Lloyd Smucker legislative activity: August 23, 2025 – September 19, 2025

A snapshot of the dysfunction in the current House of Representatives:
It’s all much ado about nothing. Lloyd Smucker is like so many marginal representatives. He puts his name to just enough legislation to hang his hat on, even when all that legislation does is change terminology without adding benefit. He’ll follow the crowd he’s cast his lot with, rarely deviating from the course they have plotted for him.
He’s no statesman, not even a legislator. He’s a useful vote for Donald Trump, Mike Johnson. And Peter Thiel.

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August 23, 2025 - September 2, 2025: No activity.

September 3, 2025 - Issue: Vol. 171, No. 144. LLOYD SMUCKER honored “the life and service of Lisa Colon” of Lancaster, for her missionary work and good deeds (she had recently died).

September 9, 2025 - Issue: Vol. 171, No. 147. LLOYD SMUCKER honored “75 years of the Lancaster County Conservation District.” Too bad he doesn’t write or vote for legislation that would support their efforts.

H.R.4841 - Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act. To require the Director of the National Cancer Institute to conduct a review of the current state of stomach cancer incidence, prevention, screening, awareness, and future public health importance.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Judy Chu (D-CA). Cosponsored by Joe Wilson (R-SC), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), and Gwen Moore (D-WI). Referred to Energy and Commerce and Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs the same day. Smucker cosponsored on September 10, 2025.
Comment: It’s just what it says. The bill merely asks for a report on the incidence of stomach cancer and the risk factors contributing to its increase.

H.R.5284 - Claiming Age Clarity Act. To require the Social Security Administration to make changes to the social security terminology used in the rules, regulation, guidance, or other materials of the Administration.
Introduced September 10, 2025 by LLOYD SMUCKER (R-PA). Cosponsored by six Republicans and three Democrats. Referred to Ways and Means the same day.
Comment: Since Smucker rarely introduces legislation, my ears perked up.
Unnecessarily. The Social Security Administration would be required to write “minimum monthly benefit age” instead of “early eligibility age.” “Full” or “normal” retirement age would be referred to instead as “standard monthly benefit age.” And “delayed retirement credit” would no longer reply to Americans aged 70+. Instead, “maximum monthly benefit age.” Nothing changes. Just words.
Legislative note: This bill cleared Ways and Means on October 3, 2025. On December 1, 2025 it passed the House under suspension of rules. On December 2, 2025 it was sent to the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

September 10, 2025 - Issue: Vol. 171, No. 148. Another SMH speech, this one celebrating “90 years of Kreider Farms.” I would rather he serve on the House Agriculture Committee and advocate on behalf of farm in south central Pennsylvania!

H.R.5348 - Social Security Child Protection Act of 2025. To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide for the reissuance of social security account numbers to young children in cases where confidentiality has been compromised.
Introduced September 15, 2025 by LLOYD SMUCKER (R-PA). Cosponsored by Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY). Referred to Ways and Means the same day.
Legislative note: This bill cleared Ways and Means on October 3, 2025. On December 1, 2025 it passed the House under suspension of rules. On December 2, 2025 it was sent to the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
Comment: As with H.R.5284, this bill is nothing to write home about. Smucker lo-oves semantics. This bill allows parents of children under the age of 14 to apply for a new Social Security card in case their child’s existing card has been compromised. Since Smucker and his cosponsors included no details, it’s hard to know how their proposal would differ from existing SSA guidance when a child’s Social Security number is stolen. It would be nice if such proposals were required to include a proposed solution.
Since it’s an all-Republican bill under the Trump administration, I remain skeptical.

H.Res.708 - Recognizing the contributions of medical research and observing “Medical Research Week” from September 15 through September 19, 2025.
Introduced September 15, 2025 by André Carson (D-IN). Cosponsored by Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
Comment: Color me shocked that Smucker cosponsored this resolution! John Joyce, our other south central Pennsylvania representative, did not. Joyce claims to support medical issues. Brian Kilpatrick, another Pennsylvania Republican, was the other Republican cosponsoring this resolution.
H.Res.708 specifically voices support for the NIH, so yes, there’s reason for my surprise. Smucker does not tend to support anything that would get him in hot water with Donald Trump.

September 15, 2025 - Issue: Vol. 171, No. 150. Heaven only knows why LLOYD SMUCKER felt compelled to “honor the visit of ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew” on September 15. Seriously, with all the issues facing our country, and he spends precious time on the House floor welcoming “the spiritual leader of more than 300 million Orthodox Christians” – what?

H.R.4895 – Afghan Adjustment Act. To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009.
Introduced August 5, 2025 by Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA). Cosponsored by eleven Democrats and nine Republicans. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary the same day. Smucker cosponsored on September 16, 2025.
Comment: It’s a bipartisan bill to recognize the special status of Afghans who assisted the United States during the Afghan war. Essentially, this bill suggests that the USA keep the promises made to translators, guides, and the like.
This is the House version of S.2679, Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act.
Comment dated December 26, 2025: I wonder if those nine Republicans will withdraw their cosponsorship now that Trump is going after Afghan refugees.

H.Res.719 - Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Cosponsored by 196 Republicans and no Democrats.
Comment: This is the resolution that was passed on September 19, 2025, by a vote of 310 Yea, 58 Nay, and 38 Present. Of course LLOYD SMUCKER and John Joyce voted for it!
I want to highlight something that has not received enough press. Although 215 Republican representatives voted Yea, four did not vote. Those four: Mike Collins (R-GA). Elijah Crane (R-AZ). Eric Crawford (R-AR). Chuck Edwards (R-NC). We should probably watch for their names. They are likely now on the enemies’ list.

H.R.1422 - Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025. To impose sanctions with respect to persons engaged in logistical transactions and sanctions evasion relating to oil, gas, liquefied natural gas, and related petrochemical products from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Introduced February 18, 2025 by Michael Lawler (R-NY). Cosponsored by 162 Republicans and 118 Democrats. LLOYD SMUCKER finally cosponsored it on September 17, 2025. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs the same day. Included in April 9, 2025 markup session and was ordered to be reported (amended) by voice vote.
Comment: As demonstration of how dysfunctional the House is, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held its markup and positive voice vote on April 9, 2025. Guess what? This no-brainer of a bill still has not been voted on.

H.R.5493 - USA Workforce Investment Act. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for charitable donations to nonprofit organizations providing workforce training.
Introduced September 18, 2025 by LLOYD SMUCKER (R-PA). Cosponsored by four Republicans and no Democrats. Referred to Ways and Means the same day.
Comment from September 18, 2025 when this was first noted: Although the bill was introduced on September 18, four days later the text still has not been uploaded. Since it’s a Republican bill, odds are high it benefits only big donors and big nonprofits, not nonprofits like our Center for White Rose Studies.
It would be so nice if just once, Republicans introduced legislation that helped the lower 99.8%.
Comment from December 26, 2025: Now that the text of the bill has been uploaded… This moves charitable contributions to nonprofits (ostensibly) providing workforce training from Schedule A, to an above-the-line tax credit. In other words, if you donated $1000 to such a nonprofit, instead of putting that on Schedule A where it likely doesn’t help, it would reduce your declared income by $1000.
While this sounds good in theory, keep in mind that Goodwill would be one of these so-called nonprofits. Yet Goodwill generally does not provide workforce training unless the municipality where the training will take place pays for it. There’s far too much room for grift.
Unsurprisingly, Smucker does not define “nonprofit organizations providing workforce training.” This bill should be killed.

H.R.5494 - Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act. To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for an H-2C nonimmigrant classification.
Introduced September 18, 2025 by LLOYD SMUCKER (R-PA). Cosponsored by seven Republicans and two Democrats (Henry Cuellar-TX and Donald Davis-NC). Referred to Judiciary and Ways and Means and Oversight and Government Reform the same day.
This bill recycles failed proposals dating back to 2018, if not prior. This time, it’s a “bipartisan” bill submitted by Smucker.
Comment: This is a singularly bad bill.
The H-2C proposals are similar to H-2A (for agriculture), but would allow immigrants to work in factory jobs in the USA. Like H-2A visas, the proposed H-2C would not permit their families to come with them. Workers, and only workers, would receive this visa.
For that reason, most Democrats and labor unions have resisted H-2C pitches, since it would further dilute wages for American workers. If you live in Cuellar or Davis’ districts, please write them!

September 19, 2025 - Issue: Vol. 171, No. 154. LLOYD SMUCKER called for a moment of silence honoring the three police officers of Northern York County who were murdered on September 17. Yes, that was a tragic moment. For Pennsylvania. Congressman Scott Perry followed Smucker, extolling their virtues, one-upping Smucker.
Both men focused on thoughts and prayers. I can guarantee you that the next gun control legislation that hits the House, they will fight it tooth and nail.
Meanwhile, let those of us in Pennsylvania mourn our losses here. Let those in every state, every county, every municipality across these United States mourn their losses. Whether police, or school children, or battered wives, or random strangers, or politicians, let us mourn those who are senselessly killed where we live.
Our politicians? They are not tasked with mourning. They are tasked with finding solutions.

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