Government policies, including our tax code, should never be written in a way that discourages marriage. When it comes to deducting student loan interest, as with so many areas, the government is doing just that. Every American deserves the opportunity to promote financial stability in their lives, but our current tax policy discriminates against the nuclear family.

Specifically, if you and your spouse were not married and both had a student loan, each individual could receive up to a $2,500 deduction, for a total of $5,000. When married and filing jointly, their collective deduction is $2,500. This marriage penalty is wrong and must be rectified.

To address this unjust burden on married borrowers, I introduced the bipartisan Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act along with Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mary Miller (R-IL), and Danny K. Davis (D-IL). Our legislation would protect marriage by ensuring each spouse can separately apply the $2,500 deduction on their student loan interest. This common-sense approach not only reduces financial stress, but also removes a barrier for more young couples to get married.

Click here for more information on the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act.

As a member of the House Budget Committee, I have made it my duty to speak out against Washington's habit of careless spending and borrowing. Not only does our mounting national debt increase prices in the short-term, but it poses a severe threat to the financial future of our children and grandchildren in the long-term.

This week, the House Budget Committee convened for a hearing to explore the need for a bipartisan commission dedicated to addressing the looming fiscal crisis that our country faces. Inflation is sweeping the nation and harming middle-class families. Mortgage rates are climbing toward 8 percent. The difficulties many Americans are feeling when buying a home, car, or groceries can be traced back to out-of-control federal spending.

Congress can begin to tackle America’s addiction to spending by sending many programs currently operated by the federal government back to the states. Specifically, many welfare and social services programs should be managed at the state level. That said, during our discussion, I made clear that I will never support any cut to social security.

Now more than ever, our unsustainable national debt and its principal drivers must be addressed. Our nation's fiscal health is vital to our economic stability, our prosperity, and our future. The goal of this bipartisan commission would be to bring together Members of Congress from all sides of the political spectrum in an effort to depoliticize and responsibly tackle the insolvency of various government programs. 

The annual Congressional App Challenge (CAC) presents an opportunity for middle and high school students in the Sixth District to showcase their coding skills on the national stage. Every year, the CAC invites students across the country to submit an app in its annual coding competition.

The winner from the Sixth District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will have their app featured on the CAC website. The winning app will also be eligible to be on display for visitors of the U.S. Capitol, along with other winning apps from across the country.

The competition is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science and coding. Students who plan to participate must register online and submit their app by November 1, 2023.

I encourage all students in the Sixth District with an interest in computer programming to design and submit an app in this annual coding competition. To learn more about the rules and registration, visit the Congressional App Challenge page on my website.

The relationship between Wisconsin and Canada is a partnership rooted in shared values and common interests.

Every year, businesses in the Sixth District export $1.8 BILLION in goods to Canada.

Thank you to Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman for recognizing the vital relationship between the Sixth District and Canada at the Embassy of Canada this week.

It is always wonderful to see shooting sports and other outdoors activities among young Wisconsinites in action. Following the Portage Gun Show, it was great to come across high school students with a passion for trap shooting at the Portage Rod & Gun Club.

Last weekend, I joined alumni of the Waupun FFA at their blue and gold banquet. This wonderful group helps support our state's future leaders in the agriculture industry!