Hello friends!

This is Congressman Matt Van Epps, your representative of Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District. The last couple of weeks have been busy with Congress in session, but I was happy to welcome my district team to the nation's capitol for a retreat and to watch the Congressional Baseball Game! I am also proud to see my HONOR Gold Star Families Act get one step closer to becoming law and was proud to introduce two new bills as well!

Stepping onto the field at Nationals Park is something I’ll never forget. Baseball has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s a game that teaches discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Getting the chance to play under the lights, alongside colleagues and friends, all while supporting great causes, is an incredible experience. Grateful for the opportunity, the camaraderie, and a sport that’s given me so much over the years. 

Watch the highlights from the game here. You can also listen to my recap of the game with Dan Mandis on Super Talk 99.7 WTN here. 

Because the Founding Fathers believed “all men are created equal,” they also believed that the only way to rule one another was by mutually agreed-upon consent—and that is why they chose to form a republic. Consent of the governed is still important in American politics today. Voting is one of the most sacred civic rights and responsibilities Americans hold, and it is one of the ways we will “keep our republic.”

The Secure America Act

I voted to fund ICE and CBP via the Secure America Act. This $70B funding bill is critical to delivering much needed resources to CBP and ICE. This legislation provides: 

• $64 billion to hire, train, equip, and retain Border Patrol agents
• $3.5 billion to modernize and enhance border security technologies

Democrats accomplished nothing with their shutdown antics, but now Republicans have successfully funded ICE and CBP for three years. This will ensure our borders stay secure and our immigration laws are enforced. Watch my video from after the vote here. 

The Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act of 2026

I introduced The Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act. This legislation, introduced by Senator Cotton in the Senate, will enhance security at critical infrastructure sites, including hospitals, power plants, water treatment facilities, chemical processing facilities, and dams. 

Read more in my press release here. You can also read Francis Kapper's exclusive in the Daily Caller here.

Web of Biological Data Act of 2026

Senator Todd Young of Indiana, Rep. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) and I introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Web of Biological Data Act of 2026, which will provide researchers access to high-quality biological data and will support the development of cutting-edge AI tools for scientific innovation.    

It's no mystery that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is investing heavily to consolidate biological data for scientific advancement. Meanwhile, American biological data is dispersed and uncoordinated for use, limiting America’s ability to develop the next generation of scientific and biomedical innovations. This lack of coordination also creates vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries can exploit by leveraging American biological data for their own strategic interests, giving these adversaries a competitive advantage in biosciences while operationally destabilizing U.S. biosecurity. That’s why the U.S. must leverage its biological data to advance scientific innovation, improve public health, and strengthen national security, while implementing strong cybersecurity safeguards to protect this critical data from strategic competitors. This legislation creates a data resource to serve as a secure, single point of entry for our world-class researchers, unlocking the novel discoveries that position the U.S. to lead in scientific innovation. Read the bill text here. Read my one pager here.  

HONOR Gold Star Families Act Makes it into NDAA

I am proud to announce that my HONOR Gold Star Families Act was included in the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act! This is the first major update to the death gratuity since 2006. The least a grateful nation can do is to ensure that these brave Gold Star families are taken care of financially. That’s why I promised that the first bill I introduced was going to be for Gold Star families and now that bill is one step closer to becoming law. Read more here.

Letter to the Pentagon

I am proud to join this bicameral, bipartisan letter urging the Pentagon to adopt cybersecurity best practices to prevent the collection and sale of data from the devices of Department of War personnel. Preventing the collection and sale of sensitive location and device data is an important step in protecting our servicemembers and strengthening national security. Read about the letter to the Pentagon here. 

Committee on Homeland Security

The men and women of the Department of Homeland Security devote every day to keeping Americans safe at home. Watch my questions for Sec. Mullins at the CHS’ budget hearing.

Ensuring that the Coast Guard receives upgrades, such as icebreakers, is important for U.S. national security and for facilitating international trade. I am thankful to Department of Homeland Secretary Mullin and the Trump administration for supporting the efforts to increase production of icebreakers. Read more about my exchange with Sec. Mullin here.

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Both the Obama and Biden administrations diverted the EPA’s mission by assaulting the American energy sector and stifling growth in the industrial sector, contracting our economy and killing jobs, while doing little to protect the environment and the public. Thankfully, the Trump administration and Administrator Zeldin have taken decisive action to direct the EPA back to its core mission. Watch my full remarks and questions below or read them here.

For years, the EPA has rightly received criticism from the public for operating without congressional authority and lacking transparency. More alarming is that the agency has been captured by the left for political ends, resulting in a major mission drift from its intended purpose: to protect public health and the environment in cooperation with the states. Read about the SST Environment subcommittee hearing from Bloomberg.

SST Hearing The DOE's FY27 Budget Request

Under the Biden administration, American energy was crippled by “green” policies, ESG requirements, and progressive special-interest groups. Coal, natural gas, and hydro-powered electricity plants were at risk of closure, tracking us toward a massive energy shortfall. This anti-growth mindset prevented us from harnessing America’s abundance, leading to energy scarcity and rendering us dependent on foreign nations for energy.  

Under the Trump administration, and Secretary Wright’s leadership, we have reversed course.  

The President’s FY27 budget request establishes these priorities and secures the golden era of energy dominance by ensuring access to abundant, reliable, and affordable energy. Watch my remarks and questions below.

TN-07 Staff Visits D.C.

I was pleased my district staff traveled to Washington, D.C., where they were given the opportunity to meet with key federal agencies to improve casework back home. The team also had the opportunity to attend several committee hearings, meet with legislative staff, and hear from House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin. 

It was also my honor to lead the staff on a nighttime tour of the U.S. Capitol and learn some amazing historical facts from my staff assistant and tour coordinator. If you need help booking a tour here in D.C., reach out to my office at (202) 225-2811.  

Lastly, having the entire team as well as my family at the Congressional Baseball Game to cheer us on was a tremendous blessing! This was the sixth straight win for Republicans, but even more important than that, this year’s game broke fundraising records. In total, $3.2 million was raised for local charities. 

Cumberland Fossil Plant Funding

I am thankful to the Trump administration for investing $46 million in the Cumberland Fossil Plant. This funding will not only help with limiting forced outages but will also continue the progress with grid resilience and affordability. This is a win for Tennessee and a win for American energy dominance! Read more about the Cumberland Fossil Plant funding here. 

National Federation of Independent Business

I met with the National Federation of Independent Business to hear directly from the job creators driving our economy. I’ll keep fighting to cut red tape and champion small businesses.

Naval Academy Sendoff

What an honor and a privilege it was to be a part of sending off these outstanding young men and women to the United States Naval Academy. They have a long, difficult, and rewarding road ahead of them. I am beyond proud of the choice they have all made to serve their country and look forward to seeing their success.

TVC National Summit

I appreciated the opportunity to join leaders from across the region at this year’s Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit. Conversations like these are critical to strengthening partnerships between government, industry, and academia—and to ensuring Tennessee remains at the forefront of defense innovation. Thank you for the invitation to speak and for the work being done to advance our region’s role in America’s national security future.

Army's 251st Birthday

Happy Birthday to the United States Army! We celebrate 251 years of service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our nation. It is an honor to wear this uniform and stand alongside the men and women who have answered the call to serve. From those who came before us to those serving today, thank you for your courage, dedication, and selfless service. We carry forward a legacy built on duty, honor, and resilience. Proud to be a Soldier. Proud to be part of something greater than myself. Happy Birthday, Army!

Remembering D-Day

Each year on June 6, we pause to remember one of the most consequential days in modern history, the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, known as D-Day. On this day in 1944, more than 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Tennessee Statehood

230 years strong! On June 1st, 1796, Tennessee earned its place as the 16th state in the Union, and ever since, our people have defined what it means to lead with grit, faith, and freedom. From our farmers and small businesses to Fort Campbell and the innovators shaping our future, Tennessee doesn’t follow. We lead.

The Bastogne Brigade

The men and women of the 101st Airborne Division have never backed down from a mission, and this one is no different. The Bastogne Brigade is disciplined, capable, and ready to execute wherever the nation calls. Their deployment to the southern border underscores what we already know. From combat zones to homeland security support, the 101st continues to set the standard. We know you’ll get the job done.

As always, it is an honor to serve! With America250 coming up in a few weeks, it's important to think about how our country is doing living up to our Founding Principles. 

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