House Republican Conference RSS Articles

ICYMI: Rep. Lisa McClain: A Salute Is Not a Substitute for a Vote; Veterans Deserve More Than Biden Era Patriotism

Tue, 26 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) published an op-ed in Breitbart highlighting House Republicans’ efforts to support veterans, restore military readiness, and reverse Biden-Era policies that harmed servicemembers and military families.

“Republicans are still demanding answers because the families of the fallen deserve more than excuses,” wrote Chairwoman McClain. “They deserve leaders who protect their rights, expand their care, honor their families, fix broken systems, and keep politics out of the chain-of-command. They deserve a country that remembers the fallen by respecting the living.”

Read the full piece below:

Memorial Day reminds us of the price of freedom. This weekend is a time to remember the Americans who gave everything, and to sit with the terrible weight of what freedom costs. It is also a time to keep faith with the men and women who served beside them. Veterans do not need another round of polished speeches from politicians who forget them after the wreaths are laid.

For years, former servicemembers watched Washington move faster for almost every political priority except them. The same bureaucrats who always found money and urgency for illegal immigrants and climate programs told veterans to wait in line.

During the Biden Administration, the VA’s benefits claim backlog rose 24 percent. Under President Trump, it has fallen 63 percent. That contrast says a lot about the different priorities driving Washington today.

House Veterans’ Affairs Republicans advanced the Veterans ACCESS Act to give veterans more control over where they receive care. Every Democrat on the Committee voted against it.

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act would increase support for disabled veterans and the surviving families of fallen service members. It shouldn’t be a controversial piece of legislation, yet almost every Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted against it.

A bill to help severely disabled veterans and Gold Star families came before Congress, and Democrats found a reason to vote no.

The same divide is evident when it comes to our servicemembers rights. The Biden Administration discharged more than 8,700 servicemembers under its COVID vaccine mandate, all during the worst recruiting crisis in decades. Republicans fought and won to end the mandate and reinstate those troops with back pay and full rank.

We are now also fighting to protect veterans from losing their 2nd Amendment rights simply for using VA benefits. For years, veterans who needed help managing their finances could be reported to the federal background check system without due process. Republicans are advancing legislation to ensure the men and women who defended the Constitution are not punished for using the benefits they earned.

The contrast is just as clear inside the military. Under Biden, our military was dragged into a political experiment. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion became a government-wide priority. Biden’s Pentagon pushed climate plans, pronoun guidance, and DEI bureaucracy while recruiting numbers and collapsed.

Our troops do not need political lectures. They need good training, safe housing, modern equipment, and leaders focused on bringing them home. They need a country that respects sacrifice more than social engineering. That is why House Republicans are pushing the military back toward mission, away from woke distractions, to restore a culture that honors service instead of apologizing for it.

We just passed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which, in addition to cutting nonsense DEI programs, provides $157 billion for our troops, veterans, and military families. It fully funds veterans’ health care. It invests in mental health, suicide prevention, homelessness programs, medical research, prosthetics, barracks, and military housing.

Yet for many veterans, no issue better symbolizes Washington’s failures than the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Abbey Gate was a national tragedy, an unnecessary one. Thirteen American servicemembers were killed. Many more were wounded. Families were shattered. Veterans who carried that mission for 20 years watched the withdrawal collapse into chaos. I am so proud that one of the first bills I passed into law was to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the thirteen servicemembers who perished in that attack.

The Biden Administration wanted the photo op of ending a war. They ignored the cost. They prioritized optics over security. They handed terrorists a victory, abandoned our allies, and created a wound that many veterans will carry for the rest of their lives.

Republicans are still demanding answers because the families of the fallen deserve more than excuses. They deserve leaders who protect their rights, expand their care, honor their families, fix broken systems, and keep politics out of the chain-of-command. They deserve a country that remembers the fallen by respecting the living.

This Memorial Day, we remember the fallen. We pray for their families. We honor every American who gave everything for this country.

Remembrance must come with responsibility. A salute is not a substitute for a vote. Republicans will always ensure veterans have leaders who do more than just thank them.

ICYMI: Chairwoman McClain, Sandra Benitez Pen Joint Op-Ed on How Hispanic Businesses Benefit from the Working Families Tax Cuts

Fri, 22 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and LIBRE Initiative Executive Director Sandra Benitez published a joint op-ed in The Hill.

“Too often, Washington treats Hispanic Americans as a political constituency first and an economic force second,” wrote Chairwoman McClain and Director Benitez. “But Hispanic entrepreneurs are looking for something more concrete: the freedom and certainty to grow their businesses, hire workers, and invest in their communities.”

Read the full piece below:

Washington has spent decades treating the Hispanic community as a monolithic voting bloc rather than recognizing the economic dynamism of Hispanic-owned businesses and working families.

But as we saw firsthand during a Working Families Tax Cuts roundtable at Sergio’s restaurant in South Florida, Hispanic entrepreneurs are not asking for political slogans. They are focused on growing their businesses, hiring workers, and creating opportunity in their communities.

This is playing out in many family restaurants, contracting firms, nail salons, and neighborhood shops where families are building their futures from the ground up.

One of us comes from the world of small business and understands what it means to make payroll when employees and families are counting on you. I still remember the day we finally had a surplus on our balance sheet — we celebrated it like the Super Bowl. For owners of small businesses, success is not just financial. Employees become extended family, and businesses become economic engines for the community.

Small businesses create opportunity, but they also create community. You watch employees build careers, raise families, send their kids to college, and sometimes see the next generation come back to work alongside you. That kind of investment cannot be measured only on a balance sheet.

Hispanic-owned businesses are one of the fastest-growing forces in the American economy. Census data shows Hispanic-owned employer firms account for nearly 496,000 businesses and $730 billion in receipts. Nearly all of them are small businesses built through long hours, risk-taking, and strong ties to their communities.

Too often, Washington treats Hispanic Americans as a political constituency first and an economic force second. But Hispanic entrepreneurs are looking for something more concrete: the freedom and certainty to grow their businesses, hire workers, and invest in their communities.

Despite unanimous Democratic opposition, Republicans made the 20 percent small business tax deduction permanent, protecting millions of job creators from tax increases and giving growing businesses greater certainty to invest and expand.

Without action, many growing small businesses would have faced a significant tax increase as key provisions expired. Instead, the Working Families Tax Cuts preserved the certainty small-business owners need to plan, hire and grow.

Republicans acted to protect small businesses from a major tax increase and strengthen policies that help workers and entrepreneurs keep more of what they earn. At Sergio’s, we saw what these policies mean in practice. Small-business owners want the freedom to grow, invest in their communities, and build something they can pass on to the next generation.

Washington should stop lecturing Hispanic Main Street and start respecting it.

Read the full piece below:

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Washington has spent decades treating the Hispanic community as a monolithic voting bloc rather than recognizing the economic dynamism of Hispanic-owned businesses and working families.

But as we saw firsthand during a Working Families Tax Cuts roundtable at Sergio’s restaurant in South Florida, Hispanic entrepreneurs are not asking for political slogans. They are focused on growing their businesses, hiring workers, and creating opportunity in their communities.

This is playing out in many family restaurants, contracting firms, nail salons, and neighborhood shops where families are building their futures from the ground up.

One of us comes from the world of small business and understands what it means to make payroll when employees and families are counting on you. I still remember the day we finally had a surplus on our balance sheet — we celebrated it like the Super Bowl. For owners of small businesses, success is not just financial. Employees become extended family, and businesses become economic engines for the community.

Small businesses create opportunity, but they also create community. You watch employees build careers, raise families, send their kids to college, and sometimes see the next generation come back to work alongside you. That kind of investment cannot be measured only on a balance sheet.

Hispanic-owned businesses are one of the fastest-growing forces in the American economy. Census data shows Hispanic-owned employer firms account for nearly 496,000 businesses and $730 billion in receipts. Nearly all of them are small businesses built through long hours, risk-taking, and strong ties to their communities.

Too often, Washington treats Hispanic Americans as a political constituency first and an economic force second. But Hispanic entrepreneurs are looking for something more concrete: the freedom and certainty to grow their businesses, hire workers, and invest in their communities.

Despite unanimous Democratic opposition, Republicans made the 20 percent small business tax deduction permanent, protecting millions of job creators from tax increases and giving growing businesses greater certainty to invest and expand.

Without action, many growing small businesses would have faced a significant tax increase as key provisions expired. Instead, the Working Families Tax Cuts preserved the certainty small-business owners need to plan, hire and grow.

Republicans acted to protect small businesses from a major tax increase and strengthen policies that help workers and entrepreneurs keep more of what they earn. At Sergio’s, we saw what these policies mean in practice. Small-business owners want the freedom to grow, invest in their communities, and build something they can pass on to the next generation.

Washington should stop lecturing Hispanic Main Street and start respecting it.

Read the full piece below:

——

Washington has spent decades treating the Hispanic community as a monolithic voting bloc rather than recognizing the economic dynamism of Hispanic-owned businesses and working families.

This is playing out in many family restaurants, contracting firms, nail salons, and neighborhood shops where families are building their futures from the ground up.

Washington should stop lecturing Hispanic Main Street and start respecting it.

House Republicans Pass Housing Package to Expand Access to Homeownership

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— Today, House Republicans passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, legislation led by House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.) to expand housing supply, cut red tape, modernize housing programs, and lower costs for American families trying to buy a home.

The package also includes provisions from House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain’s (R-Mich.) Modular Housing Production Act to expand access to affordable modular and factory-built housing options.Chairwoman Lisa McClain and Chairman Hill released the following statements:

“Americans are tired of watching the dream of homeownership slip further out of reach while Washington keeps piling on costs, delays, and bureaucracy,” Chairwoman McClain said. “House Republicans are focused on lowering costs, building more homes, and giving families a fair shot at owning a home again. I’m especially proud that this package includes language from my Modular Housing Production Act to help expand access to affordable modular and factory-built housing. Families should not be punished with outdated financing rules just because they choose a more affordable path to homeownership.”

“Today, we proved Washington still works,” Chairman Hill said. “After months of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations – and with the partnership of the Trump Administration – the House delivered to make housing more accessible and affordable for American families. I urge the Senate to move expeditiously to get our amended bill to President Trump’s desk and deliver the relief Americans have been waiting for.”

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act cuts regulatory barriers that slow housing construction, modernizes HUD programs, and strengthens local lending capacity to support new housing development.

Chairwoman McClain's Modular Housing Production Act updates federal financing rules so more families can access high-quality modular and factory-built homes by removing archaic federal rules that unnecessarily increase financing costs and making modular-home financing follow the same rules as traditional construction, so families aren’t penalized for choosing a more affordable option.

House Republicans Honor Veterans and Military Families Ahead of Memorial Day

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— House Republicans highlighted legislation supporting veterans, military families, and survivors ahead of Memorial Day and reaffirmed their commitment to honoring those who served and sacrificed for the United States.

House Republican Conference Vice Chairman Blake Moore (R-Utah) said: “This weekend, Americans will mark Memorial Day, remembering the men and women who never came home from war. They gave their lives not for recognition or politics, but for this country and something bigger than themselves. We can never repay that sacrifice, but we can make sure it is never forgotten. We can make sure the families they left behind and the men and women who continue to serve are supported in a real and meaningful way. Last week, House Republicans passed the MilCon-VA appropriations bill because taking care of our service members, veterans, and their families should always be the first thing we do. This week, we are continuing that work with common sense legislation to strengthen veterans benefits, protect those who served, and deliver on promises we made.”

Watch his full remarks: Here

Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) said: “I'm not worthy to be able to talk to you today on behalf of my fellow veterans and those who didn't come home, but I hope that my words honor them and their families. I spent 20 years in the world’s finest Navy as a helicopter and fighter pilot. As we go about our business every day and head into Memorial Day weekend, I want people to remember what this week is really about. More than a million Americans have given their lives so the rest of us can live ours freely. So you and I can go about life. So that I can watch my son play baseball and play catch with him. So I can take my daughter to go see her next school, next college. And so that I can come home from very difficult weeks here and hold my wife. Keep them your minds Say their names. Keep them in your memories. That is what Memorial Day is about.”

Watch his full remarks: Here

House Republicans Advance Bill to Protect Children from Gender Ideology in Schools

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—House Republicans are advancing H.R. 2616 – Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, legislation led by Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) to require parental consent before schools make major changes involving a child’s name, pronouns, gender markers, bathrooms, or locker rooms.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Chairman Walberg released the following statements:

“Parents are losing their voice in schools that increasingly believe they know better than them,” Chairwoman McClain said. “Radical leftists want schools to keep secrets from families and use taxpayer dollars to push politics on children. House Republicans are saying enough. Parents have the right to know what is happening with their kids, and no school should be allowed to shut them out of decisions this serious.”

“Too many schools are keeping parents in the dark about what’s happening in their own children’s classrooms, even going so far as to withhold critical information about their kids’ wellbeing and development,” Chairman Walberg said. “Families deserve honesty, not secrecy—especially when it comes to issues like gender identity. Simply put, parents should never be the last to know—that’s not political, it’s common sense. Meanwhile, political and ideological agendas are being pushed through the curriculum without parents’ knowledge or consent, sidelining the very people responsible for raising these children. Parents don’t lose their rights at the schoolhouse door. It’s time to restore transparency and put parents back in the driver’s seat.”

The Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act makes parental consent a condition for public schools receiving ESEA funds. It restores basic transparency and makes clear that parents, not school officials or political activists, are the primary decision-makers for their children.

House Republicans Pass Resolution in Support of Law Enforcement Officers

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— House Republicans passed H. Con. Res. 96, a resolution introduced by Rep. Zachary Nunn (R-Iowa) expressing support for the men and women of law enforcement and recognizing the sacrifices officers make to protect communities across America.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Rep. Zachary Nunn released the following statements in support of the resolution:

“While Democrats spent years demonizing police officers and pushing soft-on-crime policies, Republicans are standing with the men and women who put on the badge and keep our communities safe,” Chairwoman McClain said. “They protect our families, remove deadly drugs from our streets, and hold the line between order and chaos. I am proud to back the blue because Americans deserve safe neighborhoods and leaders who respect the people risking their lives to protect them.”

“It shouldn’t be controversial to stand with the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” Rep. Nunn said. “But from the ‘defund the police’ radicalism to sanctuary city policies that prevent cooperation with federal law enforcement, too many politicians have put ideology ahead of public safety — and Americans are paying the price. This Police Week, the House sent a clear message: we back the blue. I'm proud to have led that effort."

The resolution recognizes the sacrifices law enforcement officers make every day to protect their communities and maintain public safety. It also condemns radical, anti-police rhetoric and policies that undermine law enforcement and make communities less safe.

House Republicans Advance Bill to Keep Violent, Repeat Offenders Off Our Streets

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— House Republicans passed H.R. 6260, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), to bring accountability to charitable bail funds that help put dangerous offenders back into American communities.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald released the following statements after the bill passed the House:

“Families should not have to pay the price for some activist bail fund’s political agenda,” Chairwoman McClain said. “These radical groups have helped violent offenders walk free with almost no oversight. That is insane. House Republicans are restoring accountability and making it clear that public safety comes before left-wing experiments that put criminals ahead of law-abiding Americans.”

“For too long, radical bail policies have allowed well-funded left-wing groups to exploit loopholes in the system that allow violent offenders to be released back into our neighborhoods,” Rep. Fitzgerald said. “The Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act gives states stronger tools to oversee activist bail funds to stop this madness from happening. This legislation is an important step toward restoring accountability to our bail system and reinforces that keeping Americans safe is the priority.”

H.R. 6260 treats bail bonds as insurance products so bail organizations are subject to proper oversight and federal insurance fraud laws. The bill helps ensure bail funds cannot misuse money, lie to regulators, or operate in the dark while communities carry the risk.

House Republicans Pass Bill Exposing Dangerous Cashless Bail Policies

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— House Republicans passed H.R. 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act, introduced by Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.), to increase transparency around state and local jurisdictions that allow dangerous offenders to be released without cash bail.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Rep. Mark Harris released the following statements after the bill passed the House:

“Americans deserve to know if the city they live in is putting criminals back on the street before trial,” Chairwoman McClain said. “Democrats spent years pushing reckless cashless bail policies that tied judges’ hands and put violent offenders ahead of victims and public safety. House Republicans are shining a light on these dangerous policies because families have a right to know when politicians are gambling with their safety.”

“Americans deserve to know whether the communities they live in or visit have soft-on-crime policies that could put them at risk,” Rep. Harris said. “My Cashless Bail Reporting Act brings needed transparency by requiring the Department of Justice to publicly identify jurisdictions that allow certain serious offenders to be released without cash bail. House Republicans will continue standing with law enforcement and victims to restore law and order.”

H.R. 5625 requires the Attorney General to publish a list of jurisdictions that allow individuals charged with certain violent, sexual, or public disorder offenses to be released before trial on personal recognizance or unsecured appearance bonds.

House Republicans Pass Bill to Rein in Wasteful Court Monitors

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON— House Republicans passed H.R. 8365, the Monitor Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), to bring transparency and accountability to court-appointed monitors overseeing state and local governments.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Rep. Andy Biggs released the following statements after the bill passed the House:

“Taxpayers should not be stuck funding endless six-figure consulting gigs with no real accountability,” Chairwoman McClain said. “Some court monitors have turned temporary supervision roles into a permanent payday while Americans foot the bill. House Republicans are putting limits on these runaway costs and making sure taxpayers are not forced to bankroll years of waste and borderline fraud disguised as oversight.”

"For over a decade, a court-appointed federal monitor for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has cost $350 million in taxpayer dollars and undermined the work of brave men and women in law enforcement, compromising the safety of innocent Arizonans,” Rep. Biggs said. “This is just one horror story of these monitors operating without oversight across the country and creating chaos in their wake. The destructive effects of these monitors on government budgets and public safety necessitate congressional action, which is why I've introduced the Monitor Accountability Act. I'm thankful for its passage in the House, and I urge the Senate to quickly take up this legislation and send it to the President's desk."

H.R. 8365 creates rules for court-appointed monitors overseeing state and local governments by capping fees, limiting monitor terms, and requiring public reporting on monitor activities. The bill also requires public input before a monitor is selected and adds safeguards to prevent long-running monitorships from draining taxpayer resources.

Chairwoman McClain Highlights House Republican Support for Law Enforcement During National Police Week

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) joined House Republicans to highlight legislation supporting law enforcement officers and reaffirm House Republicans’ commitment to public safety during National Police Week.

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good morning everyone. This week is National Police Week.

And House Republicans are making something very clear: We Back the Blue.

Not just with words. With action.

Because while too many Democrats demonize police officers, excuse violent criminals, and side with chaos, Republicans are standing with the men and women who put on the badge and walk toward danger everysingle day.

And this week, we’re bringing bills to the Floor to support law enforcement and help keep our communities safe.

Let’s remember what this week is really about.

It’s about people. It’s about families.

It’s about heroes like Deputy Sheriff Bradley Reckling.

Deputy Reckling, from my hometown of Romeo, Michigan, was a nine-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

In 2024, he was ambushed and murdered in the line of duty, leaving behind his wife, three young daughters, and a baby on the way.

Deputy Reckling stood between violent criminals and innocent people. And he is exactly why we must Back the Blue.

Earlier this week, I joined the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department for a ride-along and spent time with Deputy Miehlke, who has served in law enforcement for more than twenty years.

We talked about House Republicans’ push for No Tax on Overtime and the difference it is making for officers and their families.

Because when officers put in extra hours protecting their communities, they deserve to keep more of what they earn.

But what stuck with me most was hearing that after twenty years on the job, his wife still worries every time he leaves for work.

That fear never fully goes away for police families.

And yet too many on the Left continue attacking the very people who stand between law and order and chaos.

Public safety matters.

Law and order matters.

And it is the brave men and women in law enforcement who make both possible.

This week, House Republicans are proud to honor our law enforcement officers and proudly say: We support the men and women in blue.