Dear Constituent,

This week, I was hard at work representing West Michiganders in Congress. Here are some of the things I’ve been up to in Washington:

Protecting kids

I’m continuing my work standing up for children being forced to work in exploitative and illegal conditions. I’m preparing a bill that will raise the civil penalties for child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The key to protecting kids is enforcement of the labor laws already on the books that prohibit exploitation. Companies need to know that the penalties for taking advantage of children are not just a routine cost of doing business. By raising civil monetary penalties on violators, I’m making sure that companies know breaking the law, particularly when it comes to children, carries a high cost.

Engaging the Freshman Class at the Department of Transportation

This week, I joined Secretary Buttigieg to talk about how Congress and the DOT can work together. As a member of the leadership team for my freshman class and a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I moderated an engaged conversation on some of the most pressing transportation issues across America.

Transportation is a key social determinant of health, educational attainment, and economic prosperity, and is crucial for social connectivity for so many Americans—and that’s why it’s so important to invest in it.

Interview with El Vocero

On Monday, I sat down with reporters at El Vocero to discuss immigration and the child migrant labor crisis in Grand Rapids. It is so important that elected officials are available to their constituents, and that they respond to issues that matter to them.

I’m committed to doing exactly that for West Michiganders.

Community Project Funding

I recently announced Community Project Funding available for organizations and groups across MI-03. Our office is currently taking applications–see project criteria and relevant deadlines at scholten.house.gov/communityprojects.

These funds are not anonymous. They are the hard earned tax dollars of West Michiganders–and it’s critical that we reinvest in our community in a fiscally responsible and community-minded manner that benefits towns and cities across West Michigan.

The Week Ahead

I’ll be back in the district this whole next week this week, visiting businesses and engaging constituents about what matters to them. Keep up to date about what we’re doing on our social media, @RepScholten!

Working for you,

Hillary Scholten
Member of Congress