Update From My Office

Hello, friends!

This is Congressman Matt Van Epps, your representative of Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District.

Over the past two weeks in Congress and across Tennessee’s Seventh District, I have been focused on standing up for the rule of law, supporting our communities, and honoring the values that make our country strong.

Last week, I was back in the district, where I spent a lot of time with people in the community, while visiting businesses and educational institutions. I was also glad to be in the district when the news about the new maps broke.

While losing several of the counties I currently represent—all which have been so great to me—is going to be hard, I am looking forward to continuing my work in Washington on behalf of TN07. As someone on my team said: "The lines might change, but our mission doesn’t." That is exactly how I feel.

I ran for Congress to get our country back on track after four years of reckless spending and open borders under the Biden administration. My focus will continue to be on supporting our military families and veterans, empowering Tennessee to become a leader in defense tech manufacturing, supporting our farmers and ranchers, protecting our homeland, making life more affordable for hardworking American families, and ensuring our military remains the strongest fighting force on the planet. Moving district lines won’t change any of this.

Standing Up For Law Enforcement

Last week, I was proud to cosponsor a resolution recognizing National Police Week and honoring the brave law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. I am especially grateful that Deputy Justin Mowery, an East Tennessee officer who died on duty in December 2025, is being recognized for his service and sacrifice.

I also cosponsored several bills aimed at strengthening public safety and supporting those who put their lives on the line to protect our communities. The Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act increases federal penalties for fraud connected to posting bail for violent criminals, ensuring that bad actors cannot exploit the system to release dangerous individuals. In addition, H.R. 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act, promotes transparency by informing the public about which jurisdictions allow cashless bail for individuals charged with violent or sexual crimes.

At a time when law enforcement has faced growing challenges, it is critical that we stand firmly behind the men and women who serve. Policies that undermine public safety—such as efforts to defund police departments or weaken enforcement—have had serious consequences in communities across the country. Law enforcement officers should never be vilified for doing the difficult and often dangerous job we ask of them. They deserve our full support, respect, and gratitude.

I remain committed to advancing policies that prioritize public safety, hold criminals accountable, and ensure our law enforcement officers have the tools and backing they need to do their jobs effectively.

I was also proud to be an original cosponsor of Rep. John McGuire's bill, the Federal Accountability for Felony Obstruction Act (FAFO). The days when radical activists get away with taking over our streets, trashing our businesses, and impeding law enforcement operations must end. Over the last several years, we’ve seen far too much disorder and not enough law and order. We have also seen our brave men and women of law enforcement mocked, abused, and forced to stand by while the communities they swore to protect are victimized. Rep. McGuire’s bill is an important step to right these wrongs by holding criminals who damage property during so-called protests accountable. As a nation, we strongly believe in the right to protest and the right to free speech, but this does not include violence, the destruction of property, or creating unsafe conditions and preventing law enforcement from doing their jobs by blocking roads. I am proud to support legislation that treats politically motivated violence with the seriousness it deserves and stands firmly on the side of law-abiding citizens, local businesses, and the brave men and women of law enforcement. Read more here.

National Police Week

During National Police Week, we paused to honor the men and women in law enforcement who put on the badge each day to serve and protect their communities.

National Police Week is not only about recognition but also remembrance. Across the country, officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Behind each name is a story of service, a family forever changed, and a community that owes a debt it can never fully repay.

Read my post on National Police Week by clicking below.

Mifepristone Amicus Brief

I am proud to join Rep. Chris Smith and Sen. Bill Cassidy’s Amicus brief to the Supreme Court supporting the lawsuit seeking to restore the in-person dispensing requirement for the chemical abortion drug mifepristone. Because there is no medical oversight of Mifepristone, this leaves women open to coercion by abusive partners or even human traffickers. Studies have also demonstrated that the use of mifepristone, especially outside of medical supervision, has led to more medical complications and ER visits associated with induced abortions. Read more about this here.

Artmeis II Crew

I was incredibly honored to meet the Artemis II crew at a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee reception this week. These brave astronauts: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history. Their bravery and dedication should be applauded, and their example followed!

Artemis II was a critical step in restoring American leadership in deep space. As a member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I’m proud of this mission's success, sending astronauts farther than we’ve gone in over 50 years. This is about more than exploration. It’s about strengthening our technological edge, countering China’s ambitions, and building the capabilities needed for Mars and beyond.

Connect to Congress on FOX17

I voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security five times and am looking forward to seeing the reconciliation process play out to fund ICE and CBP for the next three years. Standing with our federal law enforcement personnel is a non-negotiable for me. Watch my interview with FOX17 Nashville by clicking below.

T.Rex Arms Interview

Thank you T.Rex Arms for allowing me to share my story and for the important discussion on preserving our Second Amendment rights. “The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Watch my full interview by clicking below.

Fighting Against Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Whether it's waste, fraud, or just bad policy—we’ve got to confront the abuse of Medicaid programs head-on. The more people take advantage of the system, the harder it will be to get recipients the quality care they need.

I am all for getting help for those who need it, but these Medicaid programs are being raided by fraudsters on an industrial scale. According to a recent report, one building in Columbus, Ohio had 94 different companies billing Medicaid—most of which seem to be empty. This building alone charged taxpayers $66M over the last few years. We can’t let fraudsters bankrupt this important program.

As the system currently works, there is no incentive structure for states to track Medicaid fraud or waste—and in reality, states like California are incentivized to ignore it. According to recent reporting, there has been $147 billion in Medi-Cal fraud. And this is only the fraud or waste we know about.

This kind of systemic fraud should be unacceptable, but in California, it’s the norm. What’s worse, even after independent audits flag fraud risks, 75% of the recommendations go ignored. Why? State politicians prioritize getting re-elected by the communities doing the fraud over serving the best interests of taxpayers.

While it's good to see some of the fraud in places like Minneapolis get prosecuted, this will not fix the systemic problems. We need to take a serious look at how these programs are being taken advantage of and put more safeguards in place to prevent fraud and waste in the first place.

Read more from the DailyWire on the ongoing uncovering of fraud by clicking below.

Rural Health Transformation Program

Rural hospitals are a lifeline for communities across our district, our state, and our country. That’s why I’m proud to support the Working Families Tax Cut’s Rural Health Transformation Program. This landmark initiative delivers $10 billion annually to states to:

Strengthen rural health systems
Stabilize providers
Drive innovative care models

Rural hospitals provide critical care close to home, support local economies, and ensure families don’t have to travel hours during emergencies. As we strengthen our healthcare system, we must make sure rural providers have the resources and support they need to keep their doors open and serve our incredible communities.

Border Security is National Security

Under the Biden-Mayorkas administration, millions of unvetted illegal aliens came into the country and many brought drugs and ties to criminal activity. Yet President Trump reinstituted effective border policies, and our nation is safer for it!

Under President Trump, we have the most secure border in American history.

Daily apprehensions at the border are down by 95% from the Biden administration. We haven’t seen numbers this low in 30 years. This goes to show that policies matter and that empowering CBP and Border Patrol to do their job works!

The numbers speak for themselves. President Biden’s open border policies invited chaos. President Trump’s emphasis on securing our border and enforcing our laws has created the most secure border in American history. To view CBP's statistics, click here.

Committee on Homeland Security Markup

I was proud to cosponsor the National Threat Evaluation and Reporting Program Reassignment (NTER) and Funding Reform Act. NTER is an integral part of DHS’ mission to secure the homeland. By training state and local partners how to recognize and counter terror threats, NTER plays a pivotal role in protecting critical infrastructure and securing the homeland. With an increased terror threat landscape, the work NTER does is more important now than ever. Federal law enforcement is already spread thin. That’s why empowering state and local leaders to recognize the warning signs of terrorism is so important. And that’s why I am in favor of moving NTER to the Office of State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE), which is better equipped to manage training programs. I believe that under OSLLE, NTER will become even more effective at equipping state and local agencies to do their part in securing our homeland.

Watch my remarks here.

I was also proud to cosponsor the Modernizing and Improving the National Terrorism Advisory System Act. When there is a credible terrorism threat, the American people deserve clear and timely information they can actually understand. This bill makes sure our national alert system works the way it should—getting accurate warnings to families, businesses, and first responders, so they can take the right steps to stay safe.

Since this advisory system was put in place, a lot has changed, including the threats facing America, the technologies we use to communicate, and the relationships between DHS and partners across the country. It’s time our critical systems like the national terrorism advisory system, change too. That’s why I am glad to co-lead this bill and support it in the house.

Watch my remarks here.

Moms.gov Announcement

As a father, I want the government to invest in families. Moms.gov delivers real, tangible support: health centers, nutrition guidance, mental health resources, and Trump Accounts. President Trump’s new website treats motherhood as something worth celebrating and supporting. Find our more by clicking below!

Announcing Mobile Office Hours

From Montgomery County to Wayne County and from Benton County to Davidson County, I’ve had the opportunity to meet incredible Tennesseans across our district. One of my top priorities in Congress has been building a team that is responsive, accessible, and committed to serving the people of TN-07. Whether you need help with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, passport services, or another federal agency, our office is here to help. It would be our honor to serve you.

My team is committed to making constituent services accessible across the entire district. Through mobile office hours, staff members are able to meet Tennesseans closer to where they live and work, ensuring residents across TN-07 have direct access to assistance from their congressional office.

Please come prepared to fill out a privacy release form, also found on the website here!

If you need help with a federal agency but are unable to attend one of the mobile office hour events listed below, please contact our office at (629) 223-6050 or visit our website here!

Find out dates, times, and locations here.

Congratulations to This Year’s Congressional Art Competition Winner!

Riverside High School Senior Selena Ni's artwork, titled "Afternoon Tea" is an acrylic on canvas painting of a tea set, set in the late afternoon light. The painting "represents the early colonists adopting the British habit of drinking tea; the Revolutionary War turned tea-drinking into a political protest". Selena's sister-in-law enjoys drinking tea with her, and this inspired her to make this artwork as well.

Belmont University

Belmont University continues to invest in the future and expand opportunities for students across Tennessee. I am proud to represent so many great academic institutions in Tennessee’s seventh district. Thank you, Belmont, for allowing me to be a part of a wonderful ceremony. I’m especially grateful to Mike Curb for the invitation and for his enduring vision and leadership in shaping the next generation of talent in the entertainment and music business.

Tennessee Bankers Association

Appreciate the opportunity to connect with the Tennessee Bankers Association and stay engaged with the issues that matter to our financial institutions and the people they serve.

Tennessee Farm Bureau

Always good to spend time with the Tennessee Farm Bureau and the people who know what it takes to keep Tennessee agriculture strong.

Military Appreciation Month

To those currently serving as well as our veterans and military families, thank you for your strength on the battlefield as well as your daily acts of service, resilience, and leadership.

Our nation is grateful, and we remain committed to ensuring you have the support, resources, and respect you have earned.

This month—and every month—we honor you.

Children of Fallen Patriots Day

On these days, we pause to remember a truth that is both solemn and enduring: freedom is not free, and its cost is often carried forward by those left behind.

Across our country, children are growing up without a parent because that parent answered the call to serve. These sons and daughters did not choose sacrifice, yet they live with it every day. Their loss is not confined to a moment in time. It shapes birthdays, graduations, and every milestone that follows.