Summer always sneaks up on you, doesn't it? One minute the kids are finishing up their last day of school, and the next you're juggling camp drop-offs, trying to squeeze in a family vacation, and filling every free weekend with a lake day or somebody's wedding. We're all trying to fit it all in before summer slips away and autumn rolls back around.

Being in Congress feels a lot the same way this time of year. Before my colleagues and I packed up and headed home to our districts for our summer work period, we had a full plate in front of us, and we got it all done in a single week. Here's what we did before we hit the road.

First up, House Republicans passed a clean Continuing Resolution that keeps the government funded through December.

The Left was once again gearing up to shut down the government — choosing political theater over the American people. A shutdown is costly for hardworking Hoosiers, plain and simple, and I'll always fight to make sure essential federal programs stay funded for families in my district.

While we kept the lights on at home, we also made sure our military stays the most lethal fighting force in the world. That's why I voted for the FY27 NDAA to advance President Trump's peace-through-strength agenda, support our service members, strengthen deterrence, and maximize the Arsenal of Freedom. Below, I discuss the contrast between Republicans supporting our troops with a 5-7 percent pay raise and the Democrats who refused to.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cksP6ts2heI

We didn't stop there. House Republicans also passed the Budget Resolution for Reconciliation 3.0 — the SAVE and Protect America Act — putting us on a path to two crucial goals: securing American elections and strengthening our homeland with supplemental funding for national defense and our food supply.

This is our best shot at enacting as much of the SAVE America Act into law as possible, which is a priority of mine and of the Hoosiers I represent.

And to close out the week, I voted to ban congressional stock trading with passage of the Stop Insider Trading Act.

When Hoosiers sent me to Congress, I promised I'd never use this seat to line my own pockets, and I've kept that promise every day since. This bill is common sense: it restores trust in Congress and makes clear no lawmaker should ever profit from information they get on the job. I spoke with the author of the bill, Rep. Steil, about it after it passed. WATCH below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDAkSizNnXc

Before heading home for the summer, there was one more matter I had to address — the rash of violence against law enforcement in Northwest Indiana that I spoke about on the House floor this week. Three officers have been shot in the line of duty in the past two months.

I am grateful all three survived. But survival is not safety, and three shootings in two months cannot be ignored or normalized. It must be a wake-up call. Watch my floor speech HERE: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBS3Y8eBt_U

Yakym Votes to Ban Congressional Stock Trading

Yakym on the SAFE Drug Act: Patient Safety Over Profit

Yakym Testifies Before ITC on Hardwood and Plywood Investigation

Again, it is an honor to serve you. Your insights are critical to me as I work to solve the challenges facing our country and advance commonsense, Hoosier values in our nation’s capital. 

If you would like to receive regular updates on important policy issues and know how I am fighting for the Second District, please follow my Facebook page, X page, Instagram page, YouTube, and Truth Social or visit my website and sign up for my e-newsletter.

Your Friend and Fellow Hoosier: 

Rudy Yakym