Recently, Axios published a report that revealed a Chinese spy named Christine Fang had a close relationship with a Democratic Member of Congress who sits on the House Intelligence Committee and several other prominent Democratic politicians. Between 2011-2015, Fang was enrolled at a college in San Francisco, where she was directed by "China's main civilian spy agency" to form close relationships with up-and-coming politicians. Fang held fundraising events for and appeared in photos with several Congressional Democrats from California and Hawaii, as well as many other local politicians in the San Francisco area.

I joined House Oversight and Reform Committee Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY) and six other subcommittee Ranking Members in sending a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray demanding the FBI brief the entire Oversight Committee on this and other efforts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to infiltrate the top levels of the U.S. government.

The House Oversight and Reform Committee is the principle oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and we as members are tasked with making sure the government operates fairly, effectively and without interference from foreign agents. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, I intend to get to the bottom of this situation with Christine Fang and work to prevent other CCP spies from achieving similar success.

Over the last 20 years, opioid abuse has become increasingly prevalent in the United States. The graph above shows the number of overdose fatalities involving any opioid between 1999-2018.

In 1996, Purdue Pharma released a new prescription opioid called OxyContin with an aggressive marketing strategy. This included targeting physicians who were the highest prescribers of opioids across the country, including physicians whose patients may not have needed OxyContin. This was all being carried out with the knowledge that the drug is addictive. By 2004, OxyContin was among the most abused drugs in the U.S.

The principal owners of Purdue Pharma were members of the Sackler family, who, as problems arose and lawsuits against the company began to be filed, withdrew over $10 billion from the privately held firm to ensure their own financial well-being. Due to litigation, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in 2019.

I am not asserting that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family are responsible for the dramatic increase in opioid abuse in America. But, they certainly played a role by recklessly marketing what would become one of the most abused drugs in the county.

On Thursday, I questioned Craig Landau, President and CEO of Purdue Pharma, and David Sackler, former member of Purdue Pharma's board of directors, at a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing about why they so aggressively marketed OxyContin and their role in the opioid crisis in America. You can watch my questioning by clicking on the video below

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised that if we feel sick, we should stay home and contact our health care provider to obtain a COVID-19 test. Often, these tests take a week or more to produce results.

This week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first over-the-counter rapid COVID-19 test for public use. This test is intended for individuals over the age of two and will produce results in about 15 minutes. This is a leap forward in the fight against COVID-19 because it will enable those who test negative to resume their life, and those who test positive to more quickly seek treatment.

While these tests are not yet available in stores, Ellume, the Australia-based company who developed the test, has indicated that they are partnering with major retailers to distribute them in the near future. In the meantime, you can still contact your health care provider to find out how you can schedule a test or visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website to find a testing site near you.

Click here for more information on this in-home rapid test from the FDA.

On Thursday, I held a virtual town hall meeting with members of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce  to discuss the next COVID-19 relief package and how I’m working to make sure the Paycheck Protection Program is refueled and ready to once again help small businesses and workers in Wisconsin.

Tragedy struck the Wisconsin National Guard last week when a pilot tragically lost his life in a crash while flying over Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I am praying for his family, friends and all of Wisconsin's guardsmen and women. Sunday was the 384th birthday of the U.S. National Guard. Thank you to all of the patriots who have answered the call to serve.

The Bill of Rights protects our civil liberties and guarantees the basic rights of all American citizens. On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified. 229 years later, we celebrate the first 10 amendments to the Constitution on Bill of Rights Day.

For our Jewish friends and neighbors, Friday was the last night of an eight night celebration of peace, love and light. Chag Urim Sameach!

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. 

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