WATCH: Subcommittee Chairman @RepAnnWagner delivers opening remarks at today's hearing:
"Whether saving for a child’s tuition, a first home, or retirement, Americans deserve investment opportunities that fit their unique circumstances and provide steady, long-term returns. We’re not here today to pick winners and losers. Our goal is to understand what these trends mean for retail investors and retirement savers.”
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I spoke on the House Floor urging my colleagues to support my Financial Exploitation Prevention Act.
Seniors and retirees across our country work their entire lives to save for their future, and they depend on their savings to pay the bills, keep the lights on, and put food on the table.
According to the FTC, fraud perpetrated against those over the age of sixty increased by nearly four hundred percent between 2020 and 2024.
This is a devastating crisis, and my bill provides a crucial layer of defense that can prevent seniors from losing their life savings.
Watch my full speech here.
My overwhelmingly bipartisan INVEST Act will fix the accredited investor definition so Americans have more options to save for their future.
We need to get INVEST across the finish line in the Senate so the President can sign it into law and more Americans can take control of their retirement and access commonsense, high-growth investment opportunities.
I think it’s time to revisit the accredited investor laws in the US.
Companies are staying private longer, where only accredited investors (aka rich people!) can invest. Retail investors can only come in after IPO, when much of the upside has already been captured.
These rules were created with the best of intentions, to protect regular people from scams - a noble idea. Unfortunately, in practice they've often made it illegal to get richer, unless you're already rich. A regressive tax!
We have to judge policies based on their outcomes, not on their intentions.
These are two possible routes I see:
1) Replace the rule with something merit-based, like a financial literacy test. Pass it and you're accredited. Having a qualification based on competency rather than your bank balance or income seems far more fair.
2) Remove the rule entirely. Let consenting adults assess their own risk. Disclosure requirements stay and fraud enforcement stays to punish bad actors.
Jay Clayton is a deeply respected leader and a man of integrity.
I have worked with him when he was Chair of the SEC and I have seen first-hand his patriotism and professionalism.
As a leader on the House Intelligence Committee, I have full confidence he will capably serve our intel community and keep our nation safe in this critical role.
It was a pleasure to meet with Principia student Marina Benson and congratulate her for being awarded the Congressional Award Gold Medal. The Congressional Award recognizes outstanding students who have achieved excellence in community service, personal development, expedition, and physical fitness.
Congratulations Marina! This is a huge testament to your hard work and dedication to achieving your goals. To learn more about the Congressional Award, click here.
https://t.co/4npvofaDUk
How it started → How it’s going
Progress continues on our St. Louis expansion — building the most advanced, all-digital aerospace design and manufacturing system.
➡️~ $2B invested
🦾 25,000+ tons of U.S. steel • 1M+ sq. ft
🔒 Largest secure manufacturing facility in the U.S.
I was pleased to join my good friend Rex Sinquefield and the Saint Louis Chess Club for a bipartisan Congressional Chess Tournament hosted with Senator Eric Schmitt and Congressman Wesley Bell.
The St. Louis Chess Club is truly a world leader, and I always enjoy seeing what Rex has built to support St. Louis as the chess capital of the world.
It was incredible to watch such young students --including 9-year-old Teddy! – really show us all how it’s done. Our next generation is incredibly smart and the future is bright.
It was great to meet with Bunge to discuss the future of American agriculture, expanding markets for Missouri farmers, and strengthening domestic biofuel production.
Bunge is an international agribusiness company headquartered right here in St. Louis County, employing thousands of our friends and neighbors to advance American agriculture.
I remain committed to supporting policies like year-round E-15 that lower costs, increase energy security, and create more demand for rural producers.
It was great running into my good friend Congressman Andy Barr and one of his constituents, Jenna Cassady, Chief Policy Officer for the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs.
We talked about the importance of getting my Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act passed in the Senate.
This is truly a nationwide effort to help victims, and I appreciate all they are doing to help us make this happen.
Next year marks the 100th Anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis flight, the first non-stop transatlantic flight in history. I had the pleasure of meeting with Charles Lindbergh’s grandson, Erik, who was in Washington, D.C. to prepare for next year’s anniversary of this historic flight.