SE Kentucky News

As the United States prepares for the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, the U.S. House of Representatives has initiated the 119th Congress by passing several significant bills. These include legislation aimed at protecting women's rights in sports, improving national safety, enhancing transparency in disaster relief funding, and strengthening economic ties with Taiwan.

U.S. Representative Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05), known as the Dean of the House, supported the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This bill is designed to safeguard female athletes by recognizing biological differences between men and women, thereby maintaining fairness in athletic competitions.

"Female athletes have come too far over the last 50 years to be forced to compete on an unfair and uneven playing field with biological men who have a natural physical advantage over them – that is not equality," stated Congressman Rogers. "This bill strengthens the current law and further defines the protections necessary for women and girls in sports."

The House also passed the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act. This largely partisan bill seeks to deny entry and deport violent illegal immigrants who commit sex offenses or domestic violence. Congressman Rogers expressed his support for this legislation, emphasizing its role in enhancing protection from violent offenders who enter illegally.

"The safety of the American people is our top priority. The Biden Administration’s open border crisis has resulted in preventable violence and fatal attacks by criminal illegal immigrants, yet 145 House Democrats voted to keep them in America," said Congressman Rogers. "We can and will protect the American people, and this bill is the first step in the right direction."

In response to ongoing recovery efforts from various natural disasters across several states, two additional bills were passed: the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act and the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act. These bills direct federal agencies like FEMA to coordinate with others such as SBA and HUD to streamline relief efforts while ensuring transparency by publishing information about disaster assistance online.

"First and foremost, we must do a better job of helping our fellow Americans who have been devastated by flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and other natural disasters that leave behind billions of dollars in damages," said Congressman Rogers.

Additionally, another key piece of legislation passed was aimed at reinforcing economic relations with Taiwan through tax benefits under what could become a tax treaty-like agreement with one of America's largest trading partners without a formal tax treaty.

Taiwan supports $1.5 billion in U.S exports annually which contribute significantly to American jobs according to data from 2019 provided by House Ways & Means Committee.

For more details about Congressman Rogers' activities both nationally & locally visit halrogers.house.gov or follow him on social media platforms.