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Dear neighbor,
After three grueling weeks of chaos and schedule changes, the People’s House is back in business! On Wednesday, Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana was elected Speaker of the House. Despite our significant policy differences, and notwithstanding some concerns regarding institutional integrity (addressed below) I extended a heartfelt congratulations to Speaker Johnson following his election. I was very pleased to hear Speaker Johnson say during his acceptance speech that he was excited to work across the aisle and find common ground with House Democrats. I take him at his word. I was pleased to see that the first bill Speaker Johnson put on the floor was a fully bipartisan resolution condemning the horrific terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023. I was one of over 400 members of the House to vote yes.
The Week in Review
This week I engaged in two important bipartisan D.C. initiatives on behalf of West Michigan.
The Smithsonian National Women’s History Museum
Smithsonian museums are a national treasure–archiving the past so visitors can learn from it, honor it, and improve upon what we’ve done, or not repeat the mistakes of the past. From the National Museum of the American Indian to the National Portrait Gallery and the National African American History Museum, these museums are an essential part of our United States capital. I’m proud to join with a bipartisan group of individuals to champion the creation of the National Women’s History Museum. This week, I joined a convening to celebrate so many iconic women, including Lynda Carter (who played Wonder Woman in the 70s!), Judy Woodruff (the former anchor of PBS NewsHour!), Ellen Ochoa (a former astronaut!), and Renée Fleming (an award-winning singer!).
Fix Congress Caucus
I also joined with dozens of other members this week in starting the Fix Congress Caucus to help us ensure the integrity of our institution for generations to come. The struggle to elect a Speaker made it clear that we need bipartisan solutions to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent. That’s what this group is all about.
Keeping in touch across the miles: Telephone Town Hall
On Tuesday, I conducted my first ever telephone town hall. I was blown away by the participation. We had over 4,000 participants! 1,000 individuals stayed for the ENTIRE time. And, I have to brag on us–on average, participants stayed on for 26 minutes of the hour-long town hall, which is over 2X higher than the House average. The future of our democracy depends on engaged constituents and responsive representatives. I’m so grateful you took the time to engage, and I will continue to find ways to be responsive.
Committee Activity
This week, I flew back to Washington early for our scheduled Water subcommittee hearing entitled “Water Resources Development Acts: Status of Past Provisions and Future Needs”. However, after Republicans showed up late, delayed the hearing several hours, they ultimately canceled the hearing due to ongoing conflict in their conference. You hear me talk a lot about how chaos has consequences, and it’s important to highlight what I mean. Due to this committee cancellation, dozens of members of Congress were pulled away from their constituents back home early, and called to a hearing room for a hearing that should have been canceled the day before, as Republicans knew they would still be in a meeting deciding their next speaker candidate. Two high-level servicemembers from the Army Corps of Engineers took days to prepare for the hearing and took a day away from their critical work while waiting for the hearing to begin. It was an absolutely egregious waste of taxpayer resources.
I’m as ready as anyone to get back to work, and I hope our new leadership will keep in mind how significant these interruptions are when they face a choice between extremism or collaboration. Don’t worry–I extended a heartfelt West Michigan apology to our two witnesses– the Honorable Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army and Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (his wife is a Michigander!). I’m hopeful this critical hearing will get rescheduled–we have lots to discuss about the WRDA priorities in Michigan.
Legislative Activity
Big Bills on the Floor
Speaker Vote
Our biggest vote of the week of course was for Speaker of the House. Throughout this ordeal, I have always said that I am willing to work with any speaker–Republican or Democrat–so long as they are willing to remain faithful to the institutional functioning of Congress. We can work our policy differences in votes.
We can’t work around individuals working to undermine the institution. I don’t need someone I agree with 100% on policy issues (that’s not realistic), but we do need them to ensure the integrity of the institution. To me, that means someone who was willing to certify the 2020 election. Early in the week, Republicans had rallied around such a candidate–Tom Emmer. However, former President Donald Trump intervened shortly after Emmer won the nomination, calling on Republicans not to support him. Within hours, they tossed him out as their nominee, selecting Mr. Johnson instead, someone who President Trump calls “MAGA Mike Johson.” Rep. Johnson voted against certifying the 2020 election, and even beyond that–lobbied the Supreme Court to overturn the duly cast votes of the good people of our state.
I also need to note, while I would never have allowed policy differences alone to dictate a Speaker vote, Mr. Johnson comes with a significantly troubling past record on women (he voted against the Violence Against Women Act), veterans (he voted against the PACT Act), and the LGBTQ+ community (he has said such dehumanizing things that about this vulnerable community that I will not repeat them here, but these dangerous statements are readily available online). I want to assure everyone reading this that while I’m committed to trying to work on areas of agreement with our new Speaker–like reducing the federal deficit, fixing our southern border and our immigration system–I will not compromise on fundamental freedoms in this country–including freedom from government control over your body and most personal healthcare decisions, your private relationship decisions, and protection for our veterans.
Resolution condemning Hamas and supporting Israel
As I mentioned above, the very first bill that Speaker Johnson put on the floor this week was a resolution to condemn Hamas and its horrific atrocities committed against innocent civilians. More than 400 of my colleagues–Democrats and Republicans alike–joined me in that effort. We continue to pray for the victims, hostages and their families, and remain clear-eyed and focused on our goal—peace and prosperity for all in the Middle East.
Energy and Water Development appropriations bill
This week, we also voted on one of the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government – the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. We need to be working together in a bipartisan way to fund our government– and this bill was anything but bipartisan. I had to vote against this legislation. This bill would slash our investment in clean energy, cut American jobs, and increase energy prices for Michigan families. We’re ticking closer and closer to our Nov. 17th deadline to fund the government. House Republicans need to come to the table with House Democrats and work on a bipartisan path forward to prevent a shutdown.
I co-sponsored 5 bills and signed onto 4 letters this week.
Bills:
- H.R. 5113, REACH Our Tribes Act: This bill aims to establish a budgetary Trial governance consultation process at the Department of Agriculture.
- H.R. 4756, Community News and Small Business Support Act: This bipartisan bill would allow certain small businesses and journalists to receive tax credits for wages of no more than 1500 employees and advertisements in local media.
- H.R. 5023, The PLANT Act: The bill would provide support for farmers and others in the food supply chain and would build efforts to strengthen the plant-based food industry.
- H.R. 3713, The Mental Health Service for Students Act: This bipartisan bill would provide $300 million in funding for public schools to partner with local mental health professionals to establish on-site mental health services for students.
- H.R. 3086, Find It Early Act: This bipartisan bill would provide health coverage for those who are at a higher risk of breast cancer for additional screenings.
Letters:
- Letter to the Secretary Polly Trottenberg of the Federal Aviation Administration: This letter urges the FAA to address efforts by passenger airlines operations which circumvent essential safety requirements for workers.
- Letter to President Biden, Leader Jeffries, Leader Schumer, Ranking Member DeLauro and Chair Murray: This letter urges its addressees to reject any attempts to include anti-LGBTQI+ provisions in any final FY24 funding agreement.
- Letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives: This bipartisan letter is in support of the ATF’s proposed rule which would expand those who need to register as a federal firearm licensee and close the gun-show loophole.
- Letter to Majority and Minority Leaders in the House and Senate: This letter urges the recipients to bring a bipartisan border security package reflecting the Presidents’ emergency supplemental request before each Chamber.
Back in the district
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Back in the district, I got to take a behind the scenes tour of the TSA Security operations at GRR (AKA USA Today’s Best Regional Airport in the Country). From screening for dangerous objects to conducting critical explosives analyses, the TSA Team at GRR is hard at work keeping us safe. And guess what? They’re hiring! TSA in Grand Rapids has multiple entry level jobs available– this is both a great career and entry point into public safety, law enforcement, and federal security. Check out more here.
Our visit also entailed giving two highly skilled TSA officers awards for their brave and vigilant service spotting and keeping weapons off planes. I have to admit, I got a little misty-eyed. As a frequent traveler, this mamma sure is grateful these dedicated men and women are here to keep us safe every week.
The Week in Preview
Next week, I’m ready to continue my work to avert a government shutdown and pass spending bills. According to Speaker Johnson’s proposed schedule, the House will vote on Legislative Branch, Interior and Environment, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development appropriations bills. I’ll be sure to provide updates on both our progress and the substance of these bills in the days ahead. There is nothing more important to me than ensuring our neighbors and small businesses don’t need to grapple with the fear of a government shutdown ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
With two days in West Michigan before I head back to D.C., I’ll visit with local students, stop by the Muskegon Airport, and hear from the incredible team at Kent County’s Network180 Access Center.
I’ll also share a Washington update with local reporters across West Michigan so that the work I’m doing reaches the eyes and ears of all of our neighbors– stay tuned for that!
As a mom, I’m grateful that I’ll be home with my family and friends on Halloween night. There’s nothing like seeing our community come together to celebrate fun moments and share sweet treats. Keep your eyes on my social media pages if you’re wondering what my boys James and Wesley will be dressed up as!
As always, it’s an honor to serve you, West Michigan.
Yours,
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Hillary Scholten
Member of Congress
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