Dear Constituent, 

This past week was a disappointing one here in DC. I was ready to get to work legislating after last week’s emergency debt ceiling vote that prevented our nation from going into default– but instead, the entire work House of Representatives was held up by a small minority of Republican representatives who found it more important to make a political statement than to try to legislate. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are real issues our neighbors are counting on Congress to address, and I’m calling on my Republican colleagues to put away their petty squabbles and get down to work.

Despite these roadblocks, my team and I made the most of our time in Washington by meeting with several groups from West Michigan who are making a difference in many of our lives. I was proud to have co-sponsored twelve different pieces of legislation this week including the American Family Act, which aims to ensure that the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit is made permanent, as well as two bills aimed at addressing doctor and healthcare worker shortages across the country, which we’re acutely feeling in West Michigan. You can always learn more about my legislative actions here.

MEETING WITH THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN

I was delighted to speak with several members of the Home Builders Association of Michigan (HBAM) who came to Washington to share their priorities. I have been invested in increasing housing supply in West Michigan where populations are booming but available housing does not match. I am excited to continue working with great groups from Michigan such as those in HBAM so that we can decrease roadblocks to increasing supply and help make housing more affordable for all those in West Michigan.

EQUALITY ROUNDTABLE

As a proud member of the Equality Caucus, I attended a roundtable where families from across the country shared how attacks on LGBTQ+ freedoms are affecting them. I am grateful for the honesty of the passionate young people who shared their personal experiences with our caucus. As I am fighting for our country to be a more inclusive and safe space for all Americans, I know that the anti-LGBTQ+ laws popping up in several states are hurting, not helping, this effort. I want to be a voice in Congress that fights against discriminatory pieces of legislation and uplifts the voices of those who are not always heard or listened to.

DASH TOUR

After I returned home to West Michigan, my kids and I took a ride on the new transit route that Grand Rapid runs downtown– the Downtown Area Shuttle, or DASH. This route is an incredible resource in our growing city, as it provides a free form of transportation between the core parts of downtown Grand Rapids. This appropriations season, I submitted a Community Project Funding Request on behalf of the Rapid for the designing and updating of their Bus Rapid Transit station near Trinity Health, and I will continue to advocate for vital infrastructure projects such as this one in Congress. I am happy to see the continued progress and excitement that the Rapid has in connecting communities to vital resources and entertainment venues and encourage anyone traveling downtown to use this free resource!

FUNDING FRIDAY

This week, I am excited to highlight the Rural Energy for America Program’s Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans and Grants. As a member of the House Small Business Committee, I know just how important obtaining capital and federal dollars is to ensure that a business thrives. This particular grant would help make capital more available to agricultural producers who are seeking to implement more efficient energy systems, including renewable energy equipment to run their farms. To learn more about this loan financing and grant funding program, check out the link here or reach out to my office! 

LOOKING AHEAD

I’m back in Washington this week and the big work before me is a mark-up on the Federal Aviation Act before the full committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. We’ll have more to come on this next week, but I’m excited that I was able to get some critical priorities for West Michigan in the Act. I look forward to hearing your feedback on this critical piece of legislation as we work to move it through committee and on to the House floor.

Sincerely,

Hillary Scholten
Member of Congress