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Three For Three: Moolenaar Meets With Trump on Air Force One, Delivers More Michigan Priorities

January 30, 2020

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar, along with Congressman Jack Bergman, Congressman Bill Huizenga, Congressman Paul Mitchell, and Congressman Tim Walberg, met with President Donald Trump on Air Force One.

Moolenaar and his colleagues traveled with the president to Dana Inc. in Warren to celebrate the passage of the USMCA trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. The agreement is widely supported and it will benefit Michigan agriculture and manufacturing. Congressman Moolenaar praised the agreement in a statement yesterday.

On Air Force One, Moolenaar and the Michigan delegation advocated for the president to support additional initiatives that will benefit Michigan.

Following the meeting, President Trump announced in his speech at Dana Inc.:

- Support for the Iraqi-Christian community in Michigan, which has been targeted by ICE policies. President Trump said the administration will "give those who need it an extension to stay in our country." This bipartisan concern has been a key priority for Congressman Moolenaar and he has been working across the aisle to prevent Iraqi Christians in Michigan from being deported to Iraq where they would face religious persecution.

- Support for stopping Asian carp and invasive species from entering the Great Lakes.

- Support for moving an F-35 base to Selfridge Air Force Base. Congressman Moolenaar supported this in a letter with his colleagues late last year.

- Reiterated his support for the Soo Locks. Last month, Trump signed legislation from Congressman Moolenaar's committee funding the construction of a new lock. This was the first funding for new Soo Lock construction to be appropriated by Congress in decades.

"President Trump kept his promise to get a better trade deal with Mexico and Canada and he delivered. I met with him on Air Force One today, and he is committed to delivering on more priorities for our state," said Congressman Moolenaar. "He understands how important it is to fund the GLRI and stop invasive species from entering the Great Lakes. Most importantly, he wants to make sure the strong economy continues to grow with more jobs and higher wages for Michigan workers."

"I am also pleased that President Trump committed to extend relief for Iraqi Christians in Michigan and across the nation," continued Moolenaar. "As we have seen in recent weeks, it is not safe for Christians to go to Iraq. The Chaldean community in Michigan has done so much for our state and they deserve fairness from the legal system. Today's announcement by President Trump is a major step in the right direction."

In two previous meetings with President Trump in Michigan, Moolenaar and his colleagues successfully advocated for key Michigan priorities. In 2019, they advocated for Trump to support full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and in 2018 they convinced him to put his support behind building a new lock at the Soo Locks. Since then, construction plans for the lock have moved forward after decades of inaction by others in Washington.

Following today's meeting on Air Force One, Moolenaar and his Michigan Republican colleagues are three-for-three in advocating for Michigan priorities in their meetings with President Trump.