Backing the Blue

May 11-17, 2022, marks National Police Week. On Thursday, I joined House Republican Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy for his second annual Back the Blue Tour with law enforcement officers and fellow colleagues in the House Republican Conference. We rode from the Capitol to the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum to honor and pay tribute to law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty.

I laid a wreath in honor of Lititz Borough Police Department Chief Douglas A. Shertzer, Sr. who was killed in the line of duty on May 11, 2004, during an on-duty motorcycle crash. Chief Shertzer served the Lititz Borough Police Department for 23 years. May we always give thanks and honor law enforcement officers who serve and protect our communities.

Bidenflation Continues to Rage 

The latest monthly reading of the consumer price index shows that Bidenflation continues to rage near 40-year highs, with prices rising at 8.3 percent from last year. This month’s report has some troubling signs. This report exceeded economists’ expectations for the increase in core inflation, which excludes gas and groceries. Rental costs rose at the fastest rate since 1991. While inflation continues to be high, real wages also declined 2.6 percent.

There’s nothing “temporary” about the inflation we are experiencing. We know that inflation was accelerated by Biden and Pelosi’s reckless spending. Bidenflation is causing seniors to put off their retirements or return to the workforce early. There is no doubt that Bidenflation has had a “big negative impact” on my constituents’ finances.

We witnessed gas prices reach new all-time highs day after day this week. Our local prices outpace the national average. While we are all paying more at the pump, this week the Biden administration canceled offshore oil lease sales. The Biden administration ought to be working to increase the available supply of domestic energy, not restricting it.

In Biden’s economy, inflation and gas prices are rising and real wages and GDP growth are down.

Rising Interest Rates Impacts our Nation's Financial Health 

In response to rising Bidenflation, the Federal Reserve Board has raised benchmark interest rates. Rising interest rates increase the cost of borrowing for the federal government. The more that we must pay in interest payments on our national debt, the less funding is available for other priorities. Depending on the rate of change in interest rates, our annual interest payments on the national debt could soar to trillions of dollars. Read this report from House Budget Committee Republican Leader Rep. Jason Smith about how much we could be paying in interest on our national debt.

Around the District 

There are many career pathways to success. It was great to speak with local high school students participating in the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce’s Young Men Discovering Paths Mentorship program. 

It was great to visit Highway Equipment and Supplies in Brownstown to learn more about their operations and how workforce and supply chain issues are impacting their business.

Last week, I spoke to civics students at Cocalico High School in Denver to talk about how Congress operates and answered students’ questions about issues they are passionate about. Thanks for a great visit!

I enjoyed visiting Ultra Electronics in Lancaster County to learn about their operations, tour their facilities and take questions from their employees.

Thanks to Guy McIntosh, Executive Director of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra for stopping by to share all the great things coming up for the orchestra and how they navigated the challenges of the pandemic.

Here to Help

To any veteran, there is always support available at the Veterans Crisis Line. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or text 838255. Visit the Veterans Crisis Line website for more information.

Looking for information on federal grants? Learn more about the grant awarding process and search the federal database of grant programs at www.grants.gov.

If you have any questions or issues with a federal agency, please know that my office is here to assist you. You can call my district or Washington, DC offices for assistance or visit my website for any issue with a federal agency or department.

Stay Connected

To stay up-to-date on my work in the district and Washington, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also check out my YouTube page, where there are 100+ videos, many of which are direct responses to your questions.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Smucker