Representative Glenn Grothman

What's Ahead

1. Action on the Drug Overdose Crisis.

2. My Letter to the CBP Commissioner.

3. Weekly Roundup.

4. My Contact Information.

Action on the Drug Overdose Crisis

Fentanyl is tearing families apart in what has become the most deadly drug crisis in American history.

For the second consecutive year, over 100,000 Americans across the country died from overdosing on drugs. This shocking statistic is truly heartbreaking, and the most frustrating aspect is that the ongoing lack of border security has multiplied the amount of illegal drugs streamlining into American communities.

On my trips to inspect the crisis at the border, agents of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) emphasize to me that many fatal drugs, including fentanyl, still go undetected due to the sea of migrants crossing the border illegally every day. Instead of patrolling the border, Border Patrol agents often are forced to spend their shifts processing migrants and doing administrative work inside Border Patrol facilities because of the sheer volume of people coming into the country illegally.

It's clear that fentanyl is streaming into American communities as a result of the border crisis, and it's costing lives. Last year, the Drug Enforcement Agency seized over 3 billion deadly doses of fentanyl at ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border — more than enough to kill every American eight times over. This is a crisis that must be addressed, and we can start by securing the Southern border.

With no action, fentanyl will continue to be trafficked inside communities throughout the United States.

In response to this crisis, I voted in favor of the bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act, which passed the House on Thursday, to combat fentanyl trafficking and save lives. This legislation will help root out deadly fentanyl by permanently adding it as a Schedule I drug, which will ensure fentanyl traffickers receive the penalties they deserve for bringing this scourge into our communities.

My Letter to the CBP Commissioner

While on the topic of the Southern border, we cannot forget about the humanitarian crisis. An extremely concerning byproduct of the lack of border security is the abhorrent treatment of migrant children by criminal Cartels, who have trafficked countless children through Mexico to our Southern border.

Since 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have performed DNA testing on families that cross the border illegally together to ensure the safety and security of minors and prevent them from being exploited by adults. This DNA testing found an abundance of cases of children not being related to the adults claiming to be their relatives. This means that these children may be trafficking victims or pawns of the criminal cartels.

Recent reporting uncovered that the Biden Administration will terminate DNA testing for family units altogether with no alternative or solution in place on May 31, 2023. As a result, children will be at risk of further being exploited or trafficked by strangers, even inside the United States.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs, I am leading an investigation into U.S. Customs and Border Protection in light of this report. My Subcommittee colleagues and I wrote to Acting CBP Commissioner, Troy Miller, requesting documents and communication pertaining to the expulsion of familial DNA testing.

Cartels have successfully taken advantage of President Biden’s disastrous immigration policies to create the largest human trafficking and smuggling operation in the world. An estimated 60 percent of unaccompanied children that cross the border are forced into child pornography, drug trafficking, or other heinous actions by Cartels.

The Biden Administration's neglect has further threatened countless migrant children, and it is unacceptable. My colleagues and I on my Subcommittee are leading the charge to protect migrant children and restore safety and security along our Southern border.

Click the image above to read the full letter

Weekly Roundup

In this week's House Budget Committee hearing, I investigated how Congress can help remove burdensome red tape to allow our world-class manufacturing industry to truly prosper.

I was glad to have a productive meeting with Oshkosh Fire Chief Michael Stanley of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, who support our state’s fire service leaders. Thank you for protecting our communities in the Sixth District during times of emergency.

It was great to meet Spokeswoman of the Independent Women’s Forum Riley Gaines and speak about the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. I was proud to support this legislation to protect our children and the integrity of women’s sports.

Members of the Cascade Fire Department go out of their way to put out fires and keep Cascade families and businesses safe. It was great to meet you all and thank you during your car and bike show last Sunday.

It was great to meet the Van Dyne Lions Club at their 37th annual County Breakfast!

It was great to speak with the Manitowoc Towns Association about my work in Washington and how Congress can better serve our communities.

Last weekend, I was in Portage with St. Mary’s Catholic Church for their “Best Fest” on the Columbia County Fair Grounds.

Contact Me

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, and let them know that they can subscribe by clicking here.

You can also stay up-to-the-minute by following me on Facebook (Congressman Glenn Grothman), Twitter (@RepGrothman) and Instagram (@RepGlennGrothman).

Sincerely,

Glenn Grothman
Member of Congress