I recently attended the Indiana Global Economic Summit, where guests from around the world saw the benefits of doing business in Indiana. Thank you to Eli Lilly for announcing at the Summit an additional investment in the Hoosier state that aligns with our Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub.

I also participated in a fireside chat on the importance of ensuring the U.S. maintains our lead in AI innovation.

Finally, I visited with delegations from Japan, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the EU to build upon their already strong relationships and partnerships with Hoosiers.

Supporting Our Military Applicants

I recently introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) that would enable the Department of Defense to reimburse military applicants for certain civilian medical copays associated with the application process. The Applicant Medical Reimbursement Act would authorize the Department of Defense to reimburse applicants for co-pays up to $100 for visits to civilian medical providers seen as part of the military application process.

When enlisting to serve our country in uniform, many applicants are forced to choose between paying for certain required medical appointments out-of-pocket, which can result in long wait times, or ending their enlistment process. Our bill would address current gaps in coverage and better ensure that those who desire to serve our country are not hindered or prohibited by medical costs.

When Americans answer the call to serve, they shouldn’t face prohibitive costs. Read more about this bill here.

I appreciated a briefing from Vince Wong, new President and CEO of BioCrossroads, about the organization's work to support Indiana’s life sciences ecosystem. Life sciences firms employ more than 60,000 Hoosiers.

Read more about BioCrossroads here.

I have always been a strong supporter and defender of the Second Amendment, and I am committed to protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Hoosiers. The Biden Administration recently proposed a rule that violates the Constitution by attempting to require anyone who sells a firearm to register as a federal firearm licensee. American citizens have the right to engage in lawful firearms transactions without unconstitutional hurdles imposed by federal bureaucrats. I am committed to fighting this rule and protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Hoosiers.

Read more here.

I joined with Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) to introduce a bipartisan package of bills focused on protecting America’s food security and agricultural supply chains, which are critical to U.S. national security.

I introduced the Synthetic Biology Advancement Act, which would accelerate innovation in food and agriculture by establishing a National Synthetic Biology Center. I also introduced the Biotechnology Oversight Coordination Act, which would streamline the federal government’s efforts on biotechnology and respond to calls for regulatory efficiency and clarity.

Senator Padilla introduced the Agriculture and National Security Act, which would help identify and mitigate threats to food and agriculture, focusing on emerging technologies and establishing a Senior Advisor for National Security within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Padilla also introduced the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act, which would establish the USDA Office of Biotechnology Policy to develop and coordinate department policies on biotechnology and biomanufacturing and prevent duplicative federal efforts.

Senator Padilla and I both serve as commissioners on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, and all four bills were endorsed by the commission.

Read more about these bills here.

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AEI: Charting a Bipartisan Course: The Senate’s Roadmap for AI Policy

Thank you for the continued privilege to serve you in the U.S. Senate. My mission is to fight on behalf of Hoosiers and the interests that are unique to our state. I look forward to working with you, and sharing our progress, in the days ahead. 

In Service,