officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
I also support a permanent storage site for our nation’s used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The need is urgent as spent fuel and waste continues to accumulate at sites across the country that were never designed for long-term storage. We have continued to examine the work of the NRC to address the management and disposal of this material to ensure the public and environment remain protected.
Growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan has instilled in me a deep appreciation for Michigan’s wildlife and natural resources. As an active member of the Great Lakes Caucus, I have an extensive record of working in a bipartisan manner to protect the Great Lakes watershed and preserve the beauty of our lakes for generations to come.
Maintaining the Integrity of the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. As stewards of the Great Lakes, it is our duty to ensure these precious bodies are protected for future generations. The comprehensive, inter-agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) addresses a wide range of problems including invasive species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated sediment. I have always supported robust funding for the GLRI to preserve our Great Lakes for generations to come.
I am also a proud supporter of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, which was ratified by each of the eight Great Lakes State legislatures, approved by Congress, and signed into law by President George W. Bush. The Compact includes provisions that prohibit diversion of lake water outside the region and addresses pressing environmental issues.
Banning Microbeads
In 2015, I helped usher a bipartisan piece of legislation through Congress that would ban synthetic plastic microbeads. Microbeads are tiny scrubbers found in cleansers, body scrubs, and toothpaste. While nearly invisible, smaller than a pinhead, microbeads cause big problems once they are flushed down the drain. Because they are so small, microbeads easily flow through water filtration systems and end up in bodies of water, like the Great Lakes, where they can destroy wildlife and even poison fish. This is why we worked so hard to ban these microbeads, and I was glad to see President Obama sign our bipartisan legislation into law at the end of 2015.
Promoting Nuclear Safety
I have long supported a permanent storage site for our nation’s used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The need is urgent as spent fuel and waste continues to accumulate at sites across the country that were never designed for long-term storage. The Energy and Commerce Committee has continued to examine the work of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to address the management and disposal of this material to ensure the public and environment remain protected.
Stopping Asian Carp and Other Invasive Species
I continue to work with other Members from the Great Lakes region to ensure we have the proper resources to fend off invasive species, including the Asian carp, round goby, sea lamprey, zebra mussel, and alewife. These large non-native fish and other invasive species threaten to destroy the $70 billion economy supported by the Great Lakes. I support the physical separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River water sheds to ensure that future threats from invasive species are mitigated. I do not consider our current infrastructure of electric barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System a viable long-term solution alone.
In July 2019, I joined a bipartisan group of members from our Michigan Congressional delegation to visit the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. In May 2019, the Army Corps of Engineers sent Congress a plan to install noisemakers, electric cables and other devices at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in order to prevent Asian carp from spreading into Lake Michigan. We need to secure the resources necessary to implement this plan and ensure Asian carp stay out of our Great Lakes.
It’s no secret that we need to make real reforms in our health care system to expand access to quality care for all Americans and reduce costs. We must also protect the sanctity of human life and prevent the misuse of federal taxpayer dollars for abortion.
21st Century Cures Act
I have long pushed for greater emphasis on biomedical research and public health. Beginning in 2014, I partnered with Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) on the 21st Century Cures initiative. This legislation aims to help patients and their families by expediting the discovery, development, and delivery of life-saving cures - all in a safe and effective way.
The House passed this game-changing medical innovation bill 392 to 26 on November 30, 2016 and the Senate followed suit, voting 94 to 5 on December 7. Marking the peak of our three-year journey, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act into law on December 13, 2016.
Working together and collaborating not just across the political aisle, but also with the experts outside of Congress, we were able to get the job done. Learn more here: energycommerce.house.gov/cures
21st Century Cures 2.0
Expanding on our successful 21st Century Cures legislation, my colleague Diana DeGette (D-CO) and I recently unveiled the next steps for our bipartisan Cures 2.0 effort that seeks to modernize how we treat the world’s toughest diseases and deliver more life-saving cures to Michigan families and folks across the country.
Cures 2.0 offers hope for tomorrow’s challenges and builds on the many successes of our landmark 21st Century Cures legislation signed into law by President Obama in 2016. Based on the feedback we have received from nearly 500 stakeholders, we will focus our efforts on six key areas of interest to health care providers, patients, and many others.
These categories include public health and pandemic preparedness, caregiver integration, patient engagement in health care decision-making, diversity in clinical trials, and both FDA and CMS modernization. While there is still much work to be done, we’re eager to get the ball rolling on this crucial legislation.
We are living through one of the worst public health crises in more than 100 years, and we can’t afford to wait a second longer to develop solutions to help us address the next crisis that threatens the health and wellbeing of the American people.
Major Mental Health Reforms
Mental health is an issue that impacts every community and so many families in one way or another. As part of the 21st Century Cures Act, we were also able to advance landmark reforms to our mental health system. For years I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to shepherd these bipartisan reforms and reduce the stigma of mental health. Our legislation makes certain the government funds evidence-based programs and removes barriers to care.
Combating Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic
No community is immune and all too many of us have experienced the devastation and loss firsthand caused by the opioid epidemic. Make no mistake – the opioid crisis cuts through all demographics, races and socioeconomic statuses.
In 2018, Congress took a monumental step to combat this crisis. Thanks to a bipartisan effort, we passed and President Trump signed the Substance Use-Disorder that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, which represents the most significant congressional effort to confront a single drug crisis in American history.
Developing new, non-addictive pain medications is essential to combating the opioid epidemic. We must also continue our oversight efforts to make sure laws such as the SUPPORT Act and my 21st Century Cures Act - which provided an additional $1 billion to states to address opioid addiction treatment and prevention – are being implemented the way they were intended.
Obamacare
In May of 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation, the American Health Care Act, that would have repealed and replaced Obamacare, something I have long supported doing. There were several important provisions in this bill that I worked on specifically. These included helping those 31 states – like Michigan – that expanded Medicaid eligibility, continuing coverage for kids until age 26 on their parents’ policies, protecting those with pre-existing illnesses, making certain there was no artificial cap on insurance benefits, and providing tax credits and choices for consumers to select their own plans. As you’re probably aware, I publicly announced that I could not accept a previous version of the AHCA as it undermined my commitment to protect those with a pre-existing illness. As a result, I joined my colleague Congressman Billy Long (R-MO) in adding an amendment that would create a new $8 billion fund aimed at reducing premiums for those with preexisting illnesses in states where a waiver would be granted. I also voted for a separate bill that makes a simple technical change to ensure that the AHCA and its amendments continue to apply to Congress as well. We should not and will not be exempt from any laws we pass here in Congress.
As we continue to search for real solutions to health care policy, we must forge a bipartisan path to ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable care while always protecting pre-existing conditions.
Streamlining the FDA Approval Process for Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices
As a major life sciences corridor, Southwest Michigan is a national leader in health care research and manufacturing. In 2011 and 2012, I led the way in the House for the successful reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) user fee programs for prescription drugs and medical devices. By improving the federal evaluation and approval processes, we significantly helped manufactures here in Michigan and throughout the country better compete with companies overseas by allowing them to bring their life-saving products to patients faster.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has since advanced legislation to modernize the review process for new and generic animal drugs as well. This bipartisan animal health legislation (H.R. 1407) was signed into law in June of 2013.
As a member of the Subcommittee on Health, we will be looking to update all these laws this year in order to further ensure that drugs, treatments, and devices get to patients as fast and as safe as possible. We will also use this opportunity to ensure that the 21st Century Cures Act is implemented as Congress intended.
Protecting the Sanctity of Human Life
As a pro-life Member of Congress, I oppose the misuse of federal taxpayer dollars for abortion services and support the conscience rights of our nation’s health care providers. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have worked to pass legislation – such as former Representative Joe Pitts’ Protect Life Act – to permanently codify restrictions on federal abortion funding. I have supported both the successful ban on partial-birth abortion and the passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which recognizes an unborn child as a legal victim, and have supported efforts to criminalize the circumvention of parental notification laws.
America’s top foreign policy goal must be to defend our citizens and our homeland from foreign threats. Combating terrorism and preventing future terrorist attacks remain national priorities, and we must oppose the policies of oppressive regimes who threaten the interests of the United States and our allies. Governments that empower violent extremists, abuse their own people, or threaten the safety of Americans are of the utmost concern. I have always voted to ensure the brave men and women of our Armed Forces have the resources and training necessary to succeed at home and abroad as well as on and off the battlefield.
Keeping our Homeland Safe and Opposing Threats to the United States
I joined forces with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and the entire Michigan Congressional Delegation in bringing a new cyber mission to Battle Creek. In December of 2015, it was announced that Michigan Air National Guard's 110th Attack Wing, stationed in Battle Creek, would be the new host of a Cyber Operations Squadron. This new Cyber Squadron puts Southwest Michigan on the front lines of protecting our nation against the ever-evolving threat of cyberattacks.
Additionally, I supported the passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act which gives our men and women in the military the tools they need to do their jobs. It also requires the president to come up with a plan to take on the very real threat of terrorist groups like ISIS.
The United States and its allies must also contend with threats posed by hostile regimes like Iran, North Korea, and Syria. I have supported numerous efforts to impose sanctions against rogue states like these for their illegal weapons programs, support of terrorist organizations, and widespread human rights abuses.
More recently, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. must address and rethink our relationship with China. It’s no secret that China has made immense advancements in manufacturing and distributing nearly every type of consumer product known to exist. We must also be acutely aware of the national security and public health concerns of our deeply rooted foreign supply chains and reliance on foreign production. Critical resources like medicines, medical supplies, building material, and so many other products must be readily accessible to American families and affordable for American businesses. In fact, in times of conflict or global pandemic, we must have the resources and capability to domestically produce and distribute crucial supplies like personal protective equipment (PPE) and life-saving medicines to the American people. Additionally, the U.S. must do more to demand global transparency and accurate reporting in times of crisis. China must allow for investigations to move forward. We must know what China knew and when China knew it. So far, they have been stonewalling investigations, but they must answer the questions the global community is asking.
Gun violence
When it comes to the Second Amendment, gun control, and gun-related violence, we need commonsense solutions now more than ever.
I support comprehensive background checks. In fact, I was one of only 56 Republicans to support the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act which established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NICS bars felons, illegal immigrants, spousal abusers, and the mentally ill from buying or owning firearms. But clearly much work must be done to strengthen and improve this system and I support further improvements to NICS.
In 2019, I was one of eight Republicans to support H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act which would require that every firearm sale include a background check with exemptions for family and hunting transfers. I also support federal Red Flag legislation, which would incentivize states to adopt commonsense ‘Red Flag’ laws – with stringent due process and probable cause – to prevent those in imminent danger to themselves or others to have firearms.”
Outside of the important legislation I listed above, we must take steps to ensure our schools have the resources and tools to protect our children. I was a cosponsor and voted in favor of H.R. 4909, the STOP School Violence Act of 2018, to provide grants for training of local law enforcement, school personnel, and students, and create anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence. H.R. 4909 passed the U.S. House of Representatives with wide bipartisan support.
I have also made bipartisan mental health legislation a priority. Horrific mass murder-suicides highlight the connection between mental illness and gun violence. That is why I strongly supported bipartisan legislation, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, to remove barriers to treatment and improve care. I worked to include it in my 21st Century Cures Act which was signed into law. For far too long, we have done too little for those suffering with addiction and mental illness, and in 2018, I led a bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging them to fully fund these important programs.
Foreign Aid and Refugees
In light of our current fiscal situation, I believe we must scrutinize all foreign aid to ensure it is only going to the most deserving causes and nations. Foreign aid is an important tool in advancing American and global security, and we must ensure we are making the best possible use of taxpayer dollars. Supporting refugees also falls into this category. The U.S. has a long and proud history of supporting refugees and being a safe haven for persecuted people. We should continue that tradition while we review and improve security measures to uphold our duty to the American people.
Stopping Sexual Assault in the Military
With 87% of the estimated incidents of unwanted sexual contact going unreported by those serving in the military for fear of retaliation, it is clear that our military’s current system is broken and failing to protect those who have sacrificed so much to keep our nation safe and secure.
Congress passed the bipartisan Military Retaliation Prevention Act (S. 2870) as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. S. 2870 made retaliation against someone who reports a crime like sexual assault an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. While this was a good step, more needs to be done to protect and ensure justice for our service men and women. I support removing the decision of whether a sexual assault case goes to trail outside the victim’s chain of command and was proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act (H.R. 2016) to do that in the 113th Congress. H.R. 2016 would also have required a commanding officer who receives a report of sexual assault in his chain of command to immediately refer the report to the appropriate investigative officer.
I have also supported a number of other provisions to address the sexual assault crisis, including mandatory minimum sentencing for offenders and expanded services for victims.
Securing our Borders
We must remain steadfast in enforcing the immigration and border security laws that are already on the books. I also support legislative efforts to strengthen security along our porous borders. I have supported many efforts to fight smuggling and human trafficking across our borders and restrict illegal entry, including funding for fence construction and surveillance technology along the Southern border. Fixing our broken immigration system would go a long way to support these efforts, and I have long supported comprehensive immigration reform to that end.
Guarding Against Cyber Attacks
As our nation becomes more reliant on digital communications technology, we also increase our exposure to cyber threats from foreign regimes and non-state actors. Cyber risks to our nation’s critical infrastructure have increased significantly in recent years, including multiple high-profile cyber incidents that have confirmed the steady rise of cyberattacks.
As Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, securing critical energy infrastructure, including the electric grid and oil and gas pipelines, is one of my top priorities. In 2015, grid security and reliability measures (H.R. 2271, H.R. 2244, and H.R. 1558) advanced by the committee were signed into law as part of bipartisan highway legislation. This legislation took a big step forward in securing the electric grid by providing the Secretary of Energy with new authority to address imminent threats, requiring the department to evaluate the use of a Strategic Transformer Reserve to increase our emergency preparedness, and clarifying regulations for operators responding to threats.
Yet, there’s still more work to be done. In February of 2019, the Energy Subcommittee held our first hearing on modernizing the grid, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to fortify our energy infrastructure.
American families and businesses are simply taxed too much. To protect jobs and encourage growth, we must keep our tax rates low as well as reform our overly complex tax code.
Enacting Pro-Growth Tax Reform
Plain and simple: our old tax system was broken. It was a complicated mess that imposes burdensome paperwork on Michigan families and small businesses, rewards some while punishing others, and forces businesses to move overseas. I long supported comprehensive tax reform to create a system that is simple, efficient, and fair to all taxpayers.
I supported wholeheartedly the pro-growth Tax Cuts & Jobs Act that was signed into law by President Trump at the end of 2017.
Repealing the Medical Device Tax
From the start, I was a vocal opponent of the Medical Device Tax – the Affordable Care Act’s 2.3 percent excise tax on U.S. medical device sales which took effect in January 2013. The tax had an immediate and harmful impact on Kalamazoo-based employer Stryker, resulting in employee layoffs and fewer dollars for research and development. That is why I cosponsored bipartisan legislation to repeal it and voted to repeal it every time it came before the House. In 2016, bipartisan opponents of the tax were successful in delaying it for two years, and most recently, President Trump repealed it completely in signing the FY 2020 Budget into law.
We owe our nation’s veterans and their families a great debt for their tremendous sacrifices. I take very seriously my duty to the brave men and women who have served our country, and I have a strong record of supporting our veterans. With U.S. troops defending our nation in around the world, it is more important now than ever that we provide our soldiers and their families the resources they deserve both on the battlefield and here at home.
Getting Veterans Back to Work
Many communities have large veteran populations and many veterans returning home from combat seeking jobs. I supported the successful passage of the HIRE Vets Act (H.R. 244), which requires the Department of Labor to establish the HIRE Vets Medallion Program within two years of enactment, to annually recognize private and public sector businesses for their efforts to employ veterans.
I also supported the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment (BRAVE) Act (H.R. 974), which allows the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, when awarding procurement contracts for goods or services, to give preference to government contractors that employ veterans on a full-time basis. The bill would also allow the Secretary to debar contractors who purposely misrepresent their employment of veterans to receive a contract.
Ensuring Veterans Receive a Quality Education
I proudly supported the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides those men and women who have served since September 11, 2001, the resources and opportunity to earn a college or technical degree. Benefits include upfront tuition payments, books and supplies, and a monthly living stipend. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will ensure that our veterans get the education they need to succeed once they have returned home.
I also worked with Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Kellogg Community College in securing a “Vet Success on Campus” program to assist Southwest Michigan student-veterans who are transitioning from the battlefield to the classroom. Among other things, the jointly hosted program will help student-veterans access benefits, including transition support services and education benefits.
Improving the Disability Benefit System
It is well past time for Congress to streamline the Department of Veterans Affairs’ disability rating process so veterans may promptly receive their disability ratings and benefits. Many servicemen and women return home from combat only to encounter endless delays and bureaucratic red tape in their efforts to receive much-deserved benefits.
Providing for the Health of Our Veterans
Our nation has a responsibility to provide the best medical care for our returning servicemen and women. Veteran healthcare must also go beyond the realm of traditional medical care and include treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental maladies caused by the battlefield including substance abuse, depression, suicide prevention, and pain management.
In April 2017, I proudly supported the Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act, which eliminated the expiration date for the Veterans Choice Program. The Choice Program provides critical primary, inpatient and outpatient specialty care, and mental health care for veterans across the United States. Eliminating the sunset date for this important program ensures that our veterans have access to specialists and are not encountering long wait times so they can get the care that they deserve.
More recently, I also supported H.R. 4305, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program that would connect veterans with trained service dogs to help reintegrate our nation’s servicemembers into American society.
I also supported H.R. 299 – the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. Nearly 90,000 veterans served in ships off the coast of Vietnam and face challenges claiming benefits for their exposure to Agent Orange. This legislation would extend the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to veterans who served in the Blue Water Navy.
For me, veterans votes are the easiest votes I cast – they are always ‘YES.’ Taking care of our veterans is one of our most important responsibilities, and I am proud to support initiatives that put our veterans and their wellbeing first.
The American people are entitled to a government that is responsive, transparent, and accountable for its actions.
Protecting Taxpayers from IRS Abuse
The Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) targeting of conservative-leaning organizations is an outrageous abuse of power and undermines the public trust. No administration is above the law; we must ensure full public accountability and guarantee that American taxpayers are never the targets of their own government. To this end, I have cosponsored the Taxpayer Nondiscrimination and Protection Act (H.R. 1950), which would allow the federal government to impose a fine, up to five years imprisonment, or both for an IRS employee engaging in such discrimination. The legislation further reaffirms that political speech and political expression are rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.
Upholding Our Constitution
The size and scope of government has grown far beyond what our Founding Fathers could ever have imagined. To ensure Congress adheres to the Constitution, House Republicans require all legislation to cite its Constitutional authority.
Restoring Transparency and Public Debate
Legislation must be available at least three days before it is voted upon, allowing the public and Members of Congress the opportunity to read and understand the bill. House Republicans have also restored open debate and a transparent process of offering amendments on the House Floor.
Investigating Solyndra
Congress must live up to its constitutional responsibility to ensure the federal government is accountable to the American people. I led the House’s 18-month investigation of Solyndra, the now-bankrupt California solar company that was the recipient of a $535 million loan guarantee. Our committee’s investigation revealed time and again that the Obama administration ignored the warnings from outside and administration experts, but doubled down with the taxpayers’ money anyway. To ensure that such mismanagement of taxpayer dollars never happens again, I have coauthored the “No More Solyndras Act” which phases out the failed program and puts new provisions in place to ensure greater White House transparency.
Our historic national debt is simply unsustainable, endangering our fiscal integrity and threatening to bury future generations under an avalanched of debt. We have a responsibility to the American people to cut our federal deficit and enact a balanced budget. I support a number of provisions that would drastically reduce wasteful government spending and put the nation back on the track toward a balanced budget.
Improving the Budget Process
The current high-stakes process of passing last minute spending bills is not good for our fiscal house or the responsible management of critical government programs. To end this process, I am a cosponsor of the Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act (H.R. 1065). H.R. 1065 would establish a two-year budgeting cycle in which Congress would complete appropriations for two years in the first year and conduct oversight of federal programs in the second year. This would provide a comprehensive review of federal spending to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used wisely and achieving their ends.
Supporting the Balanced Budget Amendment
American families have made difficult budgetary decisions to live within their means – it is long past time for government to do the same. I support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution of the United States that would prohibit federal spending for any fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing), unless explicitly authorized by both bodies of Congress by a three-fifths vote. The amendment would also require a three-fifths vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit.
Supporting an Earmark Ban
Several high-profile and wasteful projects made clear that the earmark process is broken and riddled with scandal. I support the House Republican moratorium on all earmark spending which has been in effect since 2011.
Supporting the Line-Item Veto
I support giving the President of the United States the power of the line-item veto. Under this long overdue legislation, the President would have the authority to single out individual spending items in legislation that arrives on his desk for signature and send these specific line items back to Congress for a timely up-or-down vote on whether to rescind these spending provisions. Likewise, the President would be able to request the rescission of narrowly targeted special-interest tax breaks.
Eliminating the COLA for Members of Congress
I have repeatedly supported the successful efforts to eliminate the Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) scheduled to be made to Member salaries from 2010 to the present.
Reducing Congress’s Budget
I supported the successful Republican resolution to reduce the budgets for Members of Congress and House Committees for 2011 and 2012 by 5 percent across the board. Rightfully so, congressional offices and committees are subject to the across-the-board budget cuts under the sequester that have hit virtually all other federal departments, agencies, and programs.