Latta spends time in Tiffin

TIFFIN — Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) took time to meet with constituents Thursday including those in Seneca County. Latta (R-Bowling Green) hosts "Courthouse Conferences" where attendees can ask questions about concerns regarding national and federal issues and seek help with casework that they have been unable to resolve. Residents on Thursday voiced concerns about the United States/Mexico border situation, inflation's impact on their families, and the ongoing energy crisis, according to Latta. Earlier in July, Latta and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA7) introduced the Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act (SECURE Grid Act) which would allow states to have power to control the risks that may influence the electric grid by situations such as weather, physical and cyber attacks and any other risks that may affect electrical grids. Latta himself serves as a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and is co-chair of the Grid Innovation Caucus. "We need a sound energy policy," Latta said, emphasizing the importance of ensuring energy independence. He said he doesn't want the American people to ever have to worry about keeping the lights on. "I always ask the question of 'do we need more energy or less energy' and the answer is always 'we need more energy,'" Latta said. Latta said he has recently visited the border on four separate occasions and has stressed that those in Texas have stated the situation is a "disaster." He has previously criticized the Biden Administration for "not doing what is needed" to address the situation and has equated the number of people crossing the border to the entire population of Ohio each day or close to it. To voters, Latta has also expressed the importance of having a strong military and "taking care of our veterans." Latta has voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 25 Servicemember Quality of Life and National Defense Authorization Act, which includes authorizing a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and supports a 4.5% pay raise for all other servicemembers and funds deployment of National Guard troops in support of Border Patrol activities at the southwest border.