This week, President Donald Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law. As you may know, the USMCA is a trade deal crafted by President Trump that modernizes the 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to create a more favorable trade environment for the United States. While NAFTA prompted the loss of 700,000 jobs by moving production facilities outside of the United States, the USMCA will encourage greater domestic production by promoting free trade, economic growth and continued cooperation between the United States, Mexico and Canada. 

The USMCA will provide a more level playing field for approximately 231,000 Wisconsin jobs and nearly $11 billion dollars in Wisconsin that rely on trade with Mexico and Canada. Specifically, the USMCA will give a boost to Wisconsin’s world-famous dairy industry by providing Wisconsin dairy farmers with greater access to the Canadian dairy market, more than tripling the amount of milk they can export. The USMCA will also eliminate a program that allows low-priced dairy ingredients to undersell U.S. dairy sales in Canada, thus creating an overall fairer marketplace. 

The passage of the USMCA has never been a partisan issue, revealed by its overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Rather, the USMCA is the 21st century solution for hard-working Americans that have suffered under NAFTA for far too long. I thank hundreds of businesses and trade associations, the entire Republican party and President Trump for successfully fighting to make the USMCA a reality, lifting up our great state of Wisconsin and entire nation.

Unfortunately, anti-Semitic attacks continue to plague our nation and world. This week, I had the opportunity to question a Holocaust survivor, among other officials, on why anti-Semitism seems to be a growing problem in our society, specifically on college campuses. The witnesses described the demonization of Jewish students and how free speech protections are not filtered to prohibit anti-Semitic views on college campuses.

In December of 2019, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses. The executive order extends the protections of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, prohibiting taxpayer-funded universities from discriminating on the basis of race, color and national origin, to include students who are Jewish. Likewise, I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 4009, the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which would accomplish the same goals as President Trump’s action. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi chooses not to bring this bill to the floor for a vote. We are fortunate to have a President who will deliver wins for Americans when Congress fails to act, but his executive order could be overturned by another President in the future, which is why Congress should make these protections permanent.

As a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, I will continue to seek opportunities to combat senseless acts of violence. I will use my position in Congress to promote pro-Jewish policies and sentiments. In light of Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, 2020, we must always remember to actively promote efforts that combat anti-Semitism worldwide to guarantee freedom and safety for all people.

To watch my questioning from this week's hearing, please click on the picture below.

At the Manitowoc Towns Association meeting, we discussed issues facing the county's towns and ways Congress can help them continue to thrive.

Congrats to Hometown Glass & Improvement (Business of the Year), Kraig Kasten (Citizen of the Year) and Community Care Preschool & Childcare (Non-profit of the Year) on being recognized at the Beaver Dam Chamber's Annual Dinner.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember all of the lives lost due to hatred and evil. We must continue to tell the stories of the survivors as well as those who perished so a tragedy like this will never happen again.