Brett Guthrie
REarlier today, Team Guthrie attended the swearing-in ceremony for Butler County native Dillon Bryant as he officially became the USDA Rural Development Deputy State Director for Kentucky! I have enjoyed working with Dillon on various issues in the past, and I am excited to continue working with him to advocate for Kentucky farmers and rural communities.
BOWLING GREEN, KY – The deadline for high school students interested in applying for a Congressional nomination to one of our nation’s U.S. service academies through the Office of Congressman Brett Guthrie is one month from today – November 12, 2026. All application materials must be turned in or postmarked by November 12, 2026. Applications must be submitted to Congressman Guthrie’s District Office, located at 996 Wilkinson Trace, Suite B2, Bowling Green, KY 42103. Choosing to attend a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve our great country in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. In addition to the unmatched opportunity to achieve the highest goals and standards in service, students receive a competitive, high-quality education. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Marine academies are all excellent institutions for higher education and training. Additional information about the application process through Congressman Guthrie’s office can be found HERE. Students interested in applying for a Congressional nomination, you must fill out this form. After you complete the Academy Application, you must turn in the following items: Completed application form Personal and brief letter from you to Congressman Guthrie stating why you want to attend an academy Minimum of 3 evaluation forms required from the following sources: High School Counselor or Principal High School Teacher Supervisor of an extra-curricular activity in or outside school Note: the evaluation form can be found on the Academy Application. Please use this form rather than submitting a letter of recommendation. Current photograph List of extra-curricular activities inside or outside school (please specify any honors, awards, and leadership positions) Official transcript of grades through junior year Official rank in class to include total number in class Please have your guidance counselor contact Congressman Guthrie’s office at 270-842-9896 if your school does not use a class ranking system.
I enjoyed having the opportunity to tour the Robert E. Spiller Veterans Center in Bowling Green ahead of its recent ribbon-cutting. This newly opened skilled nursing facility will provide access to a variety of care to help our Kentucky veterans age gracefully. Excited to see this center support our veterans well into the future.
Three years ago today, one of America's closest allies, Israel, was attacked by Hamas terrorists, resulting in the death of nearly 1,200 innocent civilians, including infants and children, and hundreds more taken hostage. Our hearts will forever remain with the victims’ families and individuals impacted by this tragedy.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led in filing an amicus brief on behalf of 12 Members of Congress in support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and other states’ request that the Supreme Court of the United States hear an appeal in a significant Clean Air Act case, Commonwealth of Kentucky, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al. Petitioning states argue that the Biden-Harris Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 2024 without conducting the “thorough review” required by the Clean Air Act. These revised standards, imposed by the Biden-Harris EPA, will restrict the construction of new American manufacturing plants and energy projects, as well as improvements at existing sites, in many parts of the country. “For four years, the Biden-Harris Administration imposed countless burdensome environmental regulations that handcuffed American industries and made everyday life more expensive,” said Congressman Guthrie. “I am proud to lead my colleagues in filing this amicus brief in support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s lawsuit to vacate the Biden-Harris Administration’s PM2.5 NAAQS finalized rule, arguing that the revised NAAQS was adopted on an incomplete scientific record and without the required thorough review. If implemented, this rule would devastate American manufacturing and energy and stifle American innovation. I am hopeful the Supreme Court will grant the petitioning states a Writ of Certiorari and that the petitioning states will ultimately prevail in court.” The full text of the amicus brief can be viewed HERE. The amicus brief is supported by Reps. Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Rick Allen (GA-12), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Andy Barr (KY-06), Julie Fedorchak (ND-AL), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Erin Houchin (IN-09), Nick Langworthy (NY-22), August Pfluger (TX-11), Hal Rogers (KY-05), and Randy Weber (TX-14). Background: In 2020, the Trump Administration EPA finalized a rule for the PM2.5 NAAQS under the Clean Air Act, which was conducted as part of the standard 5-year review required under the Act and kept the standard at 12 micrograms/cubic meter. In 2024, the Biden-Harris EPA revised the Trump Administration’s EPA ruling, lowering the PM2.5 standard to 9 micrograms/cubic meter. Throughout the 119th Congress, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce has held multiple hearings and taken action on legislation to ensure the Clean Air Act continues protecting human health and the environment and without stopping economic development and growth. During this work, the Committee has found that the Biden Administration’s new NAAQS standards are very close to background levels and will make it very difficult to build and permit new facilities. While the Clean Air Act allows the EPA to reconsider a NAAQS outside of the normal 5-year review cycle, the Biden-Harris Administration EPA did not follow the required process of conducting a “thorough review” of the science before establishing a new NAAQS under the Clean Air Act. Kentucky, and other petitioning states, sued the EPA, along with several industry groups, in 2024. The Trump Administration EPA tried to have the Biden-Harris NAAQS vacated, but in a June 2026 decision, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied EPA’s motion to vacate the 2024 NAAQS and upheld the Biden-Harris Administration’s burdensome mandates. Petitioning states are requesting that the Supreme Court rule on the following questions: Whether the Clean Air Act gives EPA the authority to revise NAAQS without conducting a thorough review merely because the revision occurs before the normal, five-year review. Whether the Clean Air Act bars EPA from considering the costs and feasibility of revising NAAQS when deciding whether to exercise its discretion to undertake a revision before the normal, five-year review.
I was proud to lead my colleagues in filing an amicus brief in support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s lawsuit to vacate the Biden-Harris Administration’s PM2.5 NAAQS finalized rule on Friday. If implemented, this rule would devastate American manufacturing and energy, and stifle American innovation. I am hopeful the Supreme Court will grant the petitioning states a Writ of Certiorari and that the petitioning states will ultimately prevail in court. https://t.co/qmJgnC30NO
MUHLENBERG & GRAYSON COUNTIES, KY – Congressman Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement celebrating the Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) announcement that Muhlenberg Community Hospital and Owensboro Twin Lakes Medical Center were each awarded $187,569 in federal grant funding as a part of the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program (RHPA). “Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to provide meaningful solutions to provide high-quality health care that is accessible to all Americans, especially those in our rural communities,” said Congressman Guthrie. “I am glad to see two Kentucky hospitals be awarded federal grants to support our rural health workforce, and I look forward to seeing these funds improve access to care and health outcomes for Kentucky families.” “Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital and Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center appreciate the recent funding through HRSA’s Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program. The funding comes in a challenging time for rural hospitals and will be used to help retain access and physicians in these important communities. We are grateful for the awards and the efforts by Congressman Guthrie to help maintain essential hospital services in our rural communities,” said Owensboro Health President and CEO, Mark Marsh. Background: The RHPA provides direct financial assistance to qualifying rural hospitals to maintain their workforce and essential hospital services. Funding for the RHPA was secured as a part of H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which passed the House of Representatives on February 3, 2026, with the support of Congressman Guthrie.
Every dollar stolen from Medicare and Medicaid is a dollar taken from the seniors, children, pregnant women, and Americans with disabilities these programs were created to serve. Today, @HouseCommerce released our 84-page report detailing the pervasive fraud in our federal programs and detailing commonsense reforms to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid and Medicare. https://t.co/dppIJ3LzHm
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, chaired by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), through the work of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), released a Majority Staff Report detailing how fraud has continued to undermine the integrity of critical taxpayer-funded health care programs. The report also details the disparities in the oversight and enforcement of fraud within state Medicaid programs. The report outlines 13 investigative findings and 37 recommendations to strengthen program integrity and keep fraudsters out of Medicare and Medicaid. “Every dollar stolen from Medicare and Medicaid is a dollar taken from the seniors, children, pregnant women, and Americans with disabilities these programs were created to serve,” said Chairman Guthrie. “That’s why Chairman Joyce and our Committee have made rooting out fraud a top priority. Our findings expose the worst actors, but the accompanying recommendations also lay out commonsense steps to help CMS and the states stop fraud before it happens. We will keep fighting to hold criminals accountable, protect patients, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.” “The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is focused on rooting out fraud that threatens the future of Medicare and Medicaid. These crimes hurt patients and steal from the American taxpayer,” said Chairman Joyce. “We will continue to expose those who exploit the system, hold fraudsters accountable, and advance commonsense recommendations that states can implement. This cannot be solved alone. Protecting the integrity of these programs must be a shared goal, because millions of Americans are counting on us to get it right.” Read the full report here. BACKGROUND: During the investigation, the Committee sent 12 letters, held three Oversight and Investigations hearings, and reviewed more than 100,000 pages of documents. Key findings include: Medicare and Medicaid fraud is occurring nationwide. Some states do not consider fraud trends when setting required Medicaid provider risk levels, and they do not regularly update the risk levels that they set. This alleviates states from conducting more rigorous oversight that they would be required to conduct if the provider was assigned a higher risk level. These actions weaken a key safeguard that can help keep fraudsters out of these programs. States are not using audit and investigative authorities to their fullest potential to prevent Medicaid fraud from occurring. States vary in auditing capacity and are generally not focusing on high-risk providers in their state. Medicare and Medicaid have traditionally relied on the “pay and chase” model instead of stopping fraud before it happens. New efforts by CMS under the Trump Administration are investing in “detect and prevent” strategies to shut down fraudsters before they are paid.
Today, the Commonwealth mourns the loss of Kentucky State Trooper Hayden Phillips. Beth and I are praying for him and his loved ones. Kentuckians will forever be grateful for his sacrifice. https://t.co/J7LsOdknWp
Grateful for the swift work of our Kentucky law enforcement community today. We will forever remember the sacrifice of Trooper Hayden Phillips. May his wife, their three young children, colleagues, and loved ones be in our prayers as they navigate this tremendous loss.
As we await additional information, please join Beth and me in praying for the safety and well-being of the Kentucky State Trooper involved in today's tragic act of violence. If you have information about this vehicle or individual, contact law enforcement immediately.
Take a look at the most recent edition of Brett’s Bulletin for an update about the recent work I’ve been up to on behalf of #KY02! https://t.co/PXPZNZ56ht
Next week, staff from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs will be in Bowling Green and Owensboro hosting events to assist Kentuckians in obtaining or renewing their passport. If you are interested in accessing this service, you can schedule an appointment with their staff here: https://t.co/tjeRjMLSKk
Being located along the Ohio River and its tributaries, Kentucky’s Second District is no stranger to the importance of safe and reliable water infrastructure. The House just passed the Water Resources Development Act to authorize critical water infrastructure projects, flood mitigation, and environmental restoration projects across the country. This includes two projects in #KY02 that will support flood mitigation in Bullitt and Jefferson Counties as well as a project to expedite riverbank stabilization in the City of Brandenburg. Learn more.👇 https://t.co/WsjRNCcfS5
As technology continues to rapidly advance, so too does scammers’ ability to target and defraud Americans, especially our seniors. I am glad to see the GUARD Act, which I was proud to cosponsor, pass the House this week, expanding local and state law enforcement agencies’ access to grant funding to combat fraud, particularly against our seniors. https://t.co/exzrjRNEq6
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2978, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act, by a vote of 414 to 7, to provide state and local law enforcement agencies access to additional funding to protect seniors from fraud schemes. Introduced by Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-02), this bill was cosponsored by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02). “I am glad to see this commonsense legislation advance out of the House of Representatives to protect seniors from fraud with wide bipartisan support,” said Congressman Guthrie. “As technology continues to rapidly advance, so too does scammers’ ability to target and defraud Americans – especially our senior population. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation and am confident it will help our local law enforcement hire additional officers to protect Kentuckians for years to come.” Background: The GUARD Act allows state and local law enforcement to use funding from certain existing federal law enforcement grant programs to facilitate the retention and training of personnel, and other enforcement activities associated with the countering of general financial fraud, elder fraud, and confidence schemes such as relationship scams, phishing, and fraudulent investment offers. This legislation would mandate that local and state agencies utilizing these funds report how they are implementing them and require the issuing federal agency to report annually on how the grants are being utilized. The Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost nearly $16 billion in fraud schemes in 2025, with the actual amount being estimated at over $190 billion, as many of these schemes go unreported by victims. This legislation is supported by various national groups, including the AARP, the National Police Association, and the National Sheriffs' Association.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement after the House passage of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 this week. H.R. 9497 would reauthorize and update the Water Resources Development Act to support water infrastructure projects nationwide, including navigation, flood and storm risk management, and environmental restoration. “Being located along the Ohio River and its tributaries, Kentucky’s Second District is no stranger to the importance of safe and reliable water infrastructure. Today, the House took an important step in securing the next generation of water infrastructure improvements in passing the Water Resources Development Act of 2026,” said Congressman Guthrie. “I am especially proud to report that this legislation includes authorization for two projects within our district, including a modification to a feasibility study for flood mitigation in Bullitt and Jefferson Counties as well as to expedite the completion of riverbank erosion mitigation in the City of Brandenburg. I am glad to see the House take bipartisan action to invest in our water infrastructure, which is essential to the well-being and economic vitality of communities across Kentucky.” Background: WRDA is typically passed every two years, providing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with congressional authorization to conduct studies and carry out support to water infrastructure projects nationwide, including navigation, flood and storm risk management, and environmental restoration. This legislation would authorize 133 new feasibility studies or modifications to existing feasibility studies and 14 projects ready for construction. H.R. 9497 includes the authorization for two projects within Kentucky’s Second District as requested by Congressman Guthrie. Flood mitigation in Bullitt and Jefferson Counties: This project study would expand the ability of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District to collaborate with the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District to better provide adequate protection against increasingly severe storms and floods. Expedited completion of a project related to riverbank stabilization in the City of Brandenburg: This project would provide authorization for the expedited completion of mitigating significant bank erosion along the Ohio River in the City of Brandenburg, which is currently threatening critical infrastructure in the city.
The House just passed @HouseCommerce's Ratepayer Protection Act to prevent ratepayers from being forced to cover the costs of infrastructure upgrades related to data center development. Since the beginning of the 119th Congress, our Committee has led the charge to ensure the United States wins the race for AI while simultaneously safeguarding local interests. This competition will decide who is THE superpower of the next generation – it is that important. Today’s vote is an important milestone in setting the framework to win the race for AI and empower local communities to make decisions that will allow them to develop responsibly. https://t.co/yqEn8oMmP7
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement following the House passage of three Committee-led bills to combat the manufacturing of illicit drugs and to protect Americans from dangerous substances, like fentanyl. “I am glad to see the House take action to pass three House Energy and Commerce bills to build upon our work of combating illicit drugs that have devastated communities across our nation, especially here in Kentucky,” said Congressman Guthrie. “These bipartisan bills will provide law enforcement additional tools to combat the production of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, protect Americans from dangerous substances, increase access to fentanyl testing, and most importantly save lives.” Background: H.R. 1266, Combating Illicit Xylazine Act – This legislation passed the House of Representatives unanimously. If enacted, this bill would place xylazine in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act and amend the definition of “ultimate user” to allow xylazine to continue to be lawfully administered for legitimate veterinary purposes. This bill requires a report to Congress on the prevalence and proliferation of xylazine trafficking and misuse in the United States. H.R. 8005, Stop Pills That Kill Act – This legislation passed the House of Representatives unanimously. If enacted, this bill would seek to prevent the misuse of pill press machines and their critical parts for the illicit manufacture of a controlled substance by strengthening the DEA’s ability to conduct regulatory oversight of pill press machines and their critical parts. H.R. 2004, Tyler’s Law – This legislation passed the House of Representatives unanimously. If enacted, this bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to complete a study and issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), applauded House passage of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, by a vote of 417 to 3. The legislation would require state public utility commissions to consider a strategy to make data centers pay their own way, instead of passing costs onto American consumers. "When done responsibly, data center development leads to longer term investments and broader infrastructure improvements in the communities where they’re built. The Ratepayer Protection Act helps to safeguard these benefits by ensuring that the companies who are building data centers—and not American families and small businesses—are paying for the electricity they use,” said Chairman Guthrie. “U.S. leadership in the race to AI dominance is critical to our economic prosperity and national security, so we need to keep building the needed infrastructure with appropriate accountability measures. I'm grateful to Congressman Evans for his tireless work—on a bipartisan basis—to protect ratepayers while ensuring that America continues to lead the world in innovation." "I am proud to vote for the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, led by Representative Gabe Evans, which will protect ratepayers from increased electricity costs caused by data centers. Across the country, communities are seeing proposals for new data centers that will bring jobs, investment and new technological capabilities, but also raise important questions about how these facilities will affect local electric grids and the nearby communities,” said Chairman Latta. “One question should have a clear answer: American families should not have to pay higher electricity bills so large technology companies can build and operate data centers. I urge the Senate to swiftly consider this legislation and send it to the President’s desk." "Hardworking families should not have to subsidize the energy demands of data centers. America needs the infrastructure to lead the world in AI and outcompete Communist China, but we cannot have that growth at the expense of hardworking families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses,” said Congressman Evans. “My bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act ensures large data centers pay for the infrastructure they require while giving states the flexibility to determine what works best for their communities. I’m incredibly proud to lead the charge on this pivotal issue, ensure our ratepayers are protected, and keep American innovation moving forward." BACKGROUND:
Throughout the 119th Congress, @HouseCommerce has worked to combat the deadly opioid epidemic and stop the spread of illicit drugs. This week, the House passed three of my Committee’s bills to combat the production of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, protect Americans from dangerous substances, increase access to fentanyl testing, and, most importantly, save lives. https://t.co/21eaMAt5yL
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered remarks on the House floor regarding H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act. This legislation would codify President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge and prevent American families from being forced to cover the costs of energy infrastructure upgrades to support data center development. Chairman Guthrie’s remarks on H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, as prepared for delivery. “I rise in support of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, sponsored by my colleague and friend from Colorado, Congressman Evans. “This bill encourages states to protect our neighbors and small businesses from footing the bill for infrastructure investments needed for the AI race, while protecting existing state authorities. "The evidence is clear – when states have the proper processes in place to protect households, interconnecting large load data centers have positive benefits for the communities in which they reside. “Data center growth can be a catalyst for investment in an aging grid, strengthen the tax base to fund essential public services, and anchor tenants for utilities that lower rates for everyone else. "Electricity demand is growing at a pace not seen since World War II, and communities are rightly concerned about what this might mean for their daily lives. “As this industry continues to develop—and I want to be absolutely clear that we need it to develop here at home and not in China—H.R. 9340 takes action on behalf of our constituents so that we can keep costs low while ensuring the U.S. leads in the next generation economy. "If we cede the race to AI dominance to China, then China will set the standards for future technology. This bill strikes the right balance of providing a modest but important level of accountability as we continue to support this vital industry. “I want to thank my friend from Colorado again for his tireless, bipartisan leadership on this issue. He is bringing together both sides of the aisle on a critical issue. “I urge my colleagues to support the legislation and reserve the balance of my time.” More information about the Ratepayer Protection Act can be found HERE.
This week, the House will vote on @HouseCommerce’s Ratepayer Protection Act to codify President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge and prevent Americans from being forced to foot the bill for energy infrastructure upgrades to power data centers. This bill is fundamental to winning the race for AI and protecting local communities and ratepayers.
Great to see Bullitt County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Hernandez Troutman last week to hear about the work she is doing to keep Kentuckians safe, especially our children on the internet. We discussed the importance of the work @HouseCommerce has done in getting the KIDS Act passed on the House floor to enhance parents’ oversight of their children’s online use, require age-verification for adult content, and modernize online privacy protections for children and teens.