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  6. Houchin Visits Border At Eagle Pass, Texas

This week, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) joined Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans on a visit to the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas. During the trip, Congresswoman Houchin visited with local landowners, law enforcement, community members, and U.S. Border Patrol agents on the frontlines of the border crisis.

This trip followed the record number of 300,000 illegal migrant encounters in the month of December.

“I traveled back to our border for a second time to shine a light on the crisis that has made every state, including Indiana, a border state. Local landowners and law enforcement are pleading for the Biden Administration to reinforce policies that have proven to secure the border. We witnessed groups of migrants, first-hand, crossing into the United States. This is a serious threat to our national security. House Republicans passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, months ago. It’s time Biden and Democrats follow our lead and make it law,” said Congresswoman Erin Houchin.

In March of last year, Congresswoman Houchin visited with Border Patrol agents and local officials in Uvalde and Eagle Pass, Texas. In May, Congresswoman Houchin voted to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, out of the House of Representatives, only for it to receive no consideration from the United States Senate. The White House has been silent on the passage of H.R. 2 and has ignored calls from House Republicans to address the crisis.

The trip was led by Speaker Mike Johnson, following his promise that as Speaker, his top priority would be the border. Members on the trip included Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Congressman Tony Gonzales, who represents the Rio Grande sector of the Southern Border, and over 50 other House Republicans.

Yesterday, Congresswoman Houchin joined Brian Kilmeade on Fox & Friends live from Texas to discuss the visit.

IN AG Warns College Officials: Hateful Antisemitic Acts Against Jewish Students Will Not Be Tolerated On Campus

15 May 2024

  Following months of campus protests sometimes featuring troubling anti-Jewish propaganda, Attorney General Todd Rokita warned college officials they are duty-bound to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by combating all forms of antisemitism on their campuses — or risk losing their federal funding. "My team and I are dee ...

Crown Hill Could See Natural Burials

15 May 2024

    By Becky Killian, Staff Writer Officials have taken the first step that could allow a section of Crown Hill Cemetery to be set aside for natural burials. The decision was made during the Monday, May 13, meeting of the Salem Common Council. Brock and Carrie Chastain, of Weathers Funeral Home, requested the changes necessary to allo ...

City, County Dispatch Could Merge

15 May 2024

  By Becky Killian, Staff Writer Salem officials have approved an agreement that would allow the merger of the city’s dispatch department with the county’s 911 center.The unanimous vote was held during the Monday, May 13, meeting of the Salem Common Council. All members were in attendance. Mayor Justin Green explained that weeks’ worth of t ...

IDEM Cancels Public Advisory for Flint Creek

15 May 2024

  TIPPECANOE COUNTY – IDEM Emergency Response (ER) has continued to monitor the area around Flint Creek over the past week. Field screening was conducted at multiple locations, including the initial tributary, Flint Run, and Flint Creek. Each test returned non-detectable levels (ppm) of ammonia nitrogen. Additionally, aquatic activity wa ...

Public Cautioned to Avoid Flint Creek after Tippecanoe County Fish Kill

15 May 2024

  TIPPECANOE COUNTY – Following the discovery of a large fish kill, IDEM is advising the public to stay out of the waters around Flint Creek in Tippecanoe County. Sunday afternoon IDEM Emergency Response was dispatched to a report of a significant number of dead fish in West Point, Ind. after notification from conservation officers with ...

Houchin Introduces Legislation to Break Down Barriers to Higher Education for Homeless and Foster Youth

13 May 2024

   In honor of National Foster Care Month— Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN), Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) reintroduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to remove barriers to higher education for homeless and fost ...

IN AG Co-Leads 25-State Lawsuit To Pull The Plug On Biden’s 'Clean Power Plan 2.0'

10 May 2024

  Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is co-leading a 25-state lawsuit that seeks to overturn an invasive new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that threatens the reliability of our power grid and will once again jack up utility costs for regular, everyday Hoosiers. Attorney General Rokita’s latest fight against continued EPA ...

No Laws Require Use Of Preferred Pronouns

10 May 2024

  After state Rep. Mike Speedy raised the issue, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita this week produced an advisory opinion clarifying that neither state nor federal law requires a coworker to use the preferred pronouns and names of fellow employees.  An employer therefore is likely not liable in cases where staff members choose not to ...

Drivers Who Disregard Detours Could Be Fined

08 May 2024

  By Becky Killian, Staff Writer   Officials have adopted a new ordinance that includes a fine of up to $500 plus costs for tractor trailer drivers who use county roads rather than the official detour routes.The Washington County Board of Commissioners recently approved the ordinance, which took effect immediately. The law aims ...

County To Develop Rules For Ballpark Access

08 May 2024

  By Becky Killian, Staff Writer County officials heard about an incident involving law enforcement at the Hardinsburg ballpark last week. The discussion was held during the Tuesday, May 7, meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Kristy Pavey, a parent of a ballplayer, said the scheduled game was cancelled shortly before it ...

Senate Unanimously Passes Braun’s "Mark Our Place Act" To Honor Medal of Honor Recipients

02 May 2024

WASHINGTON — Last night, the Senate unanimously passed the Mark Our Place Act—bipartisan legislation introduced by Sen. Mike Braun, Sen. Jon Tester and Sen. Sherrod Brown to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to honor all Medal of Honor recipients with a headstone, grave marker, or medallion. Currently these memorial honor ...

Grants up to $500,000 Available to Boost Indiana’s Recycling Economy

01 May 2024

    INDIANAPOLIS –  Indiana businesses, local governments, solid waste management districts, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations are invited to submit grant proposals ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to fund recycling projects through the Indiana Recycling Market Development Program (RMDP). Projects shou ...

Comptroller Nieshalla Supports Israeli Investment

01 May 2024

    STATEHOUSE – Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla supports Indiana’s additional $5 million investment in Israeli Bonds, as announced today by State Treasurer Daniel Elliott. “What a privilege to represent a state that is offering further investment to Israel that aligns with our fiduciary duty to deliver solid yield, low risk ...

Here Is Your Indiana Government Book PDF Available at No Cost

20 Feb 2024

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Indiana Bar Foundation have teamed up to bring the importance of civics for young Hoosiers to the forefront. The 40th edition of the Here Is Your Indiana Government book – previously published exclusively by the Indiana Chamber – is now complimentary via an electronic guide and ...

Houchin Supports Texas in Immigration Fight

20 Feb 2024

Congresswoman Erin Houchin has joined over 40 lawmakers in signing an Amicus brief in support of the state of Texas in its legal battle with the Biden Administration over immigration policies. The brief, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas —Austin Division, accuses the Federal Government of an "abdication of ...

Congresswoman Houchin: House Republicans Impeach Mayorkas

16 Feb 2024

Tonight, my colleagues and I took action against Biden's Broken Border policies and have impeached DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. As the head of the Department of Homeland Security tasked with keeping our nation secure, Secretary Mayorkas has failed on all measures.   With a wide-open Southern Border, allowing more than 8 millio ...

Young, Kaine introduce bipartisan bill to boost student success and career readiness

12 Feb 2024

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), co-chairs of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, reintroduced the bipartisan Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act. The legislation would boost student success and career readiness by increasing work-based learning opportun ...

FSSA Announces Additional $6.9 Million in Grants

06 Feb 2024

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced today the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is awarding another $6.9 million in employer-sponsored child care grants to an additional 22 businesses, community groups and school corporations, bringing the total invested to $25 million. The initi ...

Crouch urges Hoosiers to contact legislators regarding FSSA cuts

05 Feb 2024

STATEHOUSE (Feb. 2, 2024) –On Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch convened a special meeting of the Indiana Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Task Force (IDD), which she chairs. Lt. Gov. Crouch wanted IDD Task Force members and the public to hear directly from the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) ...

Attorney General fires off legal opinion in support of Hoosiers’ Second Amendment rights

04 Feb 2024

Attorney General Todd Rokita is defending Hoosiers’ Second Amendment rights in a legal opinionrequested by the Indiana State Police regarding the FBI’s misunderstanding of Indiana law.   “In Indiana, we believe expungement restores civil rights, including Hoosiers’ Second Amend ...

DNR Awards Grants to Rural & Vol. Fire Depts.

29 Jan 2024

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) awarded more than $454,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants to 101 rural and volunteer fire departments from 58 counties. The awards will be used to fund training or purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Fo ...

Houchin Visits Border At Eagle Pass, Texas

24 Jan 2024

This week, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) joined Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans on a visit to the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas. During the trip, Congresswoman Houchin visited with local landowners, law enforcement, community members, and U.S. Border Patrol agents on the frontlines of the border crisis. This trip followe ...