Dear Friend,

The year 2022 presents many challenges for our nation. Inflation is still on the rise, the supply chain crisis has not been resolved, and our presence on the world stage appears to be waning every day. Most of these issues stem from the poor leadership in the White House and Democrat-controlled Congress. President Biden ran as a "moderate" candidate but has allowed radical policies to define his first year in office. It's these policy decisions that have contributed to or directly caused many of the problems that Americans faced in 2021. In 2022, I promise to continue to fight against these burdensome policies and promote legislation and other efforts that made our nation proud and prosperous.

There is a lot of work to do to turn our nation around. We need to cut government spending, lower taxes, and promote the foundational values of our nation that has made it the best in history. We need to encourage Americans to work, not incentivize them to stay home. We need to teach our children to be proud of their country, not criticize its every shortcoming. We need to remind ourselves and proudly proclaim that this is a country divinely blessed by our Heavenly Father, and our nation’s success relies on our continued dependence on God and wisdom that comes from Him.

These are just a few of the areas that I believe need addressing in the future. However, as we leave 2021 to the history books, I wanted to start the new year off by focusing on some of the wins from the last year. I believe it’s important to address problems as they arise and recognize our blessings as they are bestowed. With that in mind, I hope you enjoy a recap of a few of the things I'm most proud of from 2021.

Constituent Services

One of the most important ways my office and I serve the people of the Third District is through constituent services casework. The federal government is an enormous institution. Its size makes finding information or services difficult and frustrating. That’s why a large portion of my office is dedicated to casework, or the process of helping constituents navigate government bureaucracies. We have helped thousands of Mississippians with all manner of requests, from updating passports to solving issues with Social Security payments. Team Guest’s constituent services staff is highly qualified and professional, and I am proud of the work we do to help make the lives of those we serve a little less complicated while interacting with the federal government. That’s the reason I include the address of our offices and their phone numbers at the end of every email – to make it easier for you or someone you know to reach out to my office if you need assistance. 

We are always here to help you. Please don’t hesitate to call one of my offices if you need help with a government agency. 

Homeland Security

Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee

I was honored to be appointed as Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security this year. As Vice Ranking Member, I serve as the second most senior Republican of the Committee, a role I use to advance important policies to secure our homeland. I'm thankful for the opportunity to work alongside other Members of the committee to advance a homeland security agenda that will create safer American communities and, in turn, a safer nation. I plan to continue to work closely with our national leaders, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, and law enforcement community to construct sound policies that will protect the homeland from threats – both foreign and domestic.

We are facing a crisis on our borders, crime is rising across America, and new foreign threats are manifesting through the form of cyber-attacks. We need strong, conservative leadership in the halls of Congress if we are going to defend our homeland from these threats, and I plan to continue utilizing that style of conservative leadership in my role on the Committee on Homeland Security. 

Instead of seeking to defund the police, I am standing with our law enforcement communities and supporting strong police forces in order to help create safe communities for every American. 

Instead of promoting the Progressive idea of open borders, I am fighting for common-sense policies that would secure our southwest border — like finishing the border wall system and ending catch-and-release policies.

Instead of supporting the failed policies of the Biden Administration, I am taking a proven, conservative approach to securing our homeland against foreign threats. 

But, above all, I am continuing to work hard every day to create a better future for our children and grandchildren. This role has provided opportunities to work closely with government entities important to Mississippians, such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, and TSA. In doing so, I believe we can create a state that is more resilient for the future.

The Unmanned Aerial Security Act

My bill, the Unmanned Aerial Security (UAS) Act, passed the United States House of Representatives in late September and is awaiting action in the Senate. The UAS Act would prohibit the DHS from entering into or renewing a contract for any unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones, manufactured in China or by other adversaries. This bill aims to safeguard the sensitive data collected by these drones for homeland security purposes and to combat Chinese aggression towards the U.S.

Of the top drone manufacturers that supply the United States market, a single Chinese manufacturer has nearly 77 percent of the market share, and we know that drones made by our adversaries can be manipulated to undermine American security. This is a security risk that we cannot tolerate as the Chinese Communist Party presents a continuous threat against our nation and our allies. 

The Department of Homeland Security utilizes drones for critical missions, and it is imperative that we trust the technology we are using. The UAS Act would bolster the faith in our tools by prohibiting the DHS from buying or using drones made in a ”covered foreign country,” which is a country officially identified as a foreign adversary by the intelligence community.

It is well known that the Chinese Communist Party has stolen our technology and information in the past. That’s why this legislation is so important. It would help mitigate security risks by ensuring our drones are not manufactured by our adversaries, and it would help protect our sensitive information from the Chinese Communist Party.

Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act

To help combat the border crisis, I reintroduced the Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act, a bill to grant statutory authorization for the Operation Stonegarden grant program, which supports law enforcement agencies located in states bordering Mexico, Canada, or a maritime border that are working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As the crisis on the border continues to worsen, this legislation would support efforts of local agencies to supplement the work of CBP by providing local law enforcement agencies with additional funding to equip and train officers to supplement efforts to secure our borders.  

Operation Stonegarden would help fill in the gaps in border security that President Biden’s executive orders have caused and continue to exacerbate.

My Visit to the Border

In April, I joined other Members of the Committee on Homeland Security on a trip to the southwest border to visit an immigrant processing facility, a port of entry, and other immigration-related infrastructure, personnel, and law enforcement. 

Before we arrived, we were still uncertain of how bad President Biden's border crisis had grown. However, almost as soon as we arrived at the first facility, I realized that the situation on our border is far worse than I initially expected.

On the very first night, we encountered a group of approximately a dozen immigrants walking down an old dirt path looking for the processing facility in order to turn themselves over to border patrol. One of the men in the group was carrying a little girl that he claimed to be his daughter. After border patrol officers indicated they would perform a DNA check, he admitted he had no relation to the little girl. He had likely been coached by cartel members to pretend to be the guardian of the girl in order to receive leniency when caught. This common practice has resulted in thousands of unaccompanied minors coming to the United States. Many innocent children, just like the little girl I saw in the arms of a stranger, are used as a sort of passport, hoping agents will allow them to stay in America if they claim to have a child. The Biden Administration signaled to illegal immigrants that crossing with a child would increase the chances of staying in America, which led to a 73 percent increase in encounters of unaccompanied children. This is just one of the many ways Biden Administration policies led to this severe border crisis.  

We learned that cartels have been more active in the drug trade, as well, with border agents seeing a 131 percent increase in guns, a 187 percent increase in cocaine, a 63 percent increase in heroin, and a staggering 2,067 percent increase in fentanyl seized by agents in fiscal year 2021 as measured in April. At the end of this year, the final numbers showed the bleak picture has not been rectified. When compared to 2020, we saw cocaine seizures increase 68 percent, methamphetamine seizures increase 7 percent, and fentanyl seizures increase by 134 percent. 

We also learned that the number of weapons seized by agents more than doubled. There is no way to know exactly how successful cartels are in smuggling these materials, but we know a couple of factors that could contribute. First, while agents respond to groups of migrants traveling into the border, cartels are able to subvert unmanned areas and enter the United States. Second, almost 40 percent of agents are now tasked with the transportation of immigrants, greatly reducing the number of law enforcement available for combatting cartel activities.  

Below, you will find some videos from my travel to the border 

“I’m outside a processing facility in Donna, Texas. Last week this facility contained over 5,000 children — over 2,000 percent over-capacity. As the situation along the southwest border continues to deteriorate, the [Biden] Administration must act immediately to address this crisis.”

“Behind me is an unfinished portion of the wall on the southwest border. Not only has President Biden’s decision to stop construction cost the American people tens of millions of dollars, but it has also contributed to the humanitarian and immigration crisis occurring on the border.”

“Behind me is an unfinished portion of the wall on the southwest border. Not only has President Biden’s decision to stop construction cost the American people tens of millions of dollars, but it has also contributed to the humanitarian and immigration crisis occurring on the border.”

Committee on Homeland Security Republicans who traveled to the border preparing for a ride along with law enforcement. Find more photos of the visit by clicking here.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Last year, two major pieces of legislation that I worked closely on were approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I). These two pieces of legislation, the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility (E-BRIDGE) Act, which I co-led with T&I Ranking Member Sam Graves, and H.R. 2220, a bill to achieve cost savings in Federal real estate, which I introduced, were adopted by the House of Representatives in 2021. 

As a Member of the T&I Committee, I prioritize bills like these that will improve the quality of life for Mississippians, either directly through investment or by reducing wasteful or costly programs. My priority is the people of Mississippi, and I look forward to continuing to work on legislation that will connect Mississippians to each other and our great state to the world.

E-BRIDGE Act (H.R. 3193)

The E-BRIDGE Act would remove hurdles for broadband projects under Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants, including difficult last-mile efforts that often delay rural broadband deployment.  It also would ensure that local communities can partner with the private sector in carrying out broadband projects and give communities more flexibility in complying with their funding match requirements. 

I’m proud that the E-BRIDGE Act is one step closer to final passage.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with my colleagues to advance this bill, which would help implement modern approaches to economic development and create new opportunities for individuals to work, attend school, socialize, and access health care in every corner of our country.

More information about how the E-BRIDGE Act will increase the reach of broadband to rural and economically distressed communities is available here.

Bill to Allow GSA to Enter into Bargain Price Purchasing Agreements (H.R. 2220)

H.R. 2220 would ensure that the General Services Administration (GSA) is able to negotiate discounted purchase options in situations when the buying of federal property is the cheaper alternative to a long-term lease.

Innovation and free market solutions continue to provide pathways towards more efficient government spending, and I believe we have outlined one of those strategies in this bill.  As the legislation awaits further action in the United States Senate, we are one step closer to reducing waste and replacing it with commonsense, free market solutions that promote responsible use of the taxpayer dollar.

Defending the Right to Life

Last year, I joined the Mississippi congressional delegation in leading an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to uphold the Mississippi law that limits abortions after 15 weeks. The law was challenged in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, which would go on to be heard by SCOTUS Justices on December 1, 2021. On the day of oral arguments, I spoke to a crowd of pro-life supporters gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court. You can listen to my speech below.

Other Important Pieces of Legislation 

House Resolution to Recognize National Police Week

Last year, with Congresswoman Julia Letlow of Louisiana, I introduced legislation to recognize National Police Week in the House of Representatives. National Police Week is a time to honor those officers who lost their lives in the previous year and take actions to prevent injury and death of law enforcement agents in the future. As a Congress, it’s important to amplify our respect for law enforcement and our reverence for those officers who have paid the ultimate price in service to their communities. Every day, law enforcement officers place their lives in harm’s way so that Americans can pursue the opportunities that make our country great. This resolution let our officers know that Congress supports their efforts and that elected officials remember the brave heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend their communities from violence and crime. 

The American Body-worn Camera Act

I also introduced the American Body-Worn Camera (ABC) Act to increase access to body-worn cameras in smaller, more rural areas of the country. The legislation would allocate a portion of the Department of Justice’s body-worn camera grant funding to jurisdictions serving small populations and establish a 75 percent Federal/25 percent local matching requirement to ensure smaller communities are not financially precluded from participating. 

Both sides of the political aisle have expressed support for additional use of body-worn cameras because they help create transparency, accountability, and respect between communities and law enforcement agents while also protecting agents from false claims of misconduct. 

The overall mission of law enforcement is to serve and protect. This legislation would advance that mission by providing additional accountability and personal protection of our law enforcement officers. With the continued anti-police rhetoric and policies we see from Progressives, it's more important than ever to stand with our law enforcement agents. During the unprecedented attacks on our law enforcement community from national figures and media outlets, I'm proud to stand as a strong supporter of our police officers and first responders and will continue to look for opportunities to assist them in their mission to protect our communities from criminal activity.

Closing Thoughts

Last year was an eventful year and much more happened than can be outlined in one newsletter. If you haven't already, I would like to encourage you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by clicking on the corresponding icons at the bottom of this email. There, you will find information about my work in Congress, news articles, and much more. It is a great way to learn more about my work over the last three years in Congress and stay up to date in the years to come.

You may know other people who also would be interested in my newsletter. I hope you will forward this year-in-review newsletter along to them and encourage them to subscribe by clicking on the button at the end of the page. 

In 2022, I plan to continue to work hard every day to make our state an even better place to live, worship, and raise a family. Much of that starts with pushing back against more of the Progressive policies that have crippled our economy, emboldened criminals, weakened our position on the global stage, and divided our nation.

President Ronald Regan once said, "the future doesn't belong to the fainthearted. It belongs to the bold." Last year was certainly challenging for many people, but I believe our nation can overcome any obstacle because we are a brave nation filled with bold individuals. Our country will continue to be a great place to live, worship, and raise a family as long as we value the foundational principles of our nation and proudly stand up for those principles when they are threatened. I will continue to do my part in Congress to protect our institutions, values, and freedoms, and I thank you for the opportunity work on behalf of you in the halls of Congress.