Good afternoon, and welcome to our Weekend Update.

Last night we got the tragic news that U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham had passed. He was tough, hard-working, and dedicated. He was a man who was never afraid to fight for what was right. I had the privilege of knowing him both professionally and personally, through meetings and briefings over the years.

Not long ago, I had lunch with him, and he gave me a hat that read, “Make Iran Great Again.” He wanted to see the Iranian people freed from the terrorist regime that oppresses them, so they could finally live lives of opportunity and freedom, not fear.

Senator Graham was a force in Washington, and he will be truly missed. Shelley and I are keeping his family, loved ones, and the people of South Carolina, whom he served for so long, in our thoughts and prayers.

Democrats have refused to cooperate with House Republicans on major fraud initiatives despite the clear evidence that taxpayer money is being stolen.

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office estimates that the federal government loses as much as $521 billion a year to fraud. Yet, Democrats routinely fail to take this issue seriously.

Watch my interview on the “National Report” on NEWSMAX where I discuss rampant fraud across the country and what the Trump administration, Congress, and Vice President JD Vance’s task force are doing to put a stop to it. Click here or below to watch.

On Wednesday, I attended the funeral service for Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira alongside hundreds of family members, friends, law enforcement officers, and community members who gathered to honor his life and sacrifice.

The stories shared by those who knew him best painted the picture of a man of character, humility, and unwavering dedication. For nearly 20 years, Trooper Pahira faithfully served the people of Pennsylvania, and his sacrifice deserves our deepest gratitude and should never be forgotten.

Respect was a constant theme throughout today’s service. As Monsignor Glosser shared, Trooper Pahira lived a life defined by respect, for his family, his fellow troopers, his community, and the law he swore to uphold. We live in a time when that respect is too often absent, reflected both in those who choose to disregard our laws and in the failure of elected officials to enforce them. There is no greater way to honor Trooper Pahira's memory than by restoring respect for the rule of law.

May Trooper Pahira rest in peace, and may God continue to watch over his family and every law enforcement officer who puts on the uniform each day.

I joined Newsmax’s “Bianca Across the Nation” to discuss this tragedy and why it should have never occurred. Click here or below to watch.

Good news... Trump Accounts are now funded.

When markets opened this morning, each child born since January 1, 2025, had $1,000 federal contribution deposited into their Trump Account. Every eligible child now has a real stake in the American economy, invested in a diversified index fund, growing from day one. Haven’t set one up yet? Parents can open a Trump Account for their children by filing IRS Form 4547. To learn more, visit TrumpAccounts.gov.

This is what a participatory economy looks like: millions of American children starting life with a stake in the U.S. economy. For families in Pennsylvania’s Ninth District, that’s a head start on a home, an education, or a small business growing with the economy in real time. Click here or below to watch President Trump open the NYSE and NASDAQ markets on Monday morning.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: President Trump and Congressional Republicans are Bringing Back American Jobs and Lowering Costs, Reversing Bidenflation

GOP REBUILDS THE ECONOMY BIDEN DESTROYED

• The economy has added 902,000 private sector jobs since President Trump took office.
  • Federal government employment is down by 324,000.
• Since President Trump took office, 1,424,000 native-born Americans have gained employment.
  • 682,000 native-born Americans have also joined the labor force.
• The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in June, the lowest level in a year.
  • The unemployment rate fell from the prior month for women, black men, and Hispanic women.
• Job openings remain at their highest level in two years.
• Earlier this week the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed at record highs.

WAGES AND PAYCHECKS ARE INCREASING UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND GOP CONGRESS

• Average hourly earnings rose by 0.2% in June.
  • Average hourly earnings are up 3.5% from one year ago.
• Thanks to President Trump’s historic tax cuts, the average tax refund was up almost 11% from one year ago.
• In just one year under President Trump, blue-collar workers have made up all the wages they lost under Biden.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND GOP ARE LOWERING PRICES

• President Trump is bringing down prices after record-high inflation under Joe Biden.
• Core inflation has lowered since President Trump took office.

• Many common household staples have all seen prices fall since President Trump took office including flour, white bread, bacon, chicken, American cheese, ice cream, strawberries, potatoes, and eggs.

• Thanks to President Trump, prescription drug prices have fallen 2.0% over the last year while over-the-counter medications have dropped 2.5%.
  • Health insurance is more affordable as the index for insurance is down 6.4% over the past year.
• TrumpRx is a direct-to-consumer government website allows Americans to purchase dozens of popular prescription drugs at a discounted price negotiated by the government.  
• Medication costs for arthritis, obesity, infertility, and other chronic conditions will all be lowered.

BUYING AND RENTING A HOME IS BECOMING MORE AFFORDABLE

• The average 30-year mortgage rate is lower since President Trump took office.
• Average rent prices are also down 1.2% compared to one year ago.
• Renters have more options than they have had in years with nearly 74% of rental listings in May being considered affordable, the highest rate for May in years. 
• Housing affordability continues to improve as home prices have fallen now for eight consecutive months.

TRILLIONS OF NEW INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA ARE CREATING NEW JOBS

• President Trump has secured trillions of dollars’ worth of investments, creating good paying jobs within the United States.
• In June alone:
  • Nippon Steel announced plans to invest upwards of $2.5 billion in Pennsylvania.
• Orders for business equipment recently increased to levels not seen since 2020.
  • Shipments of machinery and equipment doubled expectations, signaling the expansion of multiple industries.
• For a sixth month in a row, the manufacturing sector grew.

DEREGULATION IS SAVING MONEY FOR THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER

• President Trump is slashing red tape to help Americans save money.
• Deregulation efforts from 2025 are projected to save Americans roughly $212 billion – about $600 per American.
• This past December, President Trump ended the Biden-era emissions standards which led to higher costs for vehicles.
  • This move will save American families $109 billion over the next five years.
• President Trump also eliminated the Obama-era “Endangerment Finding” which allowed unelected bureaucrats to impose trillions of dollars of hidden costs on American families.
  • This deregulation action will save American taxpayers over $1.3 trillion.

Affordability is a top focus. The housing bill just passed will help bring down housing costs. However, there’s a lot more to do. Reconciliation 3.0 will be focused on affordability, but primarily the growth of our economy: advancing the supply side of our manufacturing, investments in energy infrastructure and ensuring that supply exceeds demand. That’s what brings prices down and that will happen. It is happening and we’ll see the effects of it before the year is out.

It was a pleasure to attend the Berks County Fair, Pennsylvania's second-oldest fair, as it celebrates its 172nd anniversary this year.

I was honored to join Representative Jamie Barton, Commissioner Christian Leinbach, Commissioner Dante Santoni, and Commissioner Michael Rivera in presenting awards recognizing several outstanding young leaders who exemplify the very best of Berks County. Through their dedication to agriculture, leadership, and service, they are helping preserve Pennsylvania's rich farming heritage for future generations.

Outstanding 4-H Members: Connor Servin of Bernville and Phoebe Stutzman of Maxatawny.

Outstanding FFA Members: Megan Schaeffer of Oley and Allison Younker of Tulpehocken.

Congratulations to each of these exceptional young men and women on this well-deserved recognition.

Thank you to the volunteers, exhibitors, families, and organizers who have made the Berks County Fair a cherished tradition for 172 years. Here's to another successful year celebrating agriculture, community, and the next generation of leaders!

I was glad to join Senator Argall on Friday morning for his Schuylkill County Regional Policy Council alongside Representative Tim Twardzik, Representative Dane Watro, Representative Joanne Stehr, and Commissioner Boots Hetherington. The council brings together business, industry, nonprofit, and community leaders to discuss the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing Schuylkill County.

I appreciated the opportunity to provide an update on recent legislative successes in Congress, including bills that will expand the nation’s housing supply and increase access to capital for small businesses. It was also valuable to hear directly from business owners, community leaders, and my colleagues at the local and state levels about the issues and priorities that matter most to Schuylkill County.

It's always great to be with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, especially for their annual golf tournament. Businesses from across Schuylkill County came together for a great afternoon of golf while celebrating the contributions of local businesses.

A special thank you to Chamber President & CEO Bob Carl, Vice President Samantha Chivinski, and the entire Chamber team for their hospitality and for everything they do to support business leaders and entrepreneurs. The Schuylkill Chamber has also been a strong advocate on child care issues, and I was pleased to share an update on recent legislation I sponsored, the Child Care Small Business Insight and Improvement Act, one important step toward supporting child care providers and the families that rely on their care.

Thank you to everyone who participated and all those who continue to invest in our communities and help keep Schuylkill County a great place to live, work, and do business.

Shelley and I were happy to host an event Friday evening in support of our next governor, Stacy Garrity! Northeastern Pennsylvania showed up in a big way for a proven leader who will fight for our values, stand up for hardworking Pennsylvanians, and put our Commonwealth back on the right track.

It was great to welcome our next lieutenant governor, Jason Richey, along with Scott Presler and NRA President Bill Bachenberg. Thank you for joining us and firing up the crowd with your remarks!

The stakes could not be higher this November. We have many important Republicans on the ballot, including Mike Harostock, candidate for State Representative in the 121st District, who is ready to fight for our communities and deliver conservative leadership in Harrisburg.

Thank you to Senator Dave Argall, Representative Dane Watro, Representative Jamie Barton, and the many Republican leaders who joined us. The energy was undeniable. Pennsylvania is ready for strong conservative leadership, and we are ready to elect Stacy Garrity as our next governor!

Yesterday afternoon, I joined dedicated patriots from across Pennsylvania for the 10th Annual Rally at the Rock, hosted by Commissioner Doug McLinko! It was great to see our State Treasurer and future Governor Stacy Garrity, Congressman “GT” Thompson, and so many outstanding state and local elected officials and Republican leaders.

Thank you to everyone who came out and made this year’s Rally at the Rock a success, especially the Bradford County Republican Committee, Chairman Dick Harris, and Commissioner Doug McLinko for their continued dedication to this great event!

May God continue to bless our nation. I look forward to seeing you soon,