News from Representative Upton

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March 9, 2022

@MyKitchenTable: Wednesday March 9, 2022

Dear Friend:

“All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

RUSSIA-UKRAINE
Over the last few weeks, we have all watched in absolute horror as Russia ruthlessly attacks Ukraine. My offices have received hundreds of heartfelt messages from folks across southwest Michigan in support of Ukraine – even a Cold War era veteran asked to join the fight – and I have heard from victims in Ukraine. I have taken these messages to heart, and I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful and selfless community here in our corner of the Mitten. We have lost thousands of lives and more than two million Ukrainians have fled their homes in search of safety in the last few weeks. I am physically sick over Putin’s invasion and disgusted to see the Russian military targeting civilians. No sanction is too extreme for me. We must crush the Russian economy and make them international pariahs. Earlier Wednesday I heard from some of my colleagues who went to the Ukraine/Poland border this past weekend and witnessed husbands taking their wives and loved ones to the safety of the Polish border, hugged them for maybe the last time, and then returned to their communities to fight for their land perhaps never seeing their family members again.

Considering how much has happened since my last KT, I will be breaking down a few of the many critical points of interest:
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     BICAMERAL BIPARTISAN CALL WITH PRESIDENT      ZELENSKY
     Last Saturday, I participated in a bipartisan bicameral      discussion with Ukrainian President Zelensky. He had three      major asks: stop buying Russian oil and gas, more fighter      planes and military equipment, and increased sanctions.      Since the invasion I’ve helped lead efforts to target Russia      where it hurts the most, their cash cow energy industry.      However, I am hopeful by the end of the week the Congress      will pass a bill to stop purchasing Russian energy. I was      also happy to see VISA, Mastercard, and American Express      cutoff transactions within Russia and Belarus, further crippling      the already isolated and weakened regimes. Russia’s interest      rates are now >20% and their ruble is <1 cent.

     BAN ON RUSSIAN OIL
     Yes, the White House agreed to our bipartisan pleas to ban the import of Russian oil. Russia,      like Saudi Arabia and Iran, is a petrostate and enjoys huge profits from their oil and gas exports.      In 2021 alone, the U.S. imported nearly $20 billion worth of oil from Russia and that’s when      oil was less than $80 a barrel! Russia has a stranglehold on Europe and the UK who rely heavily      on oil and gas to meet their energy needs. I am shocked at reports of the Biden Administration      meeting with Venezuela, Iran, and Saudi Arabia asking them to fill in the global oil and gas      supply rather than seeking additional resources here in America. On March 7th, we released the      “20th highjacker” from Guantanamo. We cannot continue to enrich brutal authoritarian regimes      by buying their energy when the United States has reserves and capacity to more than make up      for the reduced supply from Russia. This will lower the price at the pump, reduce our need for      foreign oil and gas, and we can export excess energy to our European allies. I recently helped      introduce a several important proposals to see this through:

     H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act
          o Require the President to submit an energy security plan to Congress within 30 days to           evaluate US energy imports, identifying importing countries that pose an energy security risk           to America
          o Immediately approve the Keystone XL pipeline
          o Unleash US liquid natural gas (LNG) exports to boost natural gas production and displace            Russian gas in the European market
          o Require leasing and permitting of energy and minerals development on federal lands and           waters  
          o You can read my full statement on the importance of this bill as well as the full text HERE.

     H.R. 6748, the Midland Over Moscow Act
          o H.R. 6748 requires the Biden Administration to develop an American energy strategy to           counter Russia’s growing energy monopoly and strengthen US energy security. The bill also           reduces barriers for American energy production and exportation of LNG.

     H.R. 6742, the Never Yielding European Territory Act
          o H.R. 6742 establishes crippling sanctions against Russia as well as barring exports of           semiconductor technology to the Russian Federation. It also designates Ukraine as a NATO           Plus country to expedite the distribution of defensive military equipment.

     H.Res. 945, to Condemn and Sanction Duma Members
          o This resolution formally condemns members of the Russian Duma and Federation Council           who voted to recognize the false independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and calls on           President Biden to sanction these individuals.

     LETTERS TO US ENERGY LEADERS
     This past week I also sent letters to a number of US energy leaders urging them to spearhead      domestic energy production as soon as possible:

     President Joseph Biden
          o This past week I joined over 75 of my Republican House colleagues in a letter to the           President requesting he end his anti-American energy agenda. We requested the immediate           approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, increased energy resource production on federal lands           as well as several other changes that would provide immediate relief for the American           taxpayer by lowering their energy costs while at the same time severely hurting both Russia           and China’s economies. You can read the full letter HERE.

     President Joseph Biden (Again)
          o Yesterday I led a second letter to President Biden requesting he prioritize domestic energy           production. Considering this is an incredibly time-sensitive matter and we are losing           Ukrainian lives each day, flooding the President with messages to cut off Russian oil                      while advocating for domestic energy production as to not penalize the American           taxpayer is the least Congress can do. Additionally, this past week was the highest increase           in the history of average gas prices – even higher than Hurricane Katrina which caused a           $0.49 leap in gas prices across the country. This latest wave of inflation goes to show that the           US needs to reclaim our energy independence which can only be achieved by finally           unleashing domestic production. Bringing back domestic energy production would also bring           back thousands of jobs to the US – cheaper energy and more jobs is exactly what the doctor           ordered to cure this unprecedented rate of inflation we’ve all been hit with. You can read the           full letter HERE.

     U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm
          o On March 2 Rep. Rogers (R-WA) and I sent a letter to Energy Secretary Granholm urging           the department to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline. You can read the full letter HERE.

     Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Richard Glick
          o Rep. Rogers and I also sent a letter to FERC Chairman Richard Glick encouraging the           Commission to fast-track the creation of domestic LNG production facilities. You can read the           full letter HERE.

     In 2014, President Poroshenko, succeeded by current President Volodymyr Zelensky, spoke to      both the House and Senate in a joint session of Congress. It was truly one of the best joint      session speeches I have ever heard. If you have the time, I highly encourage you to listen to the      speech HERE. I met with President Poroshenko on my two trips to Ukraine.Image

     LOCAL EFFORTS
     Last week, I spent last Friday in Kalamazoo where I made sure      to stop by the Victorian Bakery. This past week the Victorian      Bakery donated 10% of all bakery sales to World Central      Kitchen and has raised $8,000 and counting. Co-owner Maria      Brennan, who fled Kuwait during the first Gulf War, knows      firsthand what it is like to be forced to leave one’s home      because of a brutal  invasion. Maria quickly made the decision,      with the support of her staff, to donate a portion of profits to      World Central Kitchen (WCK), an organization dedicated to      keeping folks fed in the wake of emergency. You can read more      about what WCK is doing in Ukraine HERE.

Like the Victorian Bakery, Final Gravity Brewing Company will be donating a portion of profits to Ukraine humanitarian relief next week. You can read more about their work HERE.Image

     Also, a number of southwest Michigan cities showed      their support for Ukraine in many different ways which I      found incredibly moving. It’s encouraging that across      the country the US is coming together to hold Putin      accountable and help our ally Ukraine in their time of      need.

MY INTERVIEW ON MICHIGAN’S BIG SHOW
Last week I joined Michael Patrick Shiels, host of Michigan’s Big Show, to discuss horrific events in Ukraine and the rising gas prices here at home. Gas in Michigan is now $4.18 – just seven cents shy of the all-time record. We haven’t seen prices like these in nearly a decade. We also briefly discussed China and Taiwan and the potential of the third world war, which I do not think is likely considering how galvanized the world has become since they 1940s. You can listen to my interview HERE.

I also joined Gary Stevens on WHTC yesterday morning to discuss banning Russian oil which you can watch HERE.

LINE 5
Last week a report came out showing the detrimental effects closing Line 5 would have on Michigan – it would cost the state roughly $2 billion annually. This is the worst possible time to shut down Line 5. We’d lose thousands of local jobs, and the cost of energy would skyrocket. Michiganders would be forced to leave their homes to find work elsewhere and those who stay would be forced to pay through the nose to fill up their gas tanks. The Biden Administration has moved away from domestic energy production, which only hurts our communities that we’ve worked so hard to protect through a pandemic and now the worst inflation we’ve seen in forty years. Additionally, shutting down yet another domestic energy facility sets us back from offering our allies an alternative to Russian oil and gas. Simply put, closing down Line 5 would be bad for Michigan, our country, and our world. You can read the full report HERE. I’ve long-supported Line 5 and the economic investments it will bring to Michigan which you can read more about HERE.

KEN DUBERSTEIN
This past week I said goodbye to my wonderful friend, Ken Duberstein. He was my boss in the Reagan White House where he served as Chief of Staff. Ken was a great patriot and irreplaceable advisor, cheerleader and best of friends to me. His obituary can be found HERE.

HONORING OUR PACT ACT
Everyday offers a new opportunity to give back to the Americans who have given the most – our veterans. Last week, I voted for, and the House passed H.R. 3967, the Honoring Our PACT Act, by a bipartisan vote of 256 to 174. This bill acknowledges the vast range of toxic exposures our veterans face, from burn pits and radiation to contaminated water on military bases and creates a broad and effective system for helping our affected veterans.

H.R. 3967 creates a system for these brave men and women to get the medical help they need after serving our country. This system includes streamlining the Veterans Affairs (VA) review process, requiring medical exams and opinions for veterans with toxic exposure disability claims, and establishes a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits and airborne hazards exposure. This bill also expands Agent Orange exposure for veterans of previous conflicts. Hopefully this legislation prevents what happened to our Viet Nam veterans with their exposure to Agent Orange.

I will note that one particular change put forth in this bill will save thousands of our soldiers in the future by creating a presumption of exposure to radiation. Currently, qualifications for VA disability compensation due to Agent Orange and toxic chemical exposure have strict limitations and forces the heavy burden of proof onto our veterans. You can read the full list of eligibility requirements HERE. It is absolutely unacceptable to put our dedicated servicemen and women through the ringer to claim the benefits they have earned through their selfless dedication to service.

I heard from a constituent who disclosed to me she is 100% disabled due to exposure to toxins while deployed. She has lost those closest to her due to toxic chemical exposure while serving our country. This exposure can manifest in many ways and is often deadly. We cannot delay any longer in getting our veterans the care they deserve. We must uphold our promise to care for those who risk their lives in service to our great nation. Getting the Honoring Our PACT Act to the President’s desk as soon as possible is a top priority of mine.

You can read my full statement on the Honoring Our PACT Act HERE. Four MI GOP’s joined the 34 GOP’s to vote for this bill – Bergman, McClain, Meijer, and myself.

KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE ONLINEImage
Last Tuesday, I participated in a Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing on holding big tech accountable and protecting online users. We heard from law enforcement folks from around the country on the dangers lurking online. Telling our kids, “Don’t talk to strangers” just isn’t cutting it anymore. As a Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’ve met with people from various professions — from well-known social media founders to our local law enforcement officials who are on the ground every day protecting our communities from the very real threats posed by cyber criminals. Law enforcement’s insights are critical as we consider different approaches to put an end to the abuses brought about by Big Tech. You can watch my full remarks HERE.

VISITING SUNSET LAKE ELEMENTARYImage
Before COVID, I made it a point to visit a southwest Michigan school every week. Now, after nearly two years, I’ve been able re-start this tradition by visiting Sunset Lake Elementary. Since March is national reading month, we sat down and read LOVE by Stacy McNaulty – a children’s book about showing acts of kindness in different ways. Along with spending time with our young Michiganders, I met Principal Amie McCaw. Principal McCaw has served the Vicksburg, Richland and Schoolcraft communities as a teacher and an administrator since 1998 and she is also currently Michigan’s President-Elect for the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principal Association (MEMSPA). In all three districts she has worked in she has successfully implemented the Leader in Me (LIM) philosophy to promote the power a student-centered leadership paradigm. You can read more about LIM HERE. We are very lucky to have someone as bright and dedicated as Principal McCaw serving southwest Michigan – thank you!  

Votes will be wrapping up today and then the Democrats will have their Democratic Issues Conference until Monday. Then we’ll be back on Tuesday for votes with lots on the table.

All best,


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Fred Upton

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