Dear Friends,

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be back in Kentucky, traveling across the district, attending  events, and meeting with Kentuckians to talk about the issues that matter most to them. 

Take a look below to learn what I’ve been up to during my last two weeks in Washington!

Getting the HALT Fentanyl Act Signed into Law

Recently, I had the honor of being at the White House as President Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law. This critical piece of legislation permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep Americans safe.

Recently, the House voted, and passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act to fully fund our military. Under the leadership of President Trump and House Republicans, our United States military is stronger than ever, equipped, and ready to defend our nation against any threat. 

This bill invests billions into the men and women who volunteer to keep our nation safe and ensures that American industries can manufacture the necessary tools to accomplish the mission. You can read more about what this bill does here. 

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been busy in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, advancing legislation, holding hearings, and outlining our Committee’s vision moving forward. Take a look below to learn about some of the activity the committee has been up to! 

Taking Action to Create a Level Playing Field in College Athletics

If you’re like me, you’re gearing up for the excitement that college football season brings. Today, we’re less than one month away from the first games of the season, but something that is currently on a lot of fans’ minds is the impact that Name Image and Likeness (NIL) will have on our favorite team’s seasons. 

That’s why, as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, I joined other relevant House Committee Chairmen in introducing the SCORE Act to finally put an end to the patchwork of state laws surrounding NIL, support student-athletes, and preserve college athletics for future generations.

Without this bill, student-athletes will be left to fend for themselves against bad actors, non-revenue generating sports could face devastating cuts, and legal uncertainty will continue to hang over college sports. The SCORE Act delivers exactly what is needed: student-athlete benefits, stability, and transparency. I’m excited to announce that our bill was referred out of committee and now heads to the House Floor for further consideration. 

Restoring Faith in America's Organ Donation System

Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report outlining disturbing findings related to our nation’s organ donation system. One case, cited in the report, outlined a situation in Kentucky where the process did not fully take into account the safety of the patient. 

HHS has now called for significant reform to rebuild the trust in organ donation across the country. As an organ donor myself, and the son of a mother who passed waiting to receive an organ donation, I know firsthand how essential this system is to give people a second chance at life. I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build consensus and enact meaningful reforms to restore trust in the system and save lives. 

Unleashing American Energy, Safely

We cannot be energy dominant without the ability to safely transmit oil, natural gas, and other energy products. Pipelines play a vital role in communities across the country, including our own here in Kentucky. 

This week, our Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing to discuss ways Congress can safely increase energy transmission to meet growing demand! The economic opportunities that are possible through safe energy transmission, like pipelines, are endless. From industrial manufacturing to technology like A.I. to the growth of new communities, everything relies on affordable and accessible energy. As the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, I am committed to building a bipartisan consensus to make it easier for the U.S. to build new energy projects quickly and safely. Unleashing American energy is paramount to our national security. 

Advocating for our Seniors 

It was great to sit down with my good friend Scott Jennings at the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition's Business Partners Summit. We discussed the work our committee is undertaking to lower drug prices for our seniors.

I sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss my family’s personal experience with the organ donation system. Take a look by pressing the image below! 

You can also watch my interview by pressing here.

As Kentucky continues to recover and rebuild after the severe weather that has impacted the Commonwealth, I wanted to provide an important update regarding the deadline to apply for individual assistance for property damage from the April storms. This week, President Trump granted Kentucky’s request for Public Assistance for certain counties to aid communities in fully recovering. I am grateful for the efforts of FEMA, local, and state officials who have worked over the past several months to help Kentuckians in need. 

As a reminder, the last day to apply for individual assistance for the April floods in Kentucky is tomorrow, July 25th. 

There are three ways to apply for FEMA assistance:

• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Services (VRS), captioned telephone or other services, give FEMA your number for that service. 
• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a Disaster Recovery Center, visit fema.gov/DRC or text DRC along with your ZIP code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”).

For more information about Kentucky Emergency Management resources, click here. To learn more about who is eligible for and how to register for assistance through FEMA, click here.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the privilege of hosting various groups from Kentucky in Washington to discuss the issues that are most important to them. Here’s just a few of the groups I met with! 

I met with the state officers of the Kentucky FFA Association. It is truly impressive what these young people are doing to continue Kentucky’s rich agricultural tradition. 

I had the opportunity to sit down with the Owensboro Chamber of Commerce for their annual visit to hear about the great work they’re doing in Daviess County and discuss the work that House Republicans are doing to grow our economy in communities like theirs!

I had the chance to meet with advocates from the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children to hear about their work serving our nation’s most vulnerable and for providing educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities. 

The Kentucky Soybean Association stopped by to discuss the ways Congress can work to support and grow this vital industry.