Cole on Congress with guest Rep. John Moolenaar

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) recently filmed an episode of his television and web show, Cole on Congress for May 2017. This month's program featured an interview with Congressman John Moolenaar, who represents the Fourth District of Michigan. Elected in 2014, Congressman Moolenaar brings an extensive background of public service in the state legislature of Michigan and as a leader in the private sector. He currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is a member of Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies appropriations subcommittee of which Congressman Cole chairs.

 

Before being elected to the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, Moolenaar spent time as a chemist and business development director. He reflected on the job of being a public servant:

 

"I think serving in local government, those are the toughest jobs because you're talking with your neighbors, the people you're going to church with, and working on resolving concerns in your community."

 

As members of the House Appropriations Committee, Moolenaar and Cole hold the responsibility to create legislation funding the federal government. On serving on that committee, Moolenaar states:

 

"The idea of working on the Appropriations Committee, where you're helping set the priorities, oversee different agencies of the Executive Branch - we have a $20 trillion debt as you know – so I want to be a part of a team that works to help make our country fiscally stable for future generations, and I felt that was a good place to contribute."

 

Together on the Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies appropriations subcommittee, Moolenaar and Cole have worked to help fund the nation's largest medical institutions, including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Both of these institutions are home to critical medical research programs.

 

"We want to make sure that this research continues and is ongoing, because as a Republican, I would argue that one of the core functions when it comes to government spending on things like research, you want to make sure the investment has the broadest possible application, instead of trying to pick some winner in the market. You want to invest in research that has broad application."

 

Moolenaar serves the northern and central parts of Michigan, where agriculture is one of the leading industries.

 

"When I look at agriculture, I see a high growth area using incredible technology and innovation. You can't believe until you see it – some of the devices and technology being used, GPS, you name it. It's all so much a part of agriculture now. It's a global business."

 

To watch the full show of Congressman Cole's conversation with Congressman Moolenaar, please click here.