Dear Friend,

The House was called back to Washington last week to adopt legislation to suspend our federal borrowing limit (known as the “Debt Ceiling”) until December 3rd. As I have since I came to Congress, I opposed this effort because it once again failed to include any plan or thought on how to slow the growth and spending of the federal government.

At nearly $30 trillion in debt and with Speaker Pelosi intent on spending $5+ trillion more before the end of the year, we cannot continue to spend without regard for what it means for future generations. As prices continue to rise and Congress remains unable to reach an agreement on even our most basic Article 1 responsibilities, I have offered legislation which would avoid the shutdown politics and reduce spending across the board.

Anyone who manages their family’s budget, tracking income and living expenses, knows what it’s like to live within their means. There’s no reason why the federal government shouldn’t operate on that same principle. We must get our spending under control.

Keep reading to learn more about what we’re working on for the Sixth District…

Ensuring Oversight of Federal Spending

As head of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, my work revolves around making sure your hard-earned tax dollars are spent wisely. To that end, we also explore different aspects of the financial services industry to better understand the impact they might have on the American people.

Last week, I led a hearing examining the implications of a cashless economy. I believe there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to payment options, and cash is essential to democracy and an open society. However, it is important to discuss emerging payment options.

I questioned expert witness Professor Todd Zywicki. Watch our exchange here.

Based off this exchange, I think it is clear technology and payment innovation can provide a sense of improved convenience and affordability for the consumer. The privacy implications of a cashless economy, however, cannot be emphasized enough. As we grapple with preserving privacy and adapting to a digital economy, we must look to technology solutions in payments that preserve the privacy elements of cash.

Encouraging American Innovation in Technology

Many of us relied on apps during the pandemic to keep us connected – through telehealth appointments, grocery delivery, video chatting with family, and so much more.

Facilitating the development of the technology workforce is essential for a strong post-COVID recovery. Last week, I re-introduced the Advancing and Promoting Programming (APP) Act to help entrepreneurs and encourage innovation at a critical time. This legislation is designed to help American innovators more easily access the tools and resources needed to create applications for web and mobile devices. 

As the digital revolution continues, it's imperative we keep up with the changing times to improve our future success, and the APP Act will ensure we do just that. For the United States to remain competitive, we must encourage innovation and highlight the importance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills will have on our future.

The APP Act promotes app creation and innovation by:

• Inventing a centralized website to provide individuals and small businesses with the information they need to find sources of federal funding for the creation of apps,
• Establishing a platform where Americans can rate and comment on the different federal government apps and retire old or obsolete ones,
• Featuring successful educational programs and non-profit resources that provide computer science education for the next generation of programmers.

Until next week, if you are in need of assistance or would like to share your thoughts with me, please write me an e-mail here.

To keep up with what we’re doing in Washington, follow me on Twitter and Facebook for more updates!

Sincerely,