Good afternoon, and welcome to our Weekend Update.

First, as we celebrate the Memorial Day weekend, I urge everyone to take time to honor the American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation and the freedoms we enjoy in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I want to share a powerful quote from one of our greatest leaders, President Ronald Reagan:

“I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.”

On Saturday,  I joined members of the Lycoming County community to begin ceremonies in observance of Memorial Day weekend. I was deeply moved by how many joined us, despite the poor weather, to honor those who gave their lives in defense of our country. It was so inspiring to be in the company of so many local heroes. We had heroes dating back to the Korean War in attendance. 

Thank you to State Reps. Hamm and Flick, Mayor Slaughter, and Commissioner Metzger, for being here to commemorate our fallen heroes.

Tuesday was the Primary Election Day, and I was proud to once again have the endorsement of our President, Donald J. Trump. (See below)

I want to thank everyone across Pennsylvania’s 9th District for the overwhelming support we received. While I was uncontested, I am incredibly grateful for the continued confidence you have placed in me to represent our district in Congress. I will continue to work hard every day to earn your trust, and I won’t let you down.

Congratulations to Stacy Garrity, Jason Richey, and especially State Senators Lisa Baker and Chris Gebhard, two strong conservative leaders in our district who persevered through tough races. They continue working every day to build up our communities, not tear them down. (Shelley and I pictured below with Senator Lisa Baker and our gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity)

Now, we must turn our focus toward victory in November. 

Voter turnout across Pennsylvania was, frankly, terrible. We all have to recognize this and truly make a plan to vote in the November Election. If there is even a 1% chance you will not be able to vote in person, please vote by mail-in or absentee ballot. It’s an insurance policy, and we need your vote. This is one of our most sacred civic duties.

We cannot afford to hand the most extreme left-wing Democrat Party ever the leadership in the U.S. House and maybe, even worse, the U.S. Senate. We also can't afford to allow the State House to remain Democrat or allow them to take over the State Senate. Everything is in play this November, and we will lose if we all don't make a plan to vote... the earlier the better. 

BREAKING NEWS:

I’m pleased that we’ve secured this important bipartisan victory for small business owners, especially the entrepreneurs and job creators driving growth in rural America.

On Friday, I joined "Wake Up America" on Newsmax to discuss the Republican plan to fully fund immigration and border security programs. Click here or below to watch.

For the past two decades, China has been America’s greatest geopolitical competitor. Last week, President Trump took a major step toward direct engagement focused on advancing American interests, expanding trade opportunities, and establishing a framework for greater cooperation and stability between our nations.

The president’s trip helped open the door for stronger economic ties that benefit American workers, farmers, manufacturers, and energy producers, particularly through increased demand for U.S. energy and agricultural products. It was a significant moment in setting the tone for a more strategic and mutually beneficial relationship moving forward. I joined RJ Harris on WHP-580 to discuss. Click hereor below to listen.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Democrats melt down over their failed attempts at gerrymandering.

After the Supreme Court struck down Democrats’ gerrymandering scheme to rig congressional maps and segregate voters by race, Democrats have decided to double down on their illegal power grab.

Democrats have become completely unglued now that they can no longer leverage their illegal, racist congressional maps:

• Governor Andy Beshear says he wants to continue further racially segregating congressional maps.
  
  
• Pete Buttigieg grossly says Republicans are trying to "dismantle black political representation in the House of Representatives.”
• Senator Cory Booker: “The end they are trying to create...is the removal in some states completely of black representation in the House of Representatives."
  
  
• Rep. Ayanna Pressley: “There are people in this hostile, anti-black administration that would rather black Americans pick cotton than pick the President."
  
  
• Rep. Joyce Beatty smears the Supreme Court as “racist” for striking down Democrats’ racist gerrymandering scheme.

• State Rep. Justin Pearson disgustingly smears President Trump as “a white supremacist dictator.”

While President Trump and Republicans are fighting to secure our elections and protect your vote, Democrats are trying to rig elections to gain power because they know voters will see straight through their failed agenda on Election Day.

This week, my most recent editorial appeared in SkookNews.com on how Trump Accounts will harness the power of the financial markets to build wealth for future generations. America’s capital markets have created more wealth than any nation in world history. Now, the Trump administration is working to ensure more Americans participate in this success.

These accounts help create a stronger ownership culture in America, allowing more citizens to directly participate in the long-term growth of the U.S. economy. Click here or below to read.

Recently, I had the opportunity to address members of the Pennsylvania Society during their gathering in Washington.

Since 1899, the Pennsylvania Society has provided a forum for Commonwealth leaders to gather and exchange ideas that benefit our neighbors and the local economy.

This includes the scholarship fund, which this year asked Pennsylvania high school students to discuss what America 250 means to them and their community.

Thank you to Society President Trish Wellenbach and everyone for joining us at the Capitol!

On Tuesday, I met with senior leaders from Comcast to discuss improving broadband access across Pennsylvania and the entire nation.

Expanding access to high-quality broadband is critical to businesses and households across our district. Thanks to Comcast’s role in implementing the Broadband Equity Access and Development (BEAD) Program, we are poised to deliver faster speeds to more communities in the coming years.

Thank you to Comcast Business Services President Ed Zimmerman, Senior Vice President Lisa Panepinto, and Executive Vice President Jason Wicht for joining me to discuss connectivity and how you are working to protect your customers from online scams and fraud.

America faces a housing shortage of well over 4 million homes, while only 1.5 million housing units are built every year.

I took to the House floor on Tuesday to speak in support of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation will deliver on President Donald J. Trump’s call to correct the shortfall of new housing, prevent institutional investors from owning single-family homes, and expand homeownership affordability.

Thank you, Chairman Congressman French Hill and Subcommittee Chair Congressman Mike Flood, for working with our Democrat colleagues to demonstrate that we can work in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to make the American Dream of homeownership a reality for millions. Click here or below to watch.

The legislation lays the foundation for more home construction to improve affordability and make homeownership attainable for more American families.
However, individual states need to catch up as well. Pennsylvania is heavy with onerous housing codes and regulations. I questioned housing experts in our House Committee on Small Business hearing to learn more about the biggest barriers facing homebuilders and banks looking to finance construction, and what states can do to complement our work in Congress. Click here or below to watch.

It was a pleasure to attend the White House Congressional picnic this week! Thank you to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for their hospitality.

Good to see my friend, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and all my colleagues in the Administration and Congress.

Click here or below to watch the President's remarks:

I joined Catholic House Republicans for a Catholic Connections discussion hosted by GOP Majority Whip Congressman Tom Emmer.

The event, headlined by special guest Vice President JD Vance, focused on how Catholic identity, public service, and faith inform the Vice President’s leadership and governing.

I had a great conversation with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi of Iran as he continues his relentless advocacy for the Iranian people and his continued resistance against the current regime. The people of Iran have suffered the tyranny of the Islamic fundamentalist regime for nearly 50 years. Thank you, Prince Pahlavi, for standing with your people.

On Friday, I attended the swearing-in of new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh. As President Trump said, nobody is better prepared for the job.

Chairman Warsh said in his acceptance speech that he will bring much-needed reform to the Fed, such as shrinking the balance sheet, limiting excessive monetary expansion, and leveraging private sector productivity and investment.

This will allow mortgage rates, loan costs, and interest rates to come down.

Great to see Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman, my colleagues Congressman French Hill, Congressman Andy Barr, Senator Dave McCormick, Dina McCormick, and countless members of President Trump’s historic administration.

At such events, along with being historic, I got the chance to have good conversations with Justice Kavanaugh, Condolezza Rice, Sec. Howard Lutnick, Sec. Sean Duffy, Sec. Brooke Rollins, Sec. Scott Bessent, and Ken Langone, who I thanked for his philanthropic support of Bucknell University.

Click here or below to watch the swearing-in ceremony for Chairman Warsh.

On Friday evening, I spent a great evening in Pottsville. I first attended Mayor Tom Smith’s State of the City Address, where he highlighted both the accomplishments of his administration and the exciting initiatives still ahead for the future of Pottsville. He also discussed a public safety-related project my office has been coordinating with the City on at the federal level as we continue supporting efforts to strengthen and invest in Pottsville’s future.

Then I attended a wonderful event hosted by my good friends Mike and Aimee Tobash at their home in support of the Pottsville Area Development Corporation, an organization that has truly been the backbone of economic redevelopment and revitalization in downtown Pottsville. It was great hearing remarks from outgoing Executive Director Savas Logothetides, whose vision and years of dedication have helped drive so much positive progress throughout the city, as well as incoming Executive Director Lee Dryfoos, who is ready to build on that momentum and hit the ground running. The strong turnout from across the community was a testament to how deeply people believe in the organization’s mission and the impact it continues to have on Pottsville.

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