First 100 days: U.S. Rep. Max Miller reflects on first months in Congress
WOOSTER − With his first 100 days behind him, U.S. Rep. Max Miller is proud of what he has accomplished.
A native of Rocky River, a suburb of Cleveland, Miller represents a region he calls home. He won his District 7 congressional seat in Ohio last November when he defeated Democrat Matthew Diemer.
As April comes to a close, Miller reflects on his first months in office representing portions of Cuyahoga and Holmes counties and all of Medina and Wayne counties.
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"We passed legislation and we've managed nearly 89 claims from constituents, providing most of them favorable outcomes," Miller said. "From the very start, my staff was ready to go."
Miller touts more than 40 pieces of legislation he co-sponsored or directly sponsored and says his time on multiple committees is gearing up to support those he represents.
Committee assignments
Miller serves on a Republican steering committee that helps determine which committees other members represent.
"It was such an honor to be selected as a freshman to lead Ohio Republicans," he said.
Miler campaigned on a platform of energy independence and agricultural advocacy, so his agriculture and science committee assignments make sense, he said.
As Ohio's 7th District represents portions of Cleveland and its energy sector and the largely rural farming counties of Medina, Wayne and a sliver of Holmes, he aims to represent all of his constituents, he said.
"It doesn't matter what party you are or where you live," Miller said. "I was elected to represent the people."
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During his time on the Agriculture Committee and two of its subcommittees, he helped establish an advisory council, which includes a slew of local farmers and agricultural leaders from the district.
"It's full of experts who help us do our jobs better," he said. "We need to help them with fluctuating prices and navigate regulations. Food security is national security."
As a member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and three of its subcommittees, Miller has sponsored the Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act.
This bill aims to gather data and develop systems to better predict severe weather that could cause natural disasters, he explained.
Co-sponsoring 40 pieces of legislation
Among the 40 pieces of legislation Miller co-sponsored are bills that aim to boost the workforce in the aviation sector and the America Works Act of 2023, which would change SNAP benefit work requirements.
Other bills include H.R. 1563, which would prohibit taxpayer money from funding the United Nations Human Rights Council, and H.R. 1270, which aims to compensate victims of the East Palestine train derailment.
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Among the bills he is proud to have supported, he singled out two — the Parents Bill of Rights Act and the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
The Parents Bill of Rights Act is a "transparency act," Miller said.
"Parents will get notified of changes in schools, including if a male is using a female restroom," he said. "They will know about the books in their library."
The legislation comes amid a wave of conservative backlash over books in schools and libraries that discuss topics ranging from puberty and reproductive learning to sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would ban transgender women and girls from participating in sports programs for women, according to the bill.
The bill stipulates it would make it a violation of Title IX for federally funded education programs to allow individuals born as male to participate in programs designated for women and girls.
The legislation comes as numerous states are passing similar laws banning transgender students from participating on sports teams that align with their gender identity as the GOP continues to champion "culture war" issues, USA Today reported.
Grueling 15 votes for speakership
As an aid to former President Donald Trump, Miller is not unfamiliar with the politics of Washington, D.C. He knew the 118th Congress would be contentious following a less-than-stellar Republican mid-term election last fall.
The election saw Republicans win a narrow majority in the House of Representatives by a margin of nine.
When it came time to elect a new leader for the majority party, conservatives largely supported Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, including Miller, but a number held out, preventing a speaker from being chosen.
While McCarthy eventually won the speakership after 15 votes, it came at the cost of conceding power to a cadre of 20 hard-right conservatives, according to an article by USA Today.
Miller told Spectrum News that he was confident in the rules Republicans adopted to get McCarthy as House majority leader. One change lowered the threshold of votes required to remove the speaker and elect a new one, effectively replacing the majority leader.
Miller told Spectrum News that this could be abused by both parties to derail sessions.
Throughout the 15 votes, Miller consistently voted for McCarthy, according to congressional roll call records.
Miller on hot-button issues
TikTok
The freshman representative weighed in on national issues ranging from TikTok to gun control.
For Miller, the social media app that took the U.S. by storm amid the COVID-19 pandemic seems harmless enough at first glance, but, he said, it could prove to be a national security threat.
"TikTok has access to all sorts of data in phones from contacts to location," he said. "It should be gone."
Despite his opinion on the matter, Miller said, the real question will be whether Congress has the authority to ban the app nationwide.
"Funny enough, it is one of the few issues that have brought the two parties together," he said.
Gun control
Coming off the heels of the Nashville school shooting that saw a 28-year-old kill three adults in early April, Miller said stricter gun regulations would hurt more people than they would help.
Those who want to own a firearm, he said, will always find a way around regulations.
"This isn't a gun issue," Miller said. "This is a mental health issue, and we need to support, be better about speaking up and opening up access for those who need help."
Miller supports armed school resource officers in every school.
"As a former member of the Marines, I know how effective it can be knowing someone is waiting with a gun," he said.
Looking to the future
Although his first 100 days are over, Miller said, there is much to do.
"I'm still fighting for what I campaigned on," he said.
This means passing bills that support the fossil fuel industry while minimizing environmental regulations such as in the Lower Energy Costs Act and blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from preventing the sale of combustible gas engines.
It also means continuing to connect with his constituents.
Miller said he makes an effort to return home every weekend to visit his family. During those visits, he tries to make himself visible.
With two offices in District 7, one in Medina and another in Cuyahoga County, he hopes to establish a third site in Wooster.
"We were hoping to have our primary office (in Wooster), but there were no sites suitable at the time," he said.
In the meantime, Miller is hosting public forums every couple of months, rotating between the four counties he represents.
To learn more about the legislation Miler has supported, visit his Congress profile online. To contact Miller, visit his website.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: U.S. Rep Max Miller reflects on first 100 days in Congress
