Vote Explainers - March 2023

Transparency is vital to democracy. Below please find explainers for key votes I took in the 118th Congress.

H.R. 347, The REIN IN Act

On Wednesday, March 1st, the House voted on HR 347. This bill would require undue effort from the President on executive branch actions with an economic impact greater than $1 million. This includes mandating presidential statements estimating the inflationary impact on executive orders of that magnitude.

I am all for serious measures that will help to curb inflation. This bill would do no such thing. It is a performative vote to expand executive branch bureaucracy by creating needless busywork and paper pushing. The bill would not actually preclude the president from acting, regardless of the inflationary impact. That is about as performative and ineffective as legislation can get.

H.R. 5, Politics over Parents Act (“Parents Bill of Rights”)

On Friday, March 24th, I voted against the Politics over Parents Act. The Bill seeks to intimidate teachers and take away their ability to fairly educate their students. Republicans want to allow activist parents to enact book bans and censor teachers nationwide. Not only that, but their efforts to strip students of the right to seek mental healthcare in school without parental consent is not only misguided, it is dangerous.

This Bill discredits the public education system, villanizes teachers, and presumes parental expertise supersedes teachers’ expertise and judgment. As a proud father to two young girls, I care deeply about making sure every kid has access to a quality public education. Let's leave our children's schooling to the professionals so every child has access to the best education possible.

H.R. 1, Polluters over People Act (“Lower Energy Costs Act”)

On Thursday, March 30th, I voted against the Polluters over People Act. Though the bill allegedly lowers energy costs for some Americans, this bill is nothing more than a corporate handout to big-time polluters and Republican donors. While the bill does address efforts to streamline permitting processes and systemic backlogs that prevent necessary development, it would do much more to harm the American public than it would do to help them.

H.R. 1 would increase fossil fuel development on our public lands and in our nation’s waters, repeal innovative climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, limit judicial review of certain energy projects’ environmental impact, and waive critical protections guaranteed by the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act. America’s national security, economic, and environmental needs require smart and innovative energy solutions that will make our nation more secure, prosperous, and healthy. H.R. 1 failed to do any of them. I look forward to working with my colleagues across both sides of the aisle to promote the actual energy solutions that our nation requires. Our children’s future demands nothing less.