Yesterday, House Republicans passed a partisan DHS funding bill. I voted against it because ICE and CBP don't need another dime from Congress, let alone an additional $28.8 billion. That same bill has already failed in the Senate, so voting on it again accomplished nothing. But it’s been over a month since Republicans let DHS shut down, and the consequences are only getting worse. Airport lines are growing out of control, TSA is experiencing record attrition, and essential workers are being stretched dangerously thin, which could weaken our defenses against cyber threats and emergencies.  

I'm glad President Trump has decided to pay TSA employees and end the chaos at our airports using unspent funds from the "Big Beautiful Bill." That's exactly what my Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act would do, and we should codify this effort so the livelihoods of essential federal workers don't depend on the whims of any one person. 

And last night, the Senate passed legislation to fund most of DHS, excluding ICE. This is encouraging news and I'm glad the Senate did its job and came together to put our constituents first. Democrats have advocated for this deal since day one of the DHS shutdown. But the House would still need to pass the bill to end the shutdown and unfortunately, that's not a guarantee. It also won’t fix long airport security lines overnight because it may take time to rehire employees who have had to go find other work. And once again, I’m frustrated that DHS employees have been used as leverage throughout this shutdown. I look forward to voting on the bill the Senate passed - as is - and I'll always push for good faith negotiations on our federal appropriations.  

Yesterday, the House Budget Committee held a hearing on our nation’s fiscal responsibility. I’ve been sounding the alarm on our unsustainable debt and deficit for years as Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum and I’m glad the issue is gaining more attention, particularly because of its effect on young people and their future.

The deficit is what the government spends more than it takes in each year. The debt is the total accumulation of those deficits over time. Right now, that’s about $39 trillion. Every year we run a deficit, we add to the national debt—and right now, both are growing fast. The deficit was about $1.8 trillion in 2025 and is projected to rise again this year, while the total debt increased by more than $2 trillion in a single year. That means our country borrows nearly $2 trillion annually just to cover its expenses – and we spend nearly $1 trillion a year just on interest payments on that debt. That's money we aren’t spending on schools, infrastructure, climate, or anything that could help young people who are just trying to afford daily life and build wealth for the future.  

I’m working with Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-04) to reduce the federal deficit to 3 percent of our economy—about half its current level. It strikes the right balance between being aggressive enough to reassure markets and realistic enough to be achievable. This isn’t about left or right, Republicans or Democrats. Both parties are responsible. It's about who pays the price. Right now, it’s our young people, and that is what I am working to change in Congress. 

• A listen: episode 2 of 72 & Sunny features USD's Energy Policy Initiatives Center's Scott Anders' and my discussion on the urgent need for grid modernization and permitting reform, global competition, California’s energy supply mix, and more.   

• Read my Op-Ed with Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-04) in the Hill for more on what we need to do to get our country on a better fiscal path.  

• A new analysis from the Pew Research Center breaks down how Austin, TX was able to lower the cost of housing by increasing supply and density – something I’m all for!