Congressman Rudy Yakyam wrapped up the second week of his Hoosier Heartland Tour this week, with affordability at the forefront of conversations with constituents across Indiana's Second District.
Yakyam said the issue comes up everywhere he goes — from young people trying to buy their first home to residents stopping him in grocery stores. He acknowledged that costs skyrocketed under the last administration and said he understands why people remain frustrated.
"It's still tough out there for a lot of Hoosiers," Yakyam said. "I'm working as hard as I can to put more money back in your pocket."
Yakyam pointed to his work on what he calls the largest tax cut in American history, including voting to end the tax on tips and overtime. He said the Working Families Tax Cuts protected 122,000 Indiana manufacturing jobs, doubled the Child Tax Credit, and delivered tax relief for seniors. Real wages are up approximately $1,000 for a typical middle-class family and about $4,000 for the average manufacturing or construction worker, according to Yakyam.
"I'm not declaring victory yet," he said. "I'm saying we're making progress, and I'll keep working until every Hoosier feels it."
The tour included stops across the district. When strong storms rolled through LaPorte County on Tuesday, Yakyam checked in with Mayor Tom Dermody to see how he could assist affected families. From there, he traveled to Elkhart, where he walked factory floors at Cummins Onan and Forest River's Dynamax plant, discussing RVs and his push to remove the tax on RV loan interest.
Yakyam visited a newly opened childcare facility in Pulaski County, where he met a parent named Allison who is benefiting from the expanded Child Tax Credit. He also stopped at the historic Medaryville Gym, where local leaders are working to restore the building, and visited Hannah's Country Road Greenhouse in Monterey.
The congressman sat down with two mayors — Tom Dermody in LaPorte and Jacob Pomasl in Logansport — and toured Anderson's Clymers' facility in Logansport as the company gears up for a major expansion.
At Grissom Air Reserve Base, Yakyam met with Colonel Bergman to discuss ongoing support for the base's mission and its importance to both Miami County's economy and national defense. He also stopped by Wildermuth Farm in Miami County to discuss the Farm Bill and spent time in Roann with farmer Mark York, discussing how the Working Families Tax Cuts help farmers pass their land down to their children without government red tape.
Yakyam wrapped up the week with a tour of Innomed Designs' brand-new surgical instrument facility in North Manchester, where the next generation of orthopedic tools is being manufactured.
"Wrapping up week two, I keep coming back to how blessed we are to call Indiana's Second District home — a district full of companies, organizations, and people who've made a real impact on their communities and our country," Yakyam said. "Our best days are still ahead of us, and we've got to keep passing legislation like the Working Families Tax Cuts to keep that momentum going."
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