Jack Bergman

As the House wrapped up its final legislative week before the August district work period, we remained focused on delivering real results for the American people and keeping our promises.

This week, I was proud to help pass three major pieces of legislation that strengthen our nation and put America first.

First, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. Ensuring our military remains the strongest and most capable fighting force in the world is one of my highest priorities. This year’s NDAA provides our servicemembers with a well-earned pay raise, expands access to education and childcare for military families, strengthens our national defense, and continues investing in the readiness our military needs to deter our adversaries.

I also proudly voted for the Stop Insider Trading Act, a bill I helped introduce, which prohibits members of Congress from buying individual stocks. The American people deserve to know their elected officials are serving the public interest – not their own financial interests. This legislation is an important step toward restoring trust and accountability in Washington.

Finally, the House passed Reconciliation 3.0 – a monumental legislative package that invests in our military, delivers additional support for American farmers, strengthens election integrity, and ensures taxpayer dollars are spent on our Nation’s highest priorities instead of Washington’s wasteful bureaucracy.

While we’re making progress in Washington, my favorite part of this job is always being back home in the District.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend Military Appreciation Night with the Traverse City Pit Spitters, honoring the brave men and women who have worn our Nation’s uniform. It was great to spend Independence Day seeing so many of you from Iron Mountain and Kingsford, to Marquette, and back at home in Watersmeet.

I also had the privilege of visiting Northwestern Michigan College as it celebrated its 75th anniversary. For generations, NMC has prepared students for successful careers while strengthening our regional workforce. I was proud to present the college with a Congressional Record recognizing this important milestone and its lasting impact on Northern Michigan.

I’m excited to be back in the U.P. this weekend and look forward to another great week of meeting with constituents from corner to corner of the District.

One of the most important responsibilities of a congressional office is helping constituents cut through Washington’s red tape. Whether it’s assisting a Veteran with earned benefits, helping a senior navigate Social Security or Medicare, working with the VA, or resolving issues with another federal agency, serving the people of the First District is always our top priority.

I’m incredibly proud of our staff and the work they do every day on behalf of the people we serve. This year alone, our office has helped recover a historic $38 million for constituents across northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. While no dollar amount can measure the value of helping a Veteran receive earned benefits or assisting a family during a difficult time, I am grateful that our office can make a real difference for the people we represent.

If you ever need assistance with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to contact one of my offices. It is an honor to serve you, and my team and I stand ready to help however we can.

LEGISLATIVE CORNER

House Passes Reconciliation 3.0

The House Budget committee, a committee Congressman Bergman sits on, marked up and passed a Budget Resolution for Reconciliation 3.0 also known as the Save and Protect America Act.

The House as a whole then passed the Budget Resolution on Wednesday July 22. One of the highlights of Rec 3.0 is the attachment of Save America Act instructions, allowing for states to fortify the security of their elections. Common sense instructions that almost all Americans support. 83 percent of Americans support requiring photo ID to vote, according to an August 2025 Pew Research poll. This legislation doesn’t make it harder for eligible Americans to vote; it prevents ineligible individuals from influencing decisions only Americans should make.

The Rec 3.0 bill also addressed our farmers. House Republicans are acting to provide the American agricultural sector with what it needs most: certainty. Democrats have obstructed any meaningful agriculture legislation by refusing to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the SNAP component. While we passed OBBBA, which put forth the most significant reference price increase since 2014 (by 10-20 percent depending on the commodity) and boosted crop insurance (largest overhaul since 2000), those effects will not hit the books until the fall of 2026 and beyond. Therefore, additional resources to bridge that gap are needed in the interim. Farm security is national security, so we need to continue to provide the necessary resources to our farmers, ranchers, and producers across the country.

Bergman, Escobar introduces bipartisan VA Home Loan Navigator Act

Bergman and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, introduced the VA Home Loan Navigator Act, bipartisan legislation to help Veterans access and fully utilize their VA home loan benefits by providing free, independent guidance and counseling throughout the process.

The VA home loan program is one of the most valuable benefits available to Veterans, helping them and their families achieve the dream of homeownership. Unlike many other VA benefits, however, the program lacks a structured network of accredited representatives to help Veterans navigate the process from beginning to end. Fewer than 15 percent of eligible Veterans use the benefit, while others encounter confusion, misinformation, and housing-related scams when seeking to purchase, refinance, or remain in their homes.

The VA Home Loan Navigator Act would establish a voluntary borrower-support program within the Department of Veterans Affairs, connecting Veterans with qualified housing counselors who can provide free guidance throughout the VA home loan process.

Bergman, Panetta, Bacon, Harder, Bresnahan, Neguse introduce the bipartisan Support Our Firefighters Act

Bergman, joined by Congressmen Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat from California, Don Bacon, Josh Harder (D-CA-09), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08), and Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), introduced the bipartisan Support Our Firefighters Act to ensure federal wildland firefighters are fully compensated for their service and receive adequate time to recover after extended deployments.

Federal wildland firefighters are currently subject to an annual compensation cap encompassing base salary, overtime, and premium pay. During peak fire season, these firefighters often work extensive hours responding to major incidents, only to reach the cap and continue protecting lives, property, and communities without receiving full compensation. This arbitrary limit contributes to persistent recruitment and retention challenges across the federal wildland firefighting workforce.

The Support Our Firefighters Act would permanently waive the compensation cap for federal wildland firefighters, ensuring they are paid for all hours worked. The legislation would also provide three days of paid rest and recuperation leave following a 14-day assignment and four days following a 21-day assignment.

Bergman leads letter seeking transparency on NIJ body armor compliance standards

Bergman led a letter to the National Institute of Justice’s Acting Director, Jennifer Scherer, requesting additional insight into the NIJ body armor compliance standards. American manufacturers have faced protracted delays from the NIJ due to staffing shortages, while foreign competitors have seemingly been approved at a much faster rate. The letter seeks additional information on staffing, current procedures, and any legislative changes needed to ensure American businesses are not inadvertently placed at a competitive disadvantage.

Bergman, Costa lead bipartisan letter supporting American specialty crop producers

Congressman Jack Bergman (R-MI-01) co-led a letter with Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA-21) to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, urging the Department to strengthen and expand USDA food purchase programs and procurement capabilities for American-grown specialty crops.

With the support of over fifty Members and the American Farm Bureau, this letter advocates for expanding access to nutritious fruits, vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, and minimally processed specialty crop products for families served by food banks, school meals, emergency feeding programs, and other nutrition assistance channels. The letter also encourages USDA to increase funding and flexibility under Section 32, the Commodity Credit Corporation, and related procurement authorities so the Department can better respond to market disruptions, oversupply, and emergency need.