Dear Neighbor, 

Thank you for your vibrant engagement this week. In last week’s newsletter, I asked you to reach out with thoughts, questions, and concerns, and you delivered. With so much going on at home, in the capital, and abroad, it is essential that I hear from you about the issues that matter most. You have no idea how much your perspectives mean to me. 

The week in review

It’s challenging for an optimist like me to deliver such dire reports from Washington week after week. I started writing this on Friday evening on the plane ride home after being sent home by the Republican Majority before finishing the task at hand. It’s been 20 DAYS since Republicans have failed to elect a Speaker of the House and resume the functions of our government. Republicans called every member of the House to Washington last week–pulling us away from our families and much-needed time tending to our constituents in our district– only to take three failed Speaker votes and to wait around while they engaged in unproductive name-calling and bickering. It’s childish, and it’s deeply unbecoming of the greatest democracy on earth. Think of the waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars this week–money frittered away while they fight.

This chaos has profound consequences aside from the waste of taxpayer dollars, too. While Republicans choose grandstanding instead of governing, we did not address much-needed border security and immigration reform challenges, the Farm Bill reauthorization, the FAA reauthorization, the NDAA reauthorization, or how we will engage and defend our democratic allies in Israel and Ukraine, or provide much-needed humanitarian aid to innocent civilians trapped in Gaza and Israel amid the fighting. The world can’t wait. 

For almost three weeks now, Democrats like me have been extending the hand of compromise–a virtue our country was built upon–to our Republican colleagues. We remain ready, as we have been, to work on a bipartisan path forward. And yet, Republicans rebuff those attempts. Last week, Republicans said over and over that they need to hit rock bottom before they’ll work with Democrats – folks, if bringing the House to a standstill for nearly three weeks and neglecting our veterans by failing to reauthorize the NDAA isn’t rock bottom, I don’t know what is, and I fear for where we’re going. Please know that I continue to work towards a compromise that ensures the integrity of our institution and the functionality of our government.

Legislative recap

While I unfortunately don’t have anything to share from the House floor from last week–other than we were forced to take three ‘doomed-from-the-start’ Speaker votes–I’m proud of the preparatory work my team did to get us ready to move important bills when the House does reopen. Last week, I co-sponsored three new pieces of legislation, including two bills to address the student mental health crisis. The first bill provides direct financial support to public schools to provide mental health services, and the second requires colleges and universities to create a policy against cyberbullying, The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act. Our young people are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. It’s imperative that we stand with them and give them the tools they need to be successful. 

I also sent five letters urging executive action on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including a letter urging Egypt to open safe humanitarian pathways for Palestinians trapped in Gaza as well as a letter to the President of the United States urging continued aid to the Gaza Strip. We absolutely must ensure the safety of innocent Palestinians trapped in Gaza as this war continues, and the United States must lead by showing what it looks like to lead with humanity while defending democracy and combating terrorism.

West Michigan in Washington

It was fall break back home, and I was DELIGHTED to host DOZENS of West Michigan families in the nation’s capital to learn and engage in The People’s House.

The week in preview

I’ll be back in DC next week for my eighth straight session week. I miss West Michigan so much that I can hardly see straight. I’m looking forward to a lengthy visit and district work period in the beginning of November. We’ll take a Speaker vote on Tuesday and then hopefully return to normal business. Regardless of what happens, know that I am still hard at work for you. 

Next week, I’ll be joining a panel of experts as we plan and advocate for the completion of the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum in Washington, DC. I’ll also be joining an LGBTQ+ roundtable to listen to varied perspectives on what it’s like raising a trans child in conservative America. 

And, most importantly–we have our telephone town hall tomorrow evening–please join us!

A special note on the Israel-Hamas war

I want to thank you all for your outreach on this critically important, complex, and devastating issue. The Middle East region is one of the most complicated and often misunderstood regions of the world. I want you to know that I approach the ongoing complexities in the region, and the new Israel-Hamas war with the same thoughtfulness, open-mindedness, intelligence, and compassion that I do any other issue that I face in Congress. I’m here for your questions and your engagement. While I cannot personally respond to each piece of correspondence, you can be sure that your outreach gets to me directly and I take it all under consideration as I weigh the challenges I face around this issue.

The outreach from the community to my office these past two weeks has made clear that there is certainly widespread disagreement about the path forward on the Israel-Hamas war. I want you to know that though we might not always align 100% on policy issues, your voice and your perspective matter greatly to me. There is a common thread in your correspondence though, and it’s at the heart of what drives my foreign policy–it is our desire for lasting peace. Indeed for all people to enjoy peace and prosperity. As your representative, I commit to you that I honor and respect the right of our ally Israel to exist and defend itself from terrorist attacks like we saw from Hamas on October 7. I have pledged to continue to show that support with financial assistance. I also unequivocally support the right of innocent Palestinians to remain safe, secure, and free from violence, and have committed to use the full weight of the United States to make sure that the loss of life in the region is minimized, and that aid is granted to those in need (see the letter referenced above). The goal for the region is lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians–a true two state solution. The indefatigable optimist in me still (STILL) believes this is possible. I will continue to do all I can as a lawmaker and as your representative in Congress to facilitate that hope and possibility in the region. Your partnership and continued engagement makes that possible. Please stay tuned for additional opportunities to engage.

We have a town hall tomorrow and mobile office hours the following week. See details below!

Telephone Town Hall
Tuesday, October 24th, 2023
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Dial-in: (855) 286-0280

Muskegon Mobile Office Hours
Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 
10:00 am - 2:00 pm 
Muskegon Community College Room 1045
221 S. Quarterline Rd
Muskegon, MI 49442

As always, it’s an honor to serve you, West Michigan.

Sincerely, 

Hillary Scholten
Member of Congress