This is the fourth in a series of articles introducing you to the Freshmen Class members of the Republican Main Street Partnership. Rep. Jake Ellzey represents TX-06, which spans from the Rangers Ballpark in Tarrant County to the booming suburbs of Ellis and Navarro counties. Ellzey won the seat in July, in a special election to replace Rep. Ron Wright, who passed away in February. At the age of 7, Jake says he decided he wanted to become a fighter pilot. Fifteen years later, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent the next 20 years in service as a US Naval pilot. He was deployed nine times during his military career with five combat tours (three in Afghanistan and two in Iraq). Following his tour as commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 143, he served as the Air Boss on the USS Ronald Reagan. After his Navy career, he served Texas as a Commissioner of the Texas Veterans Commission, state representative of the 10th District of Texas, ran a small business, and worked as an airline pilot. He and wife Shelby are raising their daughter McCall and son Jack on 10 acres in Ellis County. Rep. Ellzey says he is committed to protecting private property rights, stopping high-speed rail, serving our veterans, lowering taxes, defending the 2nd amendment, and protecting the sanctity of life. He took time last week to answer a few questions: Quote: Never quit. What’s the question that you wish more people would ask themselves? If you don’t try to do what you have always wanted to do, when you look back on it would you wish you would have? What does success in 2021 look like for you? Being elected to the Texas House and Congress in the same year. What do you think is the best path to breaking gridlock in Congress? Recognizing that we’re all Americans and that we should be negotiating in good faith on reasonable policies. At what point in your life did you realize you had the power of change or the power to do something meaningful? When I first ran for student council. How do you want to be remembered? As a good husband and father who served his country well. What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? Never pass up an opportunity to shut the heck up. Interesting fact that’s not on your resume? I failed a lot more than I succeeded, but failures are not on the resume. What advice would you give yourself coming out of college? Travel. What’s a book that you give as a gift or recommend most? Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks. What gets you down? How do you bounce back? America treating each other as enemies. I try to do something nice for somebody. Who or what is inspiring you right now? My little boy. What’s your go-to song on a jukebox or for karaoke? It’s a Great Day to Be Alive by Travis Tritt.

By Sarah Chamberlain As the nation collectively grapples with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m proud of the work our Members in Congress are doing to make healthcare more affordable for all Americans. Health care represents one-sixth of the domestic GDP – and there isn’t a single member of the Republican Main Street Partnership who wants to see it consume even more of our economy. I was pleased that Congress passed the No Surprises Act at the end of 2020 in an effort to end the practice of surprise medical billing – a problem whose profile has been elevated by the numerous stories of the financial impacts these bills have had on Americans across the country both before and during the pandemic. Two-thirds of all U.S. bankruptcies are tied to medical expenses, with an estimated one in six emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays involving care from at least one out-of-network provider. A 2019 study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the median price charged by air ambulance providers ranged from $36,400 to $40,000 – with more than 70% of those transports being treated as out-of-network, where all costs were borne by the insured individual. Perhaps the most jarring statistic on this topic is that 20 percent of surprise medical bills issued in 2019 went to insured families who delivered newborns at an in-network hospital but had to receive out-of-network care at some point during their stay. The legislation passed at the end of 2020 is the first step toward building a system that better protects families from these bills. The No Surprises Act is going through the regulatory process. On July 1, the Biden Administration issued the first rule implementing the legislation, which limits a patients’ financial responsibility during surprise billing scenarios. More work remains however, particularly around development of the “independent dispute resolution” (IDR) process, which is designed to keep patients out of the fights between providers and insurance companies. The Biden Administration must get this right to protect patients from unnecessary financial hardship, ensure adequate access to provider networks, and prevent insurance companies or providers from being able to game the IDR system. Another common-sense solution to address price transparency comes out of the prior administration and is now being implemented. Patients have complained for years about the charges, prices and billing associated with our health care system. Everyone has a story about receiving a bill and not understanding what exactly was charged and what is owed. Both insurance companies and providers bear blame here, and patients are rightfully frustrated. Since the beginning of this year, hospitals have been required to publicly post their prices as the law requires. The results thus far are disappointing. Many hospitals have not yet begun posting, while others are posting just a fraction of the information required. Very few are fully complying. Next year, this same requirement will extend to insurance companies, and it is reasonable to wonder whether this same sort of obfuscation will continue. Given the personalized nature of health care, the complexity of the services delivered and the various insurance companies that providers contract with, most consumers understand that hospital price transparency is nothing like pricing a product on Amazon. It would be too simplistic and unrealistic to think that the broad range of health care services can be streamlined anytime soon. But we must do better than our current system. Price transparency for hospitals and insurers is wildly popular on both sides of the aisle so there’s hope we can make progress in the current Congress. Congress in 2016 passed the 21st Century Cures legislation, which has helped patients and their families by expediting the discovery, development, and delivery of life-saving cures in a safe and effective way. Later this month, Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI, and a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) will introduce an update to their 21st Century Cures legislation. This Cures 2.0 legislation will focus on six key areas to providers and patients alike: public health and pandemic preparedness, caregiver integration, patient engagement in health care decision-making, diversity in clinical trials, and both FDA and CMS modernization. It will include creation of a Biden administration-supported federal advanced research agency to cure cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases that devastate families. The pandemic brought to light some of the challenges we face with health care in this country. These three ideas are examples of what Congress can and must do, setting aside partisan politics and rhetoric, to focus on patient-centered, market-based solutions everyone can get behind to help Main Street Americans. Sarah Chamberlain is president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, which promotes bipartisan consensus-building on public policy issues.

The Republican Main Street Partnership congratulates Navy veteran Jake Ellzey, who won a special election July 27 to represent the Sixth Congressional District and looks forward to having him become part of RMSP. RMSP’s Defending Main Street Super PAC spent more than $100,000 supporting Ellzey through canvassing and polling efforts. "One of the things that we've seen from this campaign is a positive outlook — a Reagan Republican outlook for the future of our country — is what the people of the 6th District really, really want," Ellzey said, according to the Texas Tribune. "Jake Ellzey will be a fighter for Texas' Sixth Congressional District, and we congratulate him on his victory," said RMSP President Sarah Chamberlain. "We're proud of Defending Main Street's grassroots effort to support his candidacy, and we look forward to Congressman Ellzey's service in Congress." Commander Ellzey served as a fighter pilot, completing 20 years of service as the Air Boss on the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. Ellzey, a state representative from Waxahachie, was deployed nine times during his military career, including five combat tours by air and one by ground with Seal Team 5, and received two Bronze Stars and eight Air Medals. He served Texas as a commissioner on the Texas Veterans Commission and recently served as a commercial airline pilot based out of DFW. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Jake and his wife Shelby are raising their two children on 10 acres in Ellis County. TX-06 includes Ellis, Navarro and parts of Tarrant counties. “In the final analysis, we felt that Jake would work for bipartisanship while fiercely protecting traditional Republican values of fiscal conservativism and social inclusiveness and that drove our decision to support him,” Chamberlain said. Defending Main Street Super PAC is the Super PAC for the Republican Main Street Partnership. It is one of the nation’s most effective independent-expenditure organizations. The races we enter are in key, contested districts across the country that are crucial to securing a Republican majority in Congress.

Main Street’s Pledge To America We hereby pledge: To craft and fight for legislation that represents our core values of EQUITY, SECURITY, AND PROSPERITY. To work with anyone in either party ready to roll up their sleeves and solve problems for the American people. To choose solutions over rhetoric and country over party. THE MAIN STREET AGENDA Main Street Members have an unparalleled record of crafting and passing effective legislation. Republican Main Street Partnership's Main Legislative Agenda for the 117th Congress Healthcare RMSP believes Main Street American families deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage. This means protecting care for pre-existing conditions, heightening transparency in our healthcare system, and tackling some of the largest health epidemics in our country head-on with pragmatic solutions that won’t leave the nation bankrupt. 2021 BILLS PASSED INTO LAW ​ Public Law No: 117-6 (03/30/2021) PPP Extension Act of 2021 This law extends the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), through June 30, 2021. The program was set to expire on March 31, 2021. For the final 30 days of the program (i.e., from June 1 until June 30), the Small Business Administration may only process applications submitted prior to June 1, and it may not accept any new loan applications. T he bill excludes the budgetary effects of this bill from PAYGO scorecards under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 and from Senate PAYGO scorecards. RMSP Co-Sponsors: Reps. Young Kim (CA) (original co-sponsor), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA), Larry Bucshon (IN), Tom Emmer (MN), Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (PR), Ashley Hinson (IA), Chris Jacobs (NY), David McKinley (WVa), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA), Dan Meuser (PA), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL), Pete Stauber (MN), Michael Waltz (FL). Fourteen of the 30 Repubican votes with RMSP members. ​ Public Law No: 117-4 (03/24/2021) Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse Act (SAVE LIVES Act) This law authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Covered individuals are Veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system; Specified veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad; Beneficiaries who are eligible for care due to a specified disability or death of a veteran; Family caregivers of veterans who are participating in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers; Caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services; Caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program; and The spouses of veterans. The VA must prioritize the vaccination of (1) veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system; (2) veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service; and (3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized veterans. Under the bill, the VA is authorized to determine the timing for offering a vaccine to the spouse of a veteran. RMSP Co-Sponsors: Reps. Mike Bost (IL)(original co-sponsor), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Andrew Garbarino (NY), Tony Gonzales (TX), Chris Jacobs (NY), John Katko (NY), David McKinley (WVa), Peter Meijer (MI), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA), Lee Zeldin (NY) ​ FROM THE 116TH CONGRESS Pre-existing Conditions ​ H.R.692 - Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act of 2019 Prohibits exclusion of pre-existing conditions and guarantees the availability of health insurance coverage in the individual and group market in the case that Obamacare is repealed. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Greg Walden*, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Troy Balderson, Rep. Mike Bost, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Larry Buschon, Rep. Paul Cook, Rep. John Curtis, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Tom Emmer, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Mike Gallagher, Rep. Bill Huizenga, Rep. Will Hurd, Rep. Bill Johnson, Rep. Mike Kelly, Rep. Peter King, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Rep. Roger Marshall, Rep. Brian Mast, Rep. David McKinley, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, Rep. Mike Simpson, Rep. Lloyd Smucker, Rep. Pete Stauber, Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Michael Turner, Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Lee Zeldin H.R.383 - Continuing Coverage for Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019 If Obamacare is found to be illegal or incapable of being enforced, this bill protects (1) the availability and renewability of coverage, or (2) the prohibitions against discriminatory coverage practices based on preexisting conditions or health status. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Dave Joyce*, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Rep. Pete Stauber, Rep. Bryan Steil, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Michael Turner H.R.4159 - Maintaining Protections for Patients with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019 The legislation amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by adding provisions from Obamacare in the case that it is overturned. The pre-existing conditions provisions include guaranteed issue and renewability, a prohibition on pre-existing condition benefit exclusions, a ban on health status underwriting, and inclusion of community rating. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Bill Huizenga, Rep. Dan Newhouse Medical Transparency H.R.3630 - No Surprises Act This bill protects healthcare plan holders from being gouged by surprise hospital bills charging out-of-network rates in the case of medical emergencies that are not within the consumer's existing insurance network by requiring the out-of-network provider to charge their median in-network rate and prohibiting the out-of-network provider from charging consumers the difference between in-network and out-of-network rates. It also requires the establishment of provider directories published by insurance companies. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Greg Walden* Drug Pricing H.R. 19 - Lower Cost More Cures Act Lowers out of pocket spending on prescription drugs, protects access to new cures and medications, strengthens transparency, and encourages competition without stifling innovation. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Greg Walden*, Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. David McKinley, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Rep. Bill Johnson, Rep. Larry Bucshon, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. John Rutherford, Rep. Bill Huizenga, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Rep. Roger Marshall, Rep. Troy Balderson, Rep. Dusty Johnson, Rep. Carol Miller, Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Paul Cook, Rep. John Curtis, Rep. Chris Smith, Rep. Bryan Steil, Rep. Dave Joyce, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, Rep. Pete Stauber, Rep. Mike Kelly, Rep. Tom Reed, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, Rep. Will Hurd, Rep. Steve Watkins, Rep. Mike Turner, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Michael Waltz, Rep. Bob Gibbs, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Mike Bost, Rep. John Moolenaar, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Peter King, Rep. Lee Zeldin, Rep. Mike Simpson Opioid Crisis H.R.2439 - Opioid Workforce Act of 2019 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain management programs, with an aggregate increase of 1,000 positions over a five-year period. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Peter King, Rep. Elise Stefanik H.R.1614 - John S. McCain Opioid Addiction Prevention Act This bill establishes a new registration requirement for practitioners who are licensed to prescribe controlled substances. Specifically, a practitioner must agree to limit the supply of opioids prescribed for the initial treatment of acute pain, as a condition of obtaining or renewing a registration through the Drug Enforcement Administration. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. John Katko*, Rep. Carol Miller Maternal Health H.R.4215 - Excellence in Maternal Health Act of 2019 This bill would improve maternal health care quality, improve the training of health care professionals to prevent discrimination in health care services, and improve perinatal care. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Larry Buschon*, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Greg Walden H.R.2507 - Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill would promote expanded screening of newborns and children for hereditary disorders. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Mike Simpson, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Steve Watkins Mental Health H.R.1109 - Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2019 This bill would provide funding for public schools across the country to partner with local mental health professionals to establish on-site mental health care services for students. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Brian Mast, Rep. Tom Reed Family Issues ​ Empowering women lifts families as a whole, so RMSP is focused on supporting women in the workplace, in school, and at home. Specific issues include equal pay and paid childcare. Equal Pay H.R.1935 - Wage Equity Act of 2019 Closes the wage gap between men and women in the workplace while empowering both employees and businesses alike. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Elise Stefanik*, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Troy Balderson, Rep. Mike Bost, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Larry Buschon, Rep. Paul Cook, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Tom Emmer, Rep. Jim Fortenberry, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Bill Huizenga, Rep. Will Hurd, Rep. Dave Joyce, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Peter King, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Rep. Roger Marshall, Rep. Dave McKinley, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. John Moolenaar, Rep. Tom Reed, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, Rep. Lloyd Smucker, Rep. Pete Stauber, Rep. Bryan Steil, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Greg Walden, Rep. Lee Zeldin Paid Child Care (H.R. TBD) Advancing Support for Working Families Act The Advancing Support for Working Families Act would allow families the option to advance up to $5,000 of their recently-doubled child tax credit in the first year of a child's life or the first year a family adopts a child. ​ H.R.3397 - Child and Dependent Care Modernization Act of 2019 This bill increases the tax exclusion to up to $8,000 for employer-provided dependent care assistance and allows individuals to carry forward into the next taxable year unused flexible spending arrangement account balances Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Peter King, Rep. Steve Stivers H.R.4253 - Empower Parents in College Act of 2019 Provides increased access to childcare support for low-income parent-students. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Dusty Johnson* Workforce Development RMSP and its Members are focused on legislation that expands access for people of different skill sets and aspirations, including closing the job-skills gap and expanding capital investment in small businesses. Job Skills Gap S.839 - JOBS Act of 2019/ H.R.3497 - Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2019 Expands federal Pell Grant eligibility to technical education and training programs. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Troy Balderson, Rep. Mike Bost, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Paul Cook, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Mike Gallagher, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Bill Johnson, Rep. Dave Joyce, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Tom Reed, Rep. Bryan Steil, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Michael Turner, Rep. Fred Upton Access to Capital H.R.3050 - Expanding Investment in Small Businesses Act of 2019 Cuts red tape for new small businesses trying to raise money and gain access to capital. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Bryan Steil*, Rep. Steve Stivers Infrastructure/Transportation There seems to be bipartisan appetite for infrastructure legislation that includes a Water Resources Development Act and a surface transportation reauthorization bill. In particular, we hope to address the long-term sustainability of the Highway Trust Fund; incorporating innovative development in technology; streamlining the project-delivery process to optimize funding; and addressing the needs of rural communities, including broadband internet access. Red Flag Laws H.R.2786 - Jake Laird Act of 2019 Empowers law enforcement to retain firearms from persons deemed dangerous via probable cause and due process to be a danger to themselves and/or others. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Susan Brooks*, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Fred Upton H.R.744 - Protecting Our Communities and Rights Act of 2019 Empowers states to protect persons who may be a danger to themselves and others through the use of extreme protection orders and due process. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. John Katko*, Rep. John Curtis, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Dave Joyce, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Fred Upton Environment Despite being one the most developed nations in the world, many American families are still waking up to substandard and dangerous conditions. Our focus in the 117th Congress will include clean water and clean technology. Clean Water H.R. 535, The PFAS Action Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to designate all perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (fluorinated chemicals) as hazardous substances within one year of enactment of this bill. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Fred Upton Clean Technology H.R.5523 - Energy Sector Innovation Credit Act of 2019 Incentivizes new, sustainable energy technology to be brought to market. Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Tom Reed [ Download Full Agenda ]

REP. chris smith (NJ-04) First elected in 1980, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith is his 21st term in the House. During the 116th Congress (2019-20), he served as a senior member on the Foreign Affairs Committee and is ranking member of its Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Subcommittee . Rep. Smith has a history of serving and leading bipartisan commissions and congressional caucuses. As of January1, 2021, Mr. Smith ranks second among all 435 Members of the House over the last two decades in the number of laws authored, according to the independent watchdog organization Govtrack,. According to the official Congress.gov website run by the Library of Congress, Rep. Smith has authored 47 laws. He graduated from the College of New Jersey with a degree in business administration.

MAIN STREET AT A CROSSROADS Defending Main Street supports Jake Ellzey's successful bid for TX-06 seat in runoff READ MORE Rhetoric is easy. It's governing that's hard. Learn more about who we are and what we do. ABOUT Main Street’s Pledge To America We hereby pledge: To craft and fight for legislation that represents our core values of EQUITY, SECURITY, AND PROSPERITY. To work with anyone in either party ready to roll up their sleeves and solve problems for the American people. To choose solutions over rhetoric and country over party. THE MAIN STREET AGENDA Healthcare Family Issues/ Taxation Workforce Development Environment/ Energy Transportation & Infrastructure Safety and Security Main Street Republicans are either sponsoring their own bills or working across the aisle to support bipartisan legislation in the 117th Congress. Some members may have sponsored or co-sponsored the same bill. Data as of June 1, 2021 6,211 pieces of legislation either sponsored (475) or co-sponsored (5,736) by 60 RMSP House Members (total of 4,261 bills in the House). either sponsored (267) or co-sponsored (1,114) by five Senate Members. Senators have filed a total of 4,345 bills. 1,114 pieces of legislation Word on the Street Peter Osborne Jun 16 'The bill that united the Senate:' Media reacts to passage of Endless Frontier Act Peter Osborne Jun 8 Don Bacon at AJC talking about the future of bipartisanship in Congress Sarah Chamberlain Jun 2 Endless Frontier passage shows bipartisanship is possible Peter Osborne May 20 Fortenberry: We need to restore the idea of meaningful work Peter Osborne May 17 NY Times: Are We Headed Toward a Breakaway Third Party? Peter Osborne May 5 RMSP survey shows Republicans, Independents want conservative policy without the rhetoric