Passing the Ratepayer Protection Act
The full House voted on and passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Ratepayer Protection Act to prevent ratepayers from being forced to cover the costs of infrastructure upgrades related to data center development.

Since the beginning of the 119th Congress, our Committee has led the charge to ensure the United States wins the race for AI while simultaneously safeguarding local interests. This competition will decide who is THE superpower of the next generation – it is that important.

Last week’s near-unanimous vote is an important milestone in setting the framework to win the race for AI and empower local communities to make decisions that will allow them to develop responsibly.

Working to Combat Illicit Drugs

Throughout the 119th Congress, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce has worked to combat the deadly opioid epidemic and stop the spread of illicit drugs. Last week, the House passed three of my Committee’s bills to combat the production of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, protect Americans from dangerous substances, increase access to fentanyl testing, and, most importantly, save lives.

You can learn more about these bills HERE! 

Rolling Back Biden-Harris Era Mandates

Over the past 20 months, Republicans in Congress have consistently combated the far left’s Green New Deal mandates with commonsense policies. Building on our Committee’s work of repealing California’s EV mandate, this week the House passed two of our bills to repeal California mandates that imposed strict emissions mandates on ocean-going oil tankers and commercial ships such as ferries and fishing vessels. 

Eliminating these expensive regulations that impact shipping of energy and goods will lower costs for American families, plain and simple.

Preserving Access to AM Radio

For decades, AM Radio has provided millions of Americans access to news, sports, weather, and critical information during natural disasters and emergencies.

Helping Health Care Providers Deliver Affordable Health Care

Last week, our Subcommittee on Health conducted a legislative hearing to examine proposals aimed at strengthening the ability of our nation’s providers to deliver health care to American families and ways to address cybersecurity threats in the public and private health sectors to bolster patient safety and privacy. 

During this hearing, we built upon our Committee’s previous work in our affordability series to help Americans access quality and affordable health care. Take a look at my opening statement above! 

Supporting American Manufacturing

On September 16th, our full Committee conducted a markup of 16 bills to enhance American technological development and strengthen communications networks.

From the outset of the 119th Congress, we have prioritized setting a policy course that will ensure American global leadership for the next 250 years. Take a look at my opening statement above. You can read more about the bills marked up HERE. 

Investing in Kentucky Infrastructure

Being located along the Ohio River and its tributaries, Kentucky’s Second District is no stranger to the importance of safe and reliable water infrastructure. Last week, the House passed the Water Resources Development Act to authorize critical water infrastructure projects, flood mitigation, and environmental restoration projects across the country.

This bill includes two projects in KY-02 that will support flood mitigation in Bullitt and Jefferson Counties as well as a project to expedite riverbank stabilization in the City of Brandenburg. You can learn more about these projects HERE. 

Protecting Seniors Against Fraud

As technology continues to rapidly advance, so too does scammers’ ability to target and defraud Americans, especially our seniors. 

I was glad to see the GUARD Act, which I was proud to cosponsor, pass the House last week, expanding local and state law enforcement agencies’ access to grant funding to combat fraud, particularly against our seniors.

Taking Action to Combat Fraud

Republicans continue to take action to combat fraud across the federal government and hold bad actors accountable.

Last week, the House passed the National Fraud Enforcement Division Act to establish an anti-fraud division within the Department of Justice to oversee national efforts to combat fraud and the PROOF Act to require federally-funded state programs to better coordinate with the federal agencies to root out fraud from their programs.

Taking Action to Make a Safer World

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our world was a less safe place. In the Middle East, we saw a withdrawal from Afghanistan that took the lives of brave U.S. Marines, and in Europe, we saw Russia launch an unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine war has lasted over four years and taken the lives of over 2 million people. 

Last week, the House took action to stand with Ukraine and against the continued Russian aggression in passing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act to implement sweeping new sanctions against Russia and Iran. I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation and am glad to see that President Trump has already signed this legislation into law. 

Supporting Rural Hospitals

Earlier this month, the Health Resources & Services Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services announced that two hospitals in Kentucky’s Second District received $187,569 each as a part of the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program. This funding will support Muhlenberg Community Hospital and Owensboro Twin Lakes Medical Center in maintaining their workforce and providing affordable care to rural communities. 

This grant funding was secured as a part of the FY 2026 appropriations process, which I was proud to vote in favor of. Throughout the 119th Congress, my Committee and I have worked to support and strengthen rural health care and ensure American families have access to affordable health care. I am glad to see this federal funding be awarded to two local hospitals and I am confident that it will make a meaningful difference for the families living in and around Muhlenberg County. 

Revitalizing Coal Country

I am thrilled to see Muhlenberg County be awarded $2 million in federal funds as part of the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program. This funding, secured in the FY 2026 appropriations process, which I supported, will spur exciting new economic development opportunities and provide resources to support environmental reclamation at legacy mining sites. 

Throughout the 119th Congress, my Committee has worked to support coal country by advancing legislation ending the war on coal, preventing retirements of energy generation like existing coal power plants, and implementing creative solutions to recover critical minerals from decommissioned mine sites and coal ash.

Hosting Kentuckians in Washington

I had a great time hosting groups from the Commonwealth at the Capitol last week to hear about the issues that are most important to them. Take a look below to see some of who was in town advocating for Kentuckians.

I met with members of the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association to discuss the work Congress can do to continue working to support the American auto industry.  

It’s always good to host the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers to discuss ways Congress can continue to support American manufacturing. 

Great to visit with members of the Kentucky Credit Union League to talk about the work they do to provide capital to small businesses and individuals locally. 

It was wonderful to see members of the Executive Board of the Kentucky VFW to talk about the work Congress is doing to support our veterans.

I enjoyed sitting down with pork producers from KY-02 to discuss the future of the long-needed Farm Bill, which passed the House and was advanced out of the Senate Agriculture Committee last week.

Working families deserve access to abundant and reliable energy, giving them flexibility to invest their hard-earned savings in whatever they deem most important.

I recently authored an op-ed on my POWER Act, which would bring about much-needed permitting reform that increases baseload energy onto our grid and unleashes American innovation. You can read my op-ed by pressing the image above or clicking HERE.  

My office and I are happy to help you. My constituent services team can help provide assistance with a variety of federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Post Office, and more. Please click HERE or call 270-842-9896 or 202-225-3501 to contact my office.