This Week In Washington

Every Veterans Day, we honor the sacrifices and bravery of our nation's military. It is our duty as a nation to remember veterans who selflessly served and made great sacrifices to protect our rights and freedoms.

To recognize some of Pennsylvania's brave veterans, I hosted a ceremony in Hamlin (Wayne County) honoring Vietnam veterans with a commemorative pin. Our commonwealth's Vietnam veterans bravely served this country and it was an honor for my office to recognize them for their service.

As the son of a U.S. Marine, I know firsthand the sacrifices that our veterans and their families make. God bless our men and women in uniform on this Veterans Day, and every day.

This week, I joined the staff at Emmaus Public Library to celebrate the opening of the new children's wing. The 2,780 square foot addition increases the library's current floor space and provides a new area for children's classes, events, and collections.

Libraries have long played an important role in communities, both for promoting literacy and providing access to important resources. I am certain this new addition will prove a valuable investment in the community. Congratulations to the great folks at Emmaus Public Library on this wonderful expansion!  

Since joining the Senate in 2011, I have consistently supported pro-growth policies to help job creators in Pennsylvania thrive. From passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, to rolling back erroneous and overbearing regulations, Congress has made significant progress in the right direction.

This week, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) recognized my work by honoring me with the Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence, which recognizes Members of Congress who support policies that enhance the ability of U.S. manufacturers to succeed in the global economy.

I'm honored to be recognized by NAM for my efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania's important manufacturing industry and look forward to continuing this important work.

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is a federal program mandating oil refiners to blend a certain amount of renewable fuels, such as corn ethanol, into the nation's fuel supply every year. Not only has the RFS failed to achieve its intended goals, the program also imposes financial harm on motorists, the broader transportation sector, and domestic oil refiners that are forced to comply with the mandate. The Trump administration recently directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to craft a rule allowing for the year-round sale of E15 gasoline -- an important priority on the ethanol industry's wish list. This one-sided approach to reforming the RFS only benefits the powerful ethanol lobby and its allies, and threatens the existence of oil refiners like Monroe Energy and Philadelphia Energy Solutions.

To better understand the threat posed by this policy, I brought together Pennsylvania refineries, local labor leaders, business stakeholders, and elected officials in Trainer (Delaware County) to discuss the RFS.

While the best solution is the full repeal of the RFS, that is unlikely to happen in the near future. The Trump administration should enact reforms to the RFS that improve conditions for both the agriculture and oil refining sectors. I appreciate the chance to hear from the affected parties directly and will continue my work to find a suitable solution.

Read more about my visit here.