Washington, D.C. – It was great to start the week off by attending the opening of Siemens new manufacturing hub in Carrollton on Monday! This facility will create 100 jobs, strengthen critical supply chains, and offer new opportunities to North Texas families.

On Tuesday, I returned to Washington and continued to conduct oversight of the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA's new rules significantly weaken the agency's flagship 7(a) lending standards, which is particularly concerning given the agency's pattern of incompetence and mismanagement. Rest assured, I remain focused on cutting red tape for our job creators, while ensuring taxpayers are not forced to bail out the 7(a) program.

I joined my colleagues on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight on Wednesday for a hearing on tax-exempt hospitals. Nearly 60% of our country's hospitals are considered non-profit and have an obligation to provide charity care. We're working to ensure that taxpayers are getting what they're paying for. You can watch my line of questioning by clicking here or on the image below.

As you may know, on Wednesday, my colleagues and I passed the "Limit, Save, Grow Act" which is the single-largest deficit reduction bill in our history. North Texans have raised serious concerns over our dire national debt. Democrats spent far beyond our means – by a magnitude of trillions – with no regard for future generations who will be put in a precarious position, forced to foot the bill.

With a crushing national debt of more than $31 trillion, we must scrutinize every dollar and penny spent by the federal government. After working with our House Republican Leadership, I successfully secured concessions that will result in billions of dollars in additional savings.

I am disappointed in President Biden for refusing to negotiate with House Republicans – even ignoring pleas from members of his own party. It is well past time for President Biden to accept the reality of his fiscal situation and work with Republicans to avoid a default on our national debt.

It is important to remember this is not the final bill, but a first step, and I will continue to work to improve our nation’s finances and get our spending under control. Families have had to cut their budgets due to inflation, it’s time for Washington to do the same.

We had another busy day in Washington on Thursday! We kicked off the Congressional Franchise Caucus, which I'm co-leading, held a Ways and Means Committee hearing with the IRS Commissioner, and I hosted a telephone town hall with Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost. I appreciate all the North Texans who took time out of their busy evenings to join us for an update on our work in Congress, with a special focus on how we're helping our veterans.

North Texas is home to many talented young artists! I’m impressed by the 90 entries we received for this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Please visit www.texas24art.com to view the artwork created by #TX24 high school students and VOTE for your top three pieces for a chance at the People’s Choice Award. The Grand Prize Winner will have their artwork displayed in our U.S. Capitol for one year! Voting ends on Wednesday, May 3rd, at 12 PM CT.

I'd also like to invite you to attend our District Office Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, May 5th! Please RSVP to [email protected].

During a Ways and Means Committee hearing this week, I grilled the IRS Commissioner on concerns over the IRS targeting political adversaries and giving a free pass to political allies (or their families). 

The IRS must be a non-partisan unbiased organization and we’re going to make sure they honor that principle.

Our Texas-24 Hometown Hero of the week is Martha Day, who has gone above and beyond for expecting mothers in financial need. Martha’s non-profit organization, Vitamin Bridge, has helped nearly 50,000 mothers-to-be receive prenatal vitamins and nutrition education at no cost. Thank you, Martha, for your dedication to our next generation.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for our community? Nominate a Texas-24 Hometown Hero here.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your voice in Washington. To stay up to date on what's happening each week, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, GETTR, Parler, Rumble, and YouTube. 

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can ever be of service to you. 

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (TX-24)