Good evening and welcome to our Weekend Update.

We kicked off this week celebrating National Small Business Week. America’s small businesses are the backbone of our country’s economy. In fact, 99% of all businesses in the nation are small businesses and employ more than 61 million Americans. In the 9^th District, 70% of our friends and neighbors are employed by small businesses. I encourage you to support your communities and shop locally. 

As someone who spent a career in the private sector helping to grow a small business into a larger one, I’ll continue fighting for pro-growth policies to help our U.S. businesses thrive. Click here or below to watch my message regarding the importance of National Small Business Week. 

This week, I joined Newsmax TV to discuss an issue of potential conflict and political bias related to the SEC's actions (or non-actions). The investors in Truth Social are asking for equal treatment under the law, and I am fighting for just that. Click here or below to watch my interview.

We cannot allow the SEC’s political bias to continue obstructing the merger of Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) and Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). The typical review period for a similar transaction is 134 days. However, the review of the DWAC-TMTG merger has been 352 days and counting. As we recounted in a previous update, the SEC is led by a known group of Trump haters, including SEC Chairman Gary Gensler (former CFO for the Hilary Clinton presidential campaign), SEC General Counsel Megan Barbero (worked on two impeachments of President Trump), and SEC enforcement official Melissa Hodgman (wife of discredited and former FBI agent Peter Srzok who was a central figure in the fake Russia scandal). Click here to read my op-ed in the Washington Examiner.

As we work to bring back commercial flights to Williamsport Regional Airport, I’m happy to announce the airport has received two significant federal grants that will help ensure the facility maintains operational conditions that will attract and entice carriers. Williamsport, the 9th District, and our neighboring areas must have dependable air service. We are looking forward to continuing progress on this vital project. Click here to read more about these awards in an article by the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

On Wednesday morning, I was pleased to partner with the Sayre Business Association to host a small business roundtable in Bradford County at the Angry Burrito Company Bar and Grill, which was gracious enough to open its doors early to accommodate a great group of community and business leaders. We got to talk about issues from workforce development to expanding rural broadband and discuss how we can keep Sayre on the path of revitalization. Thank you to those who hosted, participated, and took part in this productive conversation, including the Central Bradford County Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Bradford Progress Authority. Click here to read more in the Morning Times.

American manufacturing is one of our greatest assets, and Cabinetworks Group- Sayre is doing a fantastic job making cabinetry components for kitchens and bathrooms. They employ 300 people, some of whom we met during a tour of their plant. In addition, Cabinetworks has brought back jobs from China and put them right back in Pennsylvania.

(Pictured below with, from left, David Jarrett, Sayre Borough manager; Matt Wise, district director for Pa. Sen. Gene Yaw; David Weathers, vice president of manufacturing, Cabinetworks; Chuck Wright, director of public works for Athens; Nate Gerace, our district director; Henry Farley, mayor of Sayre; Tom Woods, plant director and Marla Zwas, chief legal officer, Cabinetworks)

After our tour, I met up with my good friend Henry Dunn. I joined him at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital along with Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, president and CEO and Ken Levitzky, Chairman of the board of directors for Guthrie Clinic. Here, Guthrie Clinic gathered its leadership team, and we discussed the hospital’s priorities and current issues in Washington.

While at Guthrie, I also saw the future of care, where I tried out the newest robot technology used for surgeries.

After that great event, I headed to a luncheon in Bradford County with a group of great leaders hosted by the great businessman Max Gannon. A few who joined us were former Congressman Don Sherwood, Bradford County Commissioners Doug McLinko and Daryl Miller, and Bradford County Chairman Dick Harris. We spoke about the state of affairs in Washington and the 9th Congressional District—a big thanks to Max Gannon for putting this event together.

Later, we headed back to Sayre, where we went to tour the enterprise center owned by Holly and Clint Kellar, who also own Bucktail Lures Company. The enterprise center is a great business incubator that has given space to many companies ranging from the technology industry to daycares. Their level of entrepreneurship is what helps build small communities and increase opportunities.

To round out the evening, we went to the Blackburn 1897 for a meet and greet hosted by Commissioner Doug McLinko and Max Gannon. Again, we had a full house of great people across Bradford County, including many elected officials, business people, and hardworking Republican volunteers. It was a great way to finish the day.

On Thursday, I attended an event in support of Republican Lackawanna County Commissioners Chris Chermak and Diana Campbell. They are great candidates, and I was pleased to join my friend Keith Eckel to support their campaign. Keith is one of the best Pennsylvanians of this era, a master farmer, and the master of ceremonies for the event. I also want to acknowledge a great American and extraordinary businessman, Bill Rosado.

I was invited to participate in a legislative breakfast hosted by the Back Mountain Chamber on Friday morning. Joining me were State Senator Lisa Baker, and State Reps, Aaron Kaufer, Mike Cabell, and Alec Ryncavage. Here, we got to discuss our legislative priorities and what our focuses are. We also had a great interactive Q&A discussion with attendees.

During this event, I also had the opportunity to present a great young lady with the highest honor a member of Congress can present to a young person. Juliet Price from Dallas received the Congressional award for her outstanding service to the community, putting in over 900 hours of community service and many more hours on her personal development. We are all very proud of Juliet.

We attended the Rusty Flack Memorial Back Mountain Police 15th Annual Youth Trout Fishing Day on Saturday. This event, organized by the Back Mountain Luzerne County police departments, draws hundreds of families. The police of multiple departments, including Dallas & Lehman, attend (those not on duty) to make a great, great day for families. The event also is named for and honors Rusty Flack, one of the best people I’ve ever known. Rusty was a, and in many cases, “the” Pillar of the community. Rusty is so very missed but has his amazing children and family to carry on their venerable name. I am pictured with Hal Flack, Rusty’s younger brother, business partner, and a great friend to me and many others. Also pictured is Hal’s wonderful wife, Jean, Senator Lisa Baker, a DCNR official and a Dallas police officer.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission demonstrated the study and care for bears in Pennsylvania.

After the fishing derby, I went to Wyoming County for the Wyoming County Council of Republican Women Luncheon at Greenley’s BBQ in Tunkhannock. Thank you to Donna DePue and Davis Haire for the invitation to their fantastic yearly spring luncheon.

This week, I was named Co-Chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus. In this role, I’m looking forward to helping promote policies and dialogue here in Congress that support the coal industry and the employees who are proud to work within it. Much of the 9th District has a rich history in the coal industry, and I plan to use this role to advocate for those who have and are still working to power America.

The Pennsylvania State Police Memorial Day was held this week, remembering the more than 100 members who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and marking the 118th birthday of the organization. The day is also meant to honor the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our residents. Troop F, Montoursville, Lycoming County, participated in the remembrance. The ceremony also notes the founding of the Pennsylvania State Police in 1905. We must remember and thank these brave men and women for their service. I will always back the blue.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: The border is a crisis, no matter how much the Biden administration lies about the disaster their policies have created. In fact, Secretary Mayorkas has worked to pass the blame for the crisis repeatedly, regardless of the fact that the root causes of the deadly situation can be directly tied to Biden's policy decisions.

Insanely, this week, the White House claimed that illegal migration has come down 90% under Biden’s watch.

This claim is so absurd it’s almost not worthy of a response. Encounters are not down 90%. In fact, illegal encounters are “skyrocket[ing].” There were 22,220 illegal encounters, not counting “gotaways” who escaped into the country, in just the last 3 days.

In all, there have been over 6.3 million illegal crossings since Biden took office when counting “gotaways,” and illegal encounters have been above 150,000 for 25 consecutive months for the first time on record.

To make matters worse, Title 42 is soon set to expire, and migrant shelters are already at capacity at the border. Thousands of people are camping in the streets, and residents are begging Joe Biden for help.

The Biden administration now absurdly insists that they have taken “the border very seriously since day one.” In reality, they created this crisis by enacting a cruel open borders agenda. Then they denied the border crisis exists, even refusing to use the word, and falsely claimed the border was secure. To add further insult, Biden literally said the border was not “important” enough to warrant his time.

When it comes to the border, Biden’s cruelty and his dedication to denying reality apparently knows no bounds.

On a brighter note, this week, we recognized the National Day of Prayer. We encourage all to pray for our nation, state and communities. We are grateful for the role faith plays in our lives and our nation.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to congratulate Angel Of Empire on an impressive third-place finish at the Kentucky Derby. Everyone at Blackstone Farm LLC PA in Schuylkill County should be incredibly proud of their efforts. You represented Pennsylvania well!

We look forward to catching up with you next week. God Bless, and see you soon,

Dan Meuser