U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today released the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielson, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a joint statement proposing streamlining, simplifying, and improving the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program: “This is welcome news and long overdue. For years, our farmers here in Southwest Michigan have struggled with this cu... Read more

Why a fix for DACA is imperative By U.S. Rep. Fred Upton December 4, 2017 Herald Palladium Over the last number of months there has been a deluge of interest in a small but important immigration program called DACA. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and is a policy that allows a number of individuals – approximately 800,000 across the country and thousands here in Michigan – who entered our country as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from depo... Read more

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would withdraw its controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that would regulate ditches and standing water in farmers’ low-lying fields as federally regulated waterways: “This is a big win for farmers and rural communities here in Southwest Michigan. I have joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle here in Congress on several different occasi... Read more

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today released the following photo and statement after meeting with a group of Southwest Michigan farmers in his Washington, D.C., office. “Today’s meeting was productive and informative. Farmers are the backbone of our Southwest Michigan economy and we discussed ways we can work together to improve their economic outlook and provide much-needed certainty so they can plan for the future. We also had a frank and open talk about our broken immigration system and... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today released the following statement upon House passage of S.J. Res. 22 – Congressional Disapproval of the “Waters of the United States” Rule, which would nullify the controversial EPA rule that would regulate ditches and standing water in farmers’ low-lying fields as federally regulated waterways. “The ‘WOTUS’ Rule is out-of-touch, ill-advised government overreach and would spell disaster for our agriculture communities in Southwest Mic... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today joined the majority of his House colleagues in voting to advance S. 611, the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act. “This bipartisan bill is a big win for our smaller and more rural communities throughout Southwest Michigan,” said Upton. “These communities often face real challenges trying to comply with federal safe drinking water regulations, and this bill will help level the playing field. As a result, ... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today released the following statement after the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a nationwide stay to block the Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) enforcement of its final Waters of the United State (WOTUS) rule. “I applaud the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision today that, for the moment, protects states from the implementation of the EPA’s final WOTUS rule,” Upton said. “We all want clean water, but this ill-advised g... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, released the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Upton, voted to advance H.R. 212, the Drinking Water Protection Act. The bipartisan bill would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and submit a strategic plan to Congress within 90 days of enactment for assessing and managing the risk associated with harmful algal toxins in drinking water.... Read more

The current U.S. immigration system is broken and failing millions, said U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who yesterday brought together local leaders for an immigration roundtable discussion at Southwest Michigan First in downtown Kalamazoo. Joining Upton was U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., who is the cofounder and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over the past two years, Upton and Diaz-Balart have been leading a bi... Read more

Upton: “In a time of partisan politics, the Energy and Commerce Committee has been able to rise above and get the job done, working together to make a difference for countless families here in Michigan and across the country.” Read more