Clay Higgins

As a Christian and father of four, I know that there is no gift more precious than a child's life. That is why I am an outspoken advocate for protecting the rights of the unborn in Louisiana and across the nation.

No hardworking American should ever worry that their tax dollars may be used to fund organizations that rob us of God's greatest gift.

As your Representative in Congress, I will defend the strongly held moral beliefs of my constituents. Life is not a policy issue; life is a fundamental and unalienable right. Louisiana has been a champion of life for decades, and I will continue to be an ally in that fight.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, my voting record clearly reflects my lifelong pro-life conviction. During my service in Congress, I have cosponsored and voted for legislation to prohibit federal funding for abortions, defund Planned Parenthood, provide medical care to born-alive abortion survivors, and restrict late-term abortions.

Louisiana's agriculture commodities contribute significantly to our state's economy. With difficult weather conditions, floods, and low commodity prices, it is more important than ever to ensure that Louisiana's needs are properly reflected in the Farm Bill.

As Congress considers much-needed changes to our immigration policy, it is important that we support H-2A and H-2B visas, while instituting a returning worker exemption for the H-2B unskilled worker visa program. A returning worker exemption will align H-2B visas with H-2A visas, improving the likelihood that our sugar mills, seafood processing plants, landscaping, and tourism industries will have the labor they need.

Additionally, it is imperative that the new administration review burdensome and unnecessary regulations regarding herbicide, pesticide, and fungicide use to provide our farmers as many tools available as possible.

Furthermore, although the U.S. House of Representatives has no legislative oversight of international trade negotiations, I understand the strong need for ensuring international trade agreements provide an even playing field for American exports, and I strongly support efforts to strengthen fair trading relationships with foreign countries.

While it is not the role of government to create jobs, Congress must ensure that our economic policies empower private industry growth. That includes eliminating burdensome regulations, maintaining competitive tax rates, and prioritizing workforce development efforts.

Improving our economy is not only reliant upon a strong business-focused regulatory system, but also on the quality of education that is available to our children and those seeking to further their careers. It is important that we have a renewed focus on providing students the skills they need to operate in the modern economy. While funding for higher education plays a role, we must also ensure that vocational programs and technical schools are promoted.

Fossil fuels play a major role in the daily lives of every American. Whether it is meeting the energy needs of families and businesses, or being used in the creation of plastics and other common materials, fossil fuels are the lifeblood of our modern society.

However, the new administration is reversing progress achieved under President Trump and bringing about a resurgence of Obama-era policies. These actions will have the same outcome now as they did then, the destruction of American jobs, higher energy costs, and undermining global security interests. The federal government is being weaponized against America's energy industry.

It is important that a balanced approach is taken that results in real economic benefits but also considers environmental impacts. No Republican or Democrat wants dirty air or water. This is especially important in a state like ours, where enjoyment of the outdoors is engraved into our culture and heritage. While empowering the industry is a top priority, we must ensure proper conservation and mitigation programs are in place to maintain our sensitive ecosystem and protect our valuable natural resources. We should support this balanced approach with policies that encourage growth, create new jobs, and bolster America's energy security.

America's health care system is broken. For too long, government interference has stifled innovation, restricted access to new treatments, and limited the free market. Overregulation has created an expensive and inflexible system that focuses more on bureaucracy and payment-processing than patients and doctors.

Americans deserve a health care system that works for them. We must give choice back to the American people, and allow them the freedom and flexibility to choose healthcare that fits their unique needs. As Congress works to expand affordable, patient-centered health insurance choices for all Americans, it is imperative that we also ensure access to coverage, regardless of age, income, pre-existing conditions, or circumstances, and encourage marketplace competition and the development of life-saving drugs, devices, and therapies.

Please know that I will support legislation that encourages marketplace competition so that every Louisianan has access to affordable health insurance options. It is also critical that we reduce unnecessary federal regulations on the health industry to encourage the development of life-saving devices and therapies. Additionally, we must always uphold our commitment to aging Americans by protecting Medicare.

The United States infrastructure has received an overall rating of a D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Nowhere are these deficiencies more prevalent than in Louisiana's 3rd District.

Southwest Louisiana is expected to receive nearly $120 billion in private endeavor funding for new and expanded industrial operations. This is the largest investment surge of its kind in the United States and the world. However, these critical investments will be jeopardized without significant federal and state support.

In my district, the best example of our infrastructure needs is the dredging of the Calcasieu Channel (CC). The Lake Charles Port is completely reliant on the CC for access to the Gulf, and many new projects and endeavors are reliant on the Port to be financially successful. For years, the Army Corps of Engineers has failed to properly dredge the channel to the required dimensions of 400 feet wide and 40 feet deep. Annual maintenance of the CC is estimated to cost $40 million, which is a modest investment of tax dollars considering the $400 million in tax revenue that the Port sends to D.C. each year.

In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that every dollar invested in infrastructure results in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth anywhere between $1 and $2.50. It is time to upgrade our state's infrastructure and promote positive economic growth that with benefit businesses, communities, and families.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is plagued by reports of flawed governance, inadequate facilities, insufficient staffing, antiquated IT systems, falsified records, claims processing backlogs, and long wait-times.

The Veterans Health Administration's focus on hospital-centered care does not reflect modern community-focused care. We no longer require rows of inpatient beds in massive hospitals – we require a flexible system that addresses individuals' unique needs. The needs of our veterans are not being met and these inadequacies are unacceptable. Veterans and their families have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and we must uphold our promises to them. It is time we focus on supporting our veterans, rather than supporting a system that hasn't kept up. We must address the priorities of today's population by ensuring the money follows the veteran. I am committed to reviewing programs to see how our veterans can be better served.