By Sarah Chamberlain Republicans have, for too long, allowed Democrats to claim that THEY are the true protectors of the environment and climate change. It’s just not the case. We are not climate deniers, and we are tired of the misleading messaging perpetuated by proponents of the Green New Deal who claim that their plan will help avoid global destruction through the offer of a non-binding proposal to wean the United States from fossil fuels and curb planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions across the economy while guaranteeing new high-paying jobs in clean energy industries. But there’s no legislation attached that would actually achieve the goal. Republicans believe that jobs, prosperity, and a cleaner environment can peacefully coexist. Private-sector innovation, American resources, and R&D investment have resulted in lower emissions and affordable energy, which makes the United States the global leader in reducing emissions. Has it happened as quickly as anyone would like? Probably not, but we also should not embrace the Democrats’ view that we should be reducing energy choices. We should be setting a goal of reducing emissions. With innovative technologies, fossil fuels can and should be a major part of the global solution. We can reduce carbon in the air without villainizing American fossil fuels that have helped America reduce emissions dramatically over the last decade and employ more than 1.7 million Americans. All emissions reducing technologies and energy sources should be on the table, including carbon capture, tree planting, nuclear energy, renewable sources, and fossil fuels. House Republicans led by Rep. John Curtis of Utah recently launched the Conservative Climate Caucus, with more than 60 GOP members representing every committee with jurisdiction over climate policy. Our goal is to educate fellow Republicans on climate policies that will make real progress on reducing emissions through American innovation and resources…without sacrificing American jobs, prosperity, and principles. The GOP has been accused by many of being the “Party of No” when it comes to climate solutions. The truth is that we are saying no to the proposals that sound good, but in reality will have no real effect on global emissions and kill American jobs. Republicans are the “Party of Yes” for solutions that balance emissions reduction with energy needs and grows, instead of hinders, the U.S. economy.” We need the electorate to know that we’re open to talking about carbon capture, tree planting, and expansion of nuclear energy, which many of us prefer over wind or solar energy. Many of us do feel that President Biden’s proposals around items like a clean electricity standard sound nice but they won’t have a measurable impact on the problem. Our ability to take back control of the House and Senate in 2022 requires a credible position on climate change. We can’t avoid this discussion, which the previous administration would have preferred we do. We also need to provide a more reasonable voice to members of our own party who want to claim that there is no climate crisis. That’s not a winning argument if we want to attract younger voters to the party before the 2022 midterms. We don’t need to kill the U.S. economy to reach our climate goals, but we do need to step away from the shaming culture found in today’s climate dialogue and celebrate our successes. We don’t need to implement Democrat policies that ban fossil fuels, raise taxes on energy consumers, and force taxpayers to heavily subsidize politically preferred industries, but we do need conservative policies that secure American energy innovation, foster innovation, and allow the market to protect taxpayers from tax increases. This is a topic where governing needs to take precedence over the rhetoric. We need to ask the louder voices on the Left what they’re actually doing to drive change beyond talking about it. The Conservative Climate Caucus is not going to endorse legislation or specific policies, but we will serve as a place for Republicans to learn and talk about solutions that tackle climate change while keeping conservative principles. We hope that through these efforts we will also make it easier for the media to take a more balanced approach to its coverage of this critical issue and hear voices beyond the chest pounding that the Far Left has been allowed to do on this topic. Sarah Chamberlain is president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, which promotes bipartisan consensus-building on public policy issues. More than 30 RMSP members have joined the Conservative Climate Caucus, including: (with links to their websites): Jay Obernolte (CA-08) David Valadao (CA-21) John Rutherford (FL-04) Michael Waltz (FL-06) Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) Maria Salazar (FL-27) Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) Larry Bucshon (IN-08) Andy Barr (KY-06) Bill Huizenga (MI-02) Peter Meijer (MI-03) Fred Upton (MI-06) Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) Lee Zeldin (NY-01) Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) Chris Jacobs (NY-27) Troy Balderson (OH-12) David Joyce (OH-14) Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16) Cliff Bentz (OR-02) Dusty Johnson (SD- AL) Michael McCaul (TX-10) Michael Burgess (TX-26) Blake Moore (UT-01) John Curtis (UT-03) Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) Dan Newhouse (WA-04) Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) David McKinley (WV-01) Bryan Steil (WI-01) This article was also published on the USA Today Network

This article originally ran in the Washington Examiner on June 29. You can read it there here. DES MOINES, Iowa — Rep. Randy Feenstra is emerging as a key caucus power broker, embracing the role of Republican ambassador to northwest Iowa’s heavily conservative 4th Congressional District for prospective 2024 presidential contenders. The freshman congressman shepherded former ambassador Nikki Haley around the rural, small-town 4th District Saturday and is hosting former Vice President Mike Pence at the “Feenstra Family Picnic” in mid-July. His team has reached out to at least five additional potential 2024 candidates, holding discussions about visits to northwest Iowa, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who was scheduled to be in Sioux Center for a state party reception on Tuesday. For several years, an endorsement from Feenstra’s predecessor, Steve King, was coveted by GOP White House candidates ahead of the Iowa caucuses, traditionally the first contest on the Republican Party’s presidential nominating calendar. Feenstra ousted King, who had become politically radioactive, in a primary last year. But he is working hard to both maintain the 4th District’s influence in presidential politics and preserve Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status in the Republican primary. “By inviting Republican leaders to visit our state, it will start important conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing Iowa’s farmers, families, and main streets,” Feenstra said through a spokesman. “These conversations will help shape future policies, open up opportunities, and ultimately ensure the people of Iowa continue our important role in nominating our next president.” "I am honored to help Randy kick off the inaugural Feenstra Family Picnic in July," Pence said. The full list of Republicans Feenstra has talked to about visiting his corner of this Midwest battleground reads like a who’s who of 2024 hopefuls. In addition to Cotton, Haley, and Pence, it includes: Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2016, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. The congressman has also invited to visit the 4th District the caucus runner-up from 2016: former President Donald Trump, who has not ruled out a third White House bid. The relationships Feenstra, 52, is developing are symbiotic. Haley headlined a lucrative fundraiser for Feenstra’s 2022 reelection bid during her multistop swing through Iowa in late June, and Scott did the same for the congressman in Washington during the first quarter of this year. In Congress less than six months, Feenstra moved swiftly to establish himself as a force in presidential politics. Iowa GOP officials, worried Iowa might lose its position as the state that votes first in primaries, are delighted. “I applaud Congressman Feenstra’s efforts to both promote the Iowa caucus and win back the House majority,” state Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said. “There is no better way to promote our state, our values and our caucus than by hosting Republican leaders and showcasing all our great state has to offer.” Iowa’s historic role as the state that votes first in the presidential primaries of both major parties has come under increasing threat. In the Democratic Party, activists have questioned holding the first nominating contest in a predominantly white and rural state, given that its base is dominated by ethnically diverse voters, many of whom live in urban communities. In Nevada, Democrats are attempting to claim first-in-the-nation status, approving a state law that intends to bump both Iowa and New Hampshire from their leadoff caucus and primary spots, respectively. In the Republican Party, the Iowa caucus as the first contest appears more secure. Trump left office just a few months ago, and the state is already seeing a parade of GOP 2024 hopefuls travel there to lend a hand to Gov. Kim Reynolds and down-ballot candidates. Meanwhile, the national Republican Party is giving no indication it wants to demote Iowa. Iowa Republicans are not taking anything for granted. Haley, in late June, headlined the Iowa Republican Party Lincoln Dinner, a major fundraising gala. During the question-and-answer session with Haley and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad after her keynote speech, Kaufmann asked the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations if she was committed to ensuring the special status of the caucuses. It was the first question Kaufmann asked of Haley as he opened the panel. “Madam Ambassador, before we get into a conversation about some serious issues, I've got to ask you this,” Kaufmann said. “I’m just wondering what Nikki Haley thinks of Iowa being first in the nation and our whole carve-out system.” Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, did not hesitate with her answer. “I’m fine with Iowa being first in the nation as long as you keep South Carolina first in the South primary. You mess with us, we’ll mess with you,” she said. The Republican Main Street Partnership was an early supporter of Rep. Feenstra, helping him defeat longtime incumbent Steve King in the Republican primary.

The Republican Main Street Partnership, a centrist-leaning GOP organization that includes an affiliated super PAC, has tapped former Oregon Rep. Greg Walden as an outside adviser as it seeks to raise more than it ever has, $25 million, in the 2022 election cycle. It’s part of a larger overhaul of the group, which is navigating the turmoil and divisions of the post-Trump era with Republicans well positioned, historically, to reclaim the House majority. Walden served as chairman of the House GOP campaign arm for the 2014 and 2016 election cycles and was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership while in Congress. The group won’t take policy positions but will offer policy and communications support and networking for its lawmaker members and their senior aides, according to its president, Sarah Chamberlain. It’s also looking to lure small-dollar donations as well as big checks, Chamberlain said, though smaller donors in both parties tend to gravitate toward more hard-line politicians — not those in the middle. “Some people may get more national attention,” Walden said. “Our Main Street members work really hard in their districts and care a lot about getting policy done. They’re real workhorses.” The group, he added, is “made up of members that are more concerned about getting their policy work done than getting the latest hit on TV.” Several House freshmen who won competitive races in 2020 are among 16 new Main Street members, including California’s Young Kim and Florida’s Carlos Gimenez and María Elvira Salazar. Membership now totals almost 70, according to the group. Another new freshman member, Iowa’s Randy Feenstra, who beat former Rep. Steve King in a primary last year, had Main Street’s backing in that race. Defending Main Street, the group’s super PAC, spent at least $100,000 against King, according to disclosures with the Federal Election Commission. “I ran for Congress because I believe the people of my district and the country deserve results, not rhetoric,” Feenstra said in a statement. “In the Iowa Senate, I worked to build coalitions in support of my conservative agenda, including a balanced budget and historic tax cuts. I am working with my colleagues in the Republican Main Street Partnership to enact similar conservative reforms that deliver results for America’s Main Streets and family farmers.” Other new members include Kentucky’s Andy Barr; New Jersey’s Jeff Van Drew, who switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2019; California’s Jay Obernolte; Iowa’s Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks; New York’s Chris Jacobs; Texas’ Michael McCaul and Tony Gonzales; and Utah’s Blake D. Moore. Three of the group’s new members voted in January to impeach former President Donald Trump: Reps. David Valadao of California, Peter Meijer of Michigan and Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio. Primary decisions Trump, even out of office, still remains a force in GOP politics, and he’s pledged to work against lawmakers who didn’t support him. He is planning a rally in Ohio on Saturday, for example, to support Republican Max Miller, who is challenging Gonzalez. Chamberlain said that Main Street does plan to spend in primaries this coming cycle but hasn’t yet made any decisions about whom to support. She stressed that the group was not positioning itself as a counter to Trump’s influence in the party. “The Trump base is still extremely important,” she said. The group also won’t advocate specific policies or legislation, Chamberlain said. “It’s very difficult to get 70 members to agree on policy. They have very different districts,” she said. “We always got ourselves stuck in the middle. … And that just became too much.” Instead, the group wants to position itself as a forum for discussions among lawmakers and, separately, as a place of mentoring and collaboration for senior aides. Former New York Rep. Amo Houghton founded the group; he died in March 2020. “What we do stand for is electing and getting more Main Street American-type Republicans elected,” Chamberlain said, especially in the suburban districts that fled the GOP in the 2018 cycle as a reaction to Trump. That 2018 period, when Republicans lost control of the House, led to consternation among some members of the group, and a story by NPR reported on a memo that alleged potential campaign finance violations. The story sparked litigation. “There was a lawsuit,” Chamberlain said. “And we’ve moved on. The suit was settled months ago, and we’re only looking forward to the future and keeping our members elected and adding more and taking back the House of Representatives.” Going for the gavel Walden, a former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will be a part of that effort to win the majority in the 2022 elections. “I can see from every side of the table,” said Walden, noting his experience as an 11-term member of Congress, as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and as a Hill staffer. “I’ve just brought that experience to play in how Main Street can be an even bigger and better organization.” “There’s real excitement among Republicans about governing, taking the majority back and taking care of their districts,” he added. The group’s fundraising goals are ambitious. In the 2020 cycle, its super PAC, Defending Main Street, raised just over $3.5 million, down from the previous cycle’s $5 million. There are no reports for this year on file yet with the FEC. Chamberlain said she had commitments from donors toward about half of Main Street’s $25 million goal. Even if the group meets that goal, it would still be smaller than other super PACs focused on House Republicans. The Congressional Leadership Fund, for example, reported bringing in more than $165 million last cycle. Both Chamberlain and Walden said it was still too early to say which races Main Street might prioritize. Candidates in nearly every state are awaiting new congressional maps as a result of redistricting and reapportionment based on the 2020 census. Potential candidates have also begun reaching out to the Republican Main Street Partnership, Chamberlain said. Walden said Republican chances of winning control of the House in 2022 will come down to the quality of the candidates and the policy debates, while serving as something of a referendum on all-Democratic control of Washington. “There’s a lot of opportunity here for Republicans to say, ‘Here’s how we’d do it, here’s how they’ve done it, and you choose,’” he said. “I’d rather be us than them.”

The United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 (USICA), formerly known as the Endless Frontier Act, is United States legislation sponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) authorizing $110 billion for basic and advanced technology research over a five year period. It passed the Senate by a 68-32 margin on June 8. The bill, which is now being debated in the House, was reintroduced in April. What the press is saying: “American politicians are worried about the rise China as a tech power. Now they are finally doing something about the threat. It’s rare that Washington politicians are the right side of the tech landscape. More often they are fighting battles that have already been decided, like trying to divvy up internet search or social media. Yet they are correct to take on China in the race to develop next generation technologies like AI, quantum computing and 5G. They are also correct to try to move more chip manufacturing to the United States. It is a national security imperative.” (Forbes,“Congress Finally Backs a Smart Tech Bill”, 6/10/21) “The United States Senate overwhelmingly passed the kind of historic and sweeping spending bill that typically triggers bitter partisan warfare.” (The New York Times’ The Daily Podcast with Michael Barbaro, “The Bill That United the Senate”, 6/09/21) “The bill's supporters cite the measure as evidence that the deeply divided Senate can still function on a bipartisan basis…It's also a sign of the widespread consensus that has emerged around the need to outcompete China on the world stage, including by revitalizing U.S. manufacturing and research and cracking down on Beijing's economic abuses.” (Axios, 6/10/21) “China has been closing the tech gap in recent years by making bold investments in tech with the intent of overtaking the United States. This is a tech war we cannot afford to lose. It’s imperative that Congress pass the Endless Frontier Act and authorize the biggest R&D tech investment in the United States since the Apollo years.” (San Jose Mercury News, 6/10/21) “Sixty-eight senators understood the threat to America. It was a remarkably lopsided majority in these divisive times, and it included some of the country’s most conservative Republicans.” (Buffalo News, 6/10/21) “Beijing slammed the bill Wednesday, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin telling a regular press briefing that it advocates for strategic competition with China and ‘gravely interferes with China’s domestic affairs,’ including its repressive policies in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), Tibet, and Hong Kong.” (Radio Free Asia, 6/10/21) “Another aspect of the bill, $50 billion for semiconductor development and manufacturing, could be a boon to Indiana automakers, which have had to close sporadically and convert parking lots into large-scale storage facilities due to a global shortage of microchips. In Kokomo, thousands of workers at the local Stellantis Transmission Plant, were furloughed for weeks last month and local union leaders anticipated the microchip shortage would drag on.” (Herald Bulletin, 6/09/21) Compiled by the staff of Sen. Todd Young.

By Reps. Carol Miller and Lisa McClain American families realize that remote learning for our children and grandchildren is not satisfactory or beneficial for the student or teacher. They’re ready to move on. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates all schools will be fully in person and no longer remote by September, regardless of whether children are vaccinated or not. As a nation, we need to have a bigger discussion about the immediate future. Districts and states across the country should be talking about the appropriate action to remediate students’ lack of time in the classroom. We must help students readjust and reacclimate to put them in the strongest possible position to return to class this fall. The consideration of summer school should be part of the dialogue. Bringing students back to school is following the best available science. According to the CDC, COVID-19 transmissions and outbreaks are rare in K-12 education. Further, with vaccines being widely distributed, now is the time for kids to return to the classroom for in-person learning. The unspoken danger of these lockdowns has caused many problems – social isolation, family stress, anxiety about the virus, and a rise in substance abuse, and parental abuse and neglect, which result in mental health issues. Surveys by organizations like the Brookings Institution and McKinsey show deteriorating academic performance and diminishing lifetime earnings due to COVID-related learning losses. An increasing share of children being seen in hospital emergency rooms during the pandemic are for mental health reasons. Harvard University researchers, who have been following 224 children ages 7 to 15 between November 2020 and January of 2021, found that about two-thirds of them had clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression. A similar number had behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and inattention, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal. Even more concerning, in Nevada, we saw at least 18 students take their own lives as a result of the pandemic. Across the United States, other issues such as eating disorders also appear to be increasing. If we truly care about our children, we cannot continue on this path. In West Virginia, the governor and Board of Education have followed the science and empowered schools to return safely to in-person instruction. When the state saw increases in confirmed cases in our public schools, Governor Justice said, “If the problem is bad enough that we think – really and truly – we need to close a school, we’re going to close a school. That’s just all there is to it.” Many schools in Michigan have struggled to remain open during this school year. In mid-March, Port Huron public schools shut down in-person learning and shifted to remote learning for six weeks as COVID cases spiked in the local area. This occurred even though there were not any major outbreaks related to the schools. The CDC says more than 80% of all K-12 teachers, school staff, and child-care workers had received at least one dose of the vaccine as of early April. We’re at a point where teachers and staff – including bus drivers – can get vaccinated if they choose. Our goal should be a total return to normalcy. It’s what is best for the health of our students and their futures. We need to realize many of our children will struggle academically as well as socially as they get back to where they are supposed to be – the classroom. Parents and teachers can work together to help students develop structured routines, exercise, and reduce their screen time. We can also remind them they’re not alone, either at home or with other students across the globe. In doing so, our children and grandchildren will be prepared to take on the next school year in person. Getting America’s children back into the classroom is not only a needed investment in their futures, but also an investment in our country’s workforce and economic recovery. Throughout the pandemic, mothers and fathers have put their careers on hold so they can stay home and help their children through virtual learning. It’s time we open classrooms fully to give parents the freedom to re-enter the workforce and contribute to America’s economic recovery. Our next generation, our economy, and our way of life depend on it. Congresswoman Carol Miller represents West Virginia’s Third District and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. Congresswoman Lisa McClain represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District and serves on the House Education and Labor Committee & Armed Services Committee. Photo credit (classroom): Washington Post

This is the third in a series of articles introducing you to the Freshmen Class members of the Republican Main Street Partnership. This week: Rep. Andrew Garbarino, 36, of New York. District/Area Served: New York Second District, representing the South Shore of Long Island including southwestern Suffolk County and southeastern Nassau County. The district includes vibrant downtown areas, as well as a portion of the Fire Island beaches. Background: Lifelong Long Islander with a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and a law degree from Hofstra University on Long Island. He worked as a practicing attorney with his father at their family law firm after graduation in his hometown of Sayville. Family: Andrew is the proud son of a teacher and a lawyer and small business owner. He has a brother and two sisters. He also has three Godchildren - Lincoln, Madaline, and Abigail. He is a devout Roman Catholic and still attends mass on Sundays at St Lawrence Catholic Church, the same church where he was baptized. Legislative Priorities: Restore the SALT deduction, be a voice for our men and women in law enforcement, and work on a bipartisan basis to secure real solutions for Long Islanders. As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee’s Cybersecurity Subcommittee, he is committed to defending our nation against cyberspace threats, combatting terrorism, and strengthening our border security. Political Experience: Represented much of the South Shore in the NY State Assembly since 2013, taking on the liberal Albany machine and “spoke out against the disastrous bail-reform package advanced by the Democrats in the state legislature.” Quote: “I believe in fighting for those who give everything for their fellow citizens – the brave men and women in law enforcement as well as our veterans.” Media Comment: “I am delighted to support Andrew Garbarino to represent the good people of Long Island. These hard-working citizens need a strong advocate who will put their interests over politics and fight hard against the extreme progressive left policies of Congressional Democrats. That is what I have always done and I know Andrew will too.” – Peter King Endorsement What advice did you get before you arrived in Congress? Former Congressman Pete King gave me some great advice which was to take advantage of every opportunity—to see, do and learn as much as I can. What’s the question that you wish more people would ask themselves? Before pursuing legislation, how will this law affect people’s lives practically, instead of just in theory? What does success in 2021 look like for you? Success would be looking back on my first year in Congress and seeing that the policies I’ve supported and the legislation I’ve worked on has tangibly improved the lives of my constituents. What do you think is the best path to breaking gridlock in Congress? The American people didn’t send us to Congress to watch us fight about what we disagree on. To get past gridlock we must put partisanship aside and work together on what we can agree on that will better the lives of our constituents. At what point in your life did you realize you had the power of change or the power to do something meaningful? When working as an attorney at my family’s law firm in Sayville, I was inspired by the family-oriented community in Long Island. It was then that I knew I wanted to make a difference and decided to run for State Assembly in New York. How do you want to be remembered? As someone who goes to bat for my constituents. I hope people consider me to be someone who doesn’t just follow the party line, but works to find the best possible solutions to the problems my constituents face regardless of politics. What’s the best piece of advice you ever received (and who gave it to you)? When I was growing up, my mom always said to me, “Andrew, make sure you do the right thing.” That has always stuck with me. Interesting fact that’s not on your resume? My nickname growing up was Baker (my high school friends still call me that). What advice would you give yourself coming out of college? Buy Amazon Stock and Bitcoin. What gets you down? How do you bounce back? Coming in last place in my fantasy football league and as a result having to jump into the Great South Bay in February. I’ll bounce back by winning my league next year! Who or what is inspiring you right now? The fact that law enforcement goes to work every day in service of their communities even though the public discourse over the last year has been against them. I’m inspired by their commitment to protect and serve. What’s your go-to song for karaoke? I love Karaoke and I’d have to say that my go-to song for a duet is "Love Shack" and for a solo is "The Weight" by The Band.

EL PASO, TX -- Six members of the Republican Main Street Partnership toured the area May 21 on a fact-finding trip to see the impact of the growing crisis at the United States-Mexico border. (L-R): Pete Stauber (foreground) Andrew Garbarino, Tony Gonzales, David Valadao, Dan Newhouse, Don Bacon Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Dan Newhouse (WA-04). Pete Stauber (MN-08), and David Valadao (CA-21) and their chiefs of staff joined host Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and RMSP CEO Sarah Chamberlain for a roundtable discussion at a pecan farm with local ranchers and farmers; a visit to an unaccompanied-minor facility; tours of the El Paso Central Processing Center and the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry; and a briefing with Customs and Border Patrol agents. "The rise in illegal border crossings has put an incredible amount of stress on our farmers & ranchers," Gonzales said. "I [was pleased to bring] a delegation of my colleagues to Tornillo yesterday so our farmers could share some of their powerful stories with other members of Congress." Here are some of their reflections from their day, starting with their thoughts about the entire day: Reflections on What They Saw Stauber: What's going on at the border is a humanitarian crisis and a national security concern that cannot continue to be ignored by the Biden Administration. Bacon: We have a crisis at the border. There has been 170,000+ illegal crossings per month, record high number of unaccompanied minors, and an increase in drug smuggling and human trafficking. I urge President Biden to take immediate action and secure our border. Garbarino: I came to the border to see the conditions here for myself so I could make informed decisions for my constituents. What I saw confirmed that our border is not equipped to keep out dangerous criminals like those that feed the MS-13 gang that plagues my district. Newhouse: There is no doubt about it, there is a crisis at our southern border. This Administration’s attempts to sweep it under the rug are harming our citizens, law enforcement officers, and the hundreds of thousands of migrants coming across the border – while emboldening the drug cartels to be even more blatant in their trafficking operations. Our border is neither secure nor safe, and President Biden and his ‘border czar’ must take action now to change that. Valadao: Under President Biden, illegal border crossings have skyrocketed. In April alone, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol encountered over 170,000 individuals at the southwest border - the most we’ve seen in a single month in over 20 years. Heroin and fentanyl smuggling has increased dramatically, and the rate of unaccompanied minors making the dangerous trek across our border is heartbreaking. Not only is this a humanitarian crisis, this is a national security disaster. By refusing to enforce immigration laws, President Biden is sending a dangerous message that our border is open for business to cartels and encourages people to put themselves in harm’s way to cross our border. First Stop: Visit to a 4th Generation Pecan Farm in Tornilla, TX, with Ranchers and Farmers: Stauber: The farmers we met shared concerns over the safety of their families and homes, the destruction of crops, and theft of property. They also shared heart-wrenching stories of helping migrants in need. Garbarino: I heard devastating stories of the humanitarian crisis here and the damage illegal crossings have caused to farmers’ fields and equipment. Biden’s Border Crisis is bad for migrants and border communities. We must secure our border! Bacon: Farmers on the border shared how cartels are running all the human and drug trafficking on South side of border. The new border policies have enriched the cartels and over a third of women to include underaged girls are being sexually abused in the process. Newhouse: As a farmer, it’s hard to imagine not being able to walk through your orchards or fields without carrying a weapon. But down in El Paso, that’s the reality facing these men and women because of the daily threat they face from the drug cartels passing through. For them, the best thing to happen for their safety was building a border fence, and they’ve made it clear that finishing our wall is not just a priority, it’s a necessity. Tour of Unaccompanied Minor Facility and Central Processing Center Bacon: The “Trail House” opened last year and subcontracted as part of HHS. They’ve taken care of approximately 500 children abandoned at the border. Many have suffered trauma. The staff try to find families to connect them with or eventually foster care. Valadao: I had the opportunity to speak with children currently here to better understand the conditions and their everyday experience in these facilities. Newhouse: We need to stop incentivizing cartels from the massive amount of drug and human trafficking they are currently conducting. Children are being smuggled across the border by these cartels, with no agency or say in the matter. More fentanyl has been seized in the first four months of this year than in all of 2020 and the number of unaccompanied minors has already doubled since FY20. This is trafficking and abuse spurred on by this Administration’s policies, and we need to take action now to stop this crisis. Paso Del Norte Port of Entry Tour with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency Newhouse: Our law enforcement officers are working as hard as they can to mitigate this ongoing crisis, but they have made it crystal clear that should the Biden Administration revoke their Title 42 privileges as they’ve indicated, they will no longer be able to process migrants in the field and will be forced to bring them into the country for processing. Thousands of migrants are waiting for this to happen, and according to our officers, will completely overwhelm our facilities within 2-3 days. That is unacceptable. Stauber: Migrants are now coming in at a far higher rate because this Administration rolled back the Remain in Mexico policy/MPP program. Law enforcement at the border are working hard and need more resources and technology! Custom and Borders Protection Briefing Newhouse: I spent a lot of time with our CBP agents, and hearing their experiences firsthand only highlights our need to take this crisis seriously. At night, hundreds of migrants are crossing through sections of the border that are older and in dire need of replacement, and they simply cannot keep up. To make matters worse, we have the materials to replace these porous zones, but the Biden Administration has halted all construction at the border. This is petty, partisan politics and is needlessly putting our officers and citizens at risk. Stauber: The border wall was being built in January until it was halted by Biden. I am standing next to wall components that are just sitting idle. Replacement of certain portions of the existing wall are also needed as there are obvious openings where migrants can crawl through. Where the wall ends, a daily average of 600-900 people cross the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States. President Biden must take action and finish the border wall. Bacon: The Administration announced US would NOT return unaccompanied children, so now parents are sending them over by themselves. We incentivized it. Now, about 90 unaccompanied children cross in El Paso sector every day, paying human traffickers. This is a primary crossing point. (photo) Garbarino: From technology and infrastructure to appropriate screenings, we must ensure border officials and law enforcement like @CPB are given the resources they need. The Republican Main Street Partnership wants to thank Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Chief of Staff Casey Contres and the rest of their team for hosting this tour – and many others for members of Congress. After a long day on Friday, Tony and Casey gave fellow RMSP member Rep. Randy Feenstra his own tour the next day!

Column by Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) in The Hill... On the battlefield, the difference between victory and defeat is often a leader having the ability to inspire his or her troops to success. When I decided to make a career out of military service by joining the ROTC program and U.S. Army Reserves, I never realized how much I would grow to appreciate this kind of leadership within the military’s ranks. After serving 23 years in the Army Reserves and National Guard, and now as a United States senator, I’m working in Congress on the Senate Armed Services Committee to help equip our warfighters, provide for a common defense to beat our adversaries, and ensure that the men and women who serve in our military are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Getting all three of these right are fundamental for America to succeed on the battlefield. In January 2019, it became public that I was sexually assaulted in college and later suffered domestic abuse, something I had held secret for many years. It was painful to relive these experiences, but it explained to the public my passion for these issues and why for instance, it was so important to me to spend time volunteering at a women’s shelter in college counseling victims of similar experiences. As many people know all too well, one of the areas where sexual assault has become all too prevalent is in our armed forces. While our military is a highly disciplined force with impressive capabilities, for far too long, issues of sexual assault have been allowed to fester within our military installations and on the battlefield. While there were many who took the issue seriously, too many took a “boys will be boys” mentality and minimized these voices. With so many women serving and dying for our country, that mentality was just plain unacceptable, and I have made it my mission to stop it. To read more, go here.

WASHINGTON — Last week the Census Bureau released the 2020 decennial tally of the population of the nation and all 50 states, and both parties took notice. The count that determines each state’s number of seats in the House of Representatives and votes for the Electoral College was probably affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, but still left a fairly familiar list of winners and losers. In fact, looking at the census tallies over time, the numbers generally showed a continuation of clear patterns where the country's population and political power has shifted in the last 50 years. Those shifts are, without question, meaningful, but as people wade into the analysis, there is evidence that they also may mean less than people believe in terms of the national political picture. Let's start with this year's winners and losers. To read more, go here

By Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-04) and Sarah Chamberlain In late 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced $9.2 billion in awards through its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to communities across the country that will be distributed evenly over the next 10 years. My home state of Michigan received $362 million, Illinois received more than $378 million, and New York– after a lot of work from Rep. Elise Stefanik – received nearly $100 million to deploy broadband across to nearly 50,000 unserved locations. The U.S. Census Bureau in late 2019 estimated that 15 million American households were below the federal minimum standard for broadband speeds, with more than a third of them without any broadband connection. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says 39% of rural Americans lack access to 25 Mbps/3Mbps, compared to only 4% of people living in cities. Meanwhile, industry watchdog Broadband Now puts the number at 42 million Americans. The challenge is the scope of the problem and how long it will take to roll out the service (the RDOF gives providers up to 10 years to reach all assigned locations), including states that received the least amount of funding (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts). That’s why we believe my legislation, the Broadening Online Opportunities through Simple Technologies (BOOST) Act (H.R. 1362), can provide a faster way for American families to get more reliable Internet service in their homes. Simply put, it would create a one-time refundable tax credit of up to $300 for the household purchase of a simple signal booster or mobile hot-spot equipment. Who would be impacted? Students who are stuck at home during the pandemic, struggling to keep up with their schoolwork. Employees working from home, trying to log on to video or web conferencing calls or work collaboratively with their coworkers on projects. Seniors using telemedicine services in lieu of visiting doctors’ offices during the pandemic. Farmers and ranchers who need broadband to follow commodity markets, communicate with customers, and access new markets around the world. The BOOST Act enables families to connect to the Internet by creating their own Internet hotspots or by boosting the speed of a connection they already have. The tax credit in this bipartisan bill would expire when the broadband speed in the household’s area reaches the federal minimum standard or after the credit sunsets in five years. It is also technology neutral, so families could use it to purchase the solution that works best for them, whether it is equipment to receive Internet from a satellite or a signal booster. As of now, there are 16 co-sponsors of the BOOST Act. This group of five Democrats and 11 Republicans, includes Reps. Mike Bost, Bob Gibbs, Bill Huizenga, Lisa McClain, and Elise Stefanik, all members of the Republican Main Street Partnership, who work together to pass kitchen table legislation, and Rep. Jack Bergman. Sarah and I have talked to parents who are worried about their children falling behind in school or losing opportunities at work because of their Internet connection. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how much of a necessity that broadband is in our current world and we can do something about it now, rather than waiting years. The BOOST Act will help those who have been facing these challenges. This legislation recognizes that Main Street Americans want us focusing on governance over rancorous rhetoric. It recognizes the challenges ahead and works to help families instead of making them wait longer for an Internet connection they would like to have sooner rather than later. We will continue to work to pass this legislation and we hope members of Congress from across the nation will help us pass the BOOST Act. You can help by letting your congressperson know you support this bill. Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-04) represents residents in mid and northern Michigan. Sarah Chamberlain is president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, an alliance of more than 60 Republican members of Congress who have demonstrated a willingness to cross the aisle to pass kitchen-table legislation.

By Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-42) This column originally ran in the Washington Times on April 21, 2021. Money is the default answer in our nation’s capital to virtually every problem. After a year of record-breaking federal spending and dollars overflowing from every federal office in town, this has never been more evident. As our national debt soars, it’s vital that we seek out solutions that don’t involve Uncle Sam’s checkbook. Across the nation and in Washington, D.C., there continues to be widespread, bipartisan support for building infrastructure and improving the physical foundations that will support our communities into the future. The drumbeat to build that infrastructure is unyielding because growth is constantly outpacing our ability to build what’s necessary to sustain it. While the availability of funding is certainly one factor, in far too many places the regulatory structures in place are the biggest impediments to making projects shovel-ready. In my California district, which includes the fast-growing western edge of Riverside County, a project to expand Interstate 15 by adding lanes in available space in the median of the highway will require at least five years to complete the environmental regulatory permitting requirements. Keep in mind the impacted land consists largely of overgrown weeds and dirt between highway lanes far from anything one would consider sensitive habitat or natural resources. As the years tick away while federal and state environmental compliance work continues, our region continues to grow. When the permits are finally in hand, it will only take a fraction of the time that was required to complete the regulatory red-tape to actually construct the project. If you take the example above and apply that broken model to energy, water, and other types of infrastructure projects proposed in communities across the country, you can begin to grasp why the United States is falling behind. Our broken regulatory approval system costs both time and money, while also presenting a major drag on our global economic competitiveness. The good news is, if we can muster the political will and reject the predictable objections from special interest groups who have built a parasitic business model that’s reliant upon these regulatory schemes, we have the opportunity to reduce both the time and cost of infrastructure projects without piling on to our national debt. Environmental regulatory streamlining would stretch limited infrastructure dollars even further and help us finally keep pace with growth. In the House of Representatives, I have introduced legislation, the Reducing Environmental Barriers to Unified Infrastructure and Land Development or REBUILD Act (H.R. 644) which would reduce the cost and speed up the construction of infrastructure projects while maintaining strong environmental protections. The REBUILD Act acknowledges the reality that many states, like California, often have environmental regulatory laws that are duplicative and more onerous than corresponding federal statutes. In those instances, my bill would allow for state environmental permitting process reciprocity and remove federal red-tape when state regulatory permits achieve the same goals. The REBUILD Act is modeled after a pilot program authorized by Congress more than a decade ago that reduced the length of time to complete a project review by an average of 17 months while also ensuring the goals of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process were not compromised. A growing number of Americans and advocacy organizations are coming to the realization that avoidable delays in building infrastructure pose a serious threat to our goals. In addition to hindering our ability to compete in the global marketplace with nations like China, the web of environmental regulations have even ironically slowed down renewable energy projects. As we move to clean our air and react to climate change, these delays will make it even more challenging to meet desired standards. I’m hopeful that a collective push by a growing constituency can overcome the entrenched bureaucracy that has protected the status quo for decades. Let’s put away the checkbook for once and take out the scissors to cut some red-tape to build projects faster and cheaper. U.S. Representative Ken Calvert represents the 42nd Congressional District where, as dean of the state’s Republican Delegation, his legislative priorities include creating longterm solutions to California’s water challenges and reducing building time on infrastructure projects by making commonsense, bipartisan reforms to our environmental laws. He serves on the Appropriations Committee as Ranking Member of the Defense Subcommittee and on the Energy and Water Subcommittee.

By Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) This article was originally published in the Washington Times on April 21, 2021. No matter what state you’re from, we can all agree that keeping our air and water clean is essential. But heavy-handed and misguided Washington, D.C., mandates, like the Green New Deal, that will crush our economy, are the wrong path to achieving that. Instead, we need an all-of-the above approach, one that increases domestic production, expands the use of our renewable sources, and promotes energy independence and efficiency by utilizing innovation and public-private partnerships. And America needs to look no further than the great state of Iowa to see the blueprint for that successful, market-driven approach—from biofuel to solar, and from wind to hydropower. Iowa is the nation’s leading producer of ethanol and biodiesel. In addition, over 40% of our power comes from wind energy sources, and just two years ago we had the highest wind power share of any state. In recent years, we’ve also grown our solar and hydroelectric power capabilities. And this has largely been done through incentives and community engagement not top-down, D.C.-driven mandates. Let’s start with solar. In 2018, Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) announced Clnera, LLC would develop the largest solar project in the state, and one of the largest in the Midwest, near Wapello, Iowa. CIPCO agreed to purchase all of the Wapello Solar facility’s output over the course of a 25-year contract. Last August, I visited the Wapello facility to see its ongoing efforts to develop the project. And just three weeks ago, I joined the grand opening of this solar facility. Not only will this project help deliver clean and affordable energy to tens of thousands of Iowans, but it will also create good-paying jobs. As I mentioned, nearly half of our state’s electricity comes from wind. On my 99 County Tour, I recently visited Iowa Lakes Community College and toured its Sustainable Energy Resources Technology program. The reality is, the backbone of our wind industry is the workforce that powers it. That’s why I’m continuing to push solutions at the federal level to support programs, like the one at Iowa Lakes, to train the next generation of our wind energy workforce. To that end, I’ve partnered with Senator Angus King (I-Maine) on the Wind Workforce Modernization and Training Act which would help incentivize and promote the development of wind power and wind jobs in Iowa and across the nation. At the end of last year, I successfully pushed to get the training grant component of the bill signed into law. While the new law will go a long way, there’s still more work to be done, and I’m committed to making sure our wind energy sector has the skilled workforce it needs to keep powering our state. In Iowa, we’re also utilizing and investing in hydropower. At another 99 County Tour stop a few weeks ago, I visited the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project on the Des Moines River. This facility is yet another great example of Iowa actively working with partners, like the Army Corps of Engineers, to find creative ways to invest in reliable energy sources, all while creating jobs and boosting our local economies. Finally, when it comes to biofuel, Iowa is unmatched. Over 50% of Iowa-grown corn goes directly to ethanol production, and almost 40% of it is used for the actual ethanol fuel. I’ve been relentless in fighting for our biofuel community—whether that’s securing E15 year-round, pushing back on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) harmful small refinery exemptions, or working to expand the infrastructure for higher blends of biofuel. Both ethanol and biodiesel are not only good for our agriculture economy, they’re better for the environment. A recent report found that greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol are 46% lower than gasoline. That’s why I’m working across the aisle to push the Biden Administration’s EPA and Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update their greenhouse gas modeling for ethanol and biodiesel and to recognize biofuel’s environmental benefits when making policy. Any energy policy, whether at the federal or state level, must keep in mind American families, workers, and businesses and their ability to be successful, compete globally, and create jobs. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I will continue to work tirelessly to promote Iowa’s leadership in renewable energy and find common sense solutions to provide cleaner, more affordable energy sources and create quality jobs for folks all across this country.