First and foremost, I want to say thank you for reading my weekly newsletters. These emails are an opportunity for me to communicate with you directly about my work in Congress and around the Sixth District. That's why I'm excited to share this news with you first.

Next year, in the 118th Congress, I am pleased to let you know that I will be bringing our Wisconsin values and commonsense solutions to the Congressional leadership table by serving as a regional representative to the Republican Policy Committee (RPC).

The RPC plays an essential role in the legislative proposals and policy focuses of the House Republican Conference. Therefore, in addition to identifying key issues of importance to the American people, the RPC is responsible for crafting policy solutions for Congress to consider that will benefit all Americans.

Heading into next year, there is no shortage of problems that need solving. Serving on the RPC is another opportunity to use my voice as your Representative to help our communities thrive and work toward solving the many issues facing our nation today.

In October of this year, the Department of Homeland Security made history by disclosing data revealing that over 2 million migrants illegally crossed the Southwest border in a single fiscal year. This is on top of an estimated 600,000 "got-aways" who dodged Border Patrol altogether. Throughout President Biden's tenure, Border Patrol has reportedly encountered more than four million illegal immigrants at our Southwest border, which represents the entire population of Milwaukee more than 7x over. 

We began to see historic levels of illegal migration shortly after President Biden halted construction of the border wall system and eliminated the Migrant Protection Protocols. One thing the President did not eliminate was Title 42, a tool given to Border Patrol agents by President Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic that gives them the ability to quickly turn back certain migrants who illegally cross the border. Title 42 has been invaluable for Border Patrol agents both in practice and as a deterrence mechanism. So, despite the historically high number of illegal border crossings, things would be much worse without Title 42 in place.

That is why it is so concerning that Title 42 was struck down by a federal judge and is set to expire on December 21, 2022. Without Title 42, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is preparing for an even more rapid surge of illegal border crossings, and many Border Patrol agents will be forced into handling the processing of illegal immigrants rather than actually patrolling the border. In fact, the Biden Administration has even admitted that the number of migrants illegally crossing the border each day could double if Title 42 was eliminated.

How does the end of Title 42 specifically impact Wisconsin?

The elimination of Title 42 will result in more illegal activity at the Southwest border. This means more deadly drugs, like fentanyl, infiltrating our communities. Last year, Milwaukee County alone reported 643 drug overdose deaths, 80 percent of which contained fentanyl. In fact, the amount of overdose deaths caused by fentanyl grew by 97 percent from 2019 to 2021.

Days before Thanksgiving, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office arrested three individuals for drug trafficking who have direct ties to Mexican drug cartels, representing a frightening example of lethal drugs making their way into Wisconsin as a result of our porous border.

The disturbing reality is that, due to the influx of illegal immigrants, it is harder for Border Patrol to detect and confiscate deadly drugs from entering the country. Thanks to the deliberate neglect by the White House, fentanyl and other illicit substances are streaming into communities across the country and threatening the lives of Americans. The American people deserve leaders who will work to prioritize the safety of communities throughout the United States, increase resources and staffing for CBP, and decrease the surge of illegal drugs crossing the border by way of the cartels. 

It was exciting to see all the amazing work Plexus Corp. is doing in Neenah to provide manufacturing expertise and complex product solutions on a global scale. Companies like this are essential in strengthening our supply chain and Wisconsin's economy.

I had a wonderful time visiting the Grande Cheese Company to see the fantastic products they are making in Brownsville that contribute to Wisconsin's world-famous dairy industry!

It was great meeting with the Sheboygan County Superintendent at a roundtable at Lakeshore Technical College in Sheboygan about working together to promote success for students across the Sixth District.

As your Congressman, I’m here to serve you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to my offices in Fond du Lac and Washington. If you enjoyed this newsletter be sure to forward it to your family and friends so they can stay informed on what I’m doing in Washington and the Sixth District.