Dear Neighbor,

These weeks are filled with a lot of ups & downs, but there’s nothing like going all the way UP to the top of the Bridgewater Building and rappelling DOWN the side! It was worth it for a good cause—raising money for the Easterseals. Their work supporting children, adults and families living with physical and mental disabilities is a game changer for so many in West Michigan. A special thanks to Amway for supporting the event and making a huge contribution to Easterseals in support. 

The week in review

The Big Bill
It’s still about the budget. For those of you following along at home, we still do not have a bill to even discuss how we want to fund the government, because Republican leadership cannot agree to a bill to bring the floor for a vote. 

Here’s the hardest part for a young optimist to swallow—we had a deal and Republicans are not honoring it. Back in May when we negotiated a plan to avoid a national default, we agreed that we would fund the government at 2023 levels and do so without trying to attach partisan policy riders. Instead—the bills Republicans passed out of committee and are trying to get to the floor contain drastic cuts and attempt to resolve thorny policy issues like abortion access for troops and DEI programs. Regardless of how you might feel on those things personally, Republicans promised not to jeopardize our economy by resolving those through must pass budget items this year while we work to restore the world’s faith in our economy. They promised.

And now, because they’re going back on their word, we’re heading straight for one of the most costly and detrimental government stoppages of our time. The last two government shutdowns have cost the government over 5 BILLION (with a B) dollars. The impacts in Michigan would be disastrous. From United States Coast Guard service members to our TSA agents and postal workers, essential employees in West Michigan will work without pay throughout a shutdown. Unpaid workers are one of the countless pain points a government shutdown will cause. 

There’s still time to avoid it if Republicans want to. If they want to. But instead of accepting our offer to work together, Republicans are digging in deeper to a bill that will appease a narrow flank of their base. And they sent us home again without having a bill or a plan, and with only 9 days left to avoid a shutdown. The Speaker failed twice this week—twice in one week—to produce a rule to discuss one of the most typically bipartisan funding packages—the defense spending bill. A rule has not failed twice in the same week in the House in decades, maybe ever. 

Maybe it’s time to try something different? I joined my New Democratic Coalition colleagues in a letter to McCarthy offering myriad ways to work together to get to 218 on a spending package. I also joined my Problem Solvers’ Caucus colleagues, a group of more than 60 Democrats and Republicans, in presenting a bipartisan framework to avoid a shutdown.

Other Legislative Work

Transportation & Infrastructure
This week we had a full committee hearing with Secretary Buttigieg to ask about implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and also urge essential oversight to DOT projects across the board. I asked for increased transparency in federal efforts to build capacity across communities that typically lack access to federal resources.  I also pressed for administrative support in getting aging air traffic control towers replaced, including the one at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. 

We also had a Coast Guard subcommittee hearing on technological advances in maritime transport. Ensuring our waterways are healthy and sustainable is essential to the success of many industries. Autonomous vessels are an important research tool that help us make informed decisions and Michigan has been leading the way for years.

Small Business
In the Small Business Committee this week, we held a hearing on the importance of school administrative oversight and mental health support for college athletes. It was so powerful to hear the stories of student athletes, learn about the challenges of balancing school, young adulthood, and athletics, and why having ownership over their own identities is so critical.

Check it out: https://youtu.be/SbEGH9HEyhs

Additional Legislative Highlights
I co-sponsored six pieces of legislation this week — here a few highlights:

• The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act, which will make sure we’re adequately funding our water and infrastructure systems.
• The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, which will help protect our communities from gun violence.
• I joined my colleagues in sending several different letters on key topics important to West Michigan. For example, I sent a letter to the Department of Defense urging them to provide additional clarification to their July 2022 PFAS cleanup schedule & to provide details on costs as well as interim cleanup actions recently initiated. 
• I hosted the Michigan House Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony for a discussion on effective utilization of state and federal dollars in West Michigan. When we work together for the good of our state, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.
• I talked with Bill Nye the Science Guy who was on the Hill this week advocating for additional funding to bring soil samples from Mars back home.
• It was the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference this week and that meant lots of time to talk to visiting West Michiganders about their priorities. 

Just for fun—(Nerd Alert!)
We work hard in D.C. and it’s important to kick back and have fun too, especially when we can bond across the aisle—and for a good cause. Maybe a Spelling Bee isn’t EVERYONE’s idea of a good time, but I sure had a blast participating in this annual Press v. Congress event. Scripp’s National Spelling Bee Champ Dev Shaw was on hand to judge us (and oh did he judge us for our mediocre spelling, haha). It was an honor to be asked to play!

Back in the district
We made the most of my time in the district by focusing on two of my top priorities—the environment and transportation enhancements. Our work towards a Greener West Michigan got a HUGE boost! 

ICYMI—I helped secure a FIVE MILLION DOLLAR grant for the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, to plant close to 16,000 trees in local parks. These trees honor the Native heritage of our ancestral land, and give hope for the future to those yet to come who will enjoy cleaner air and water, and cooler temperatures as a result. 

Our team also participated in National Rail Safety Week with an event at the Grand Rapids Amtrak station, made possible by my predecessor in this seat and on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Vern Ehlers. With increasing demands on railways, and rising safety incidents, my work on Transportation and Infrastructure is more important than ever. 

Here’s what else we were up to in the district:

• Engaged in a multi-layered government roundtable to wrap up the Grand River clean up initiative. 
• Zoomed with South Christian’s AP Government Class for a lesson in Federalism at work in the US Congress
• We welcomed West Michigan to DC for a bit this week with the annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference

The week in preview
Before I head back to Washington, I’ll be in Ottawa County speaking with students at Grand Valley State University. This week will be full of meetings with constituents and stakeholders in Washington as we wait to vote on legislation to fund the government. After the last two week’s failed votes, it’s my hope that Leader McCarthy will remember the deal he made — for the sake of our neighbors, our essential federal workers, and those who rely on Social Security and other bedrock programs.

It’s an honor to serve you, West Michigan. 

Sincerely,

Hillary Scholten
Member of Congress