(Jackson, MS) – Today, Mississippi’s Third District Congressman Michael Guest filed qualifying papers to run for re-election and launched his campaign based on his record of accomplishments for the people of Mississippi.

Congressman Guest and his wife, Haley, filed the paperwork today at the Mississippi Republican Party headquarters. Congressman Guest stated, “When I was first elected to Congress in 2018, I made a commitment to the people of Mississippi that I would fight for our conservative values and work hard to get things done for our state. I’m asking for everyone’s vote based on my record of supporting free market economic policies of lower taxes and fewer regulations, and promoting our Constitutional freedoms and liberties including the right to life and our 2nd Amendment rights. I’ve also worked to strengthen our agricultural community, fought for stronger border security and measures to secure our nation from terrorist threats, promoted prevention of violence against our faith-based institutions, and supported our troops and law enforcement officers.”

Congressman Guest has been active in many legislative efforts during his first term. He was the first Republican freshman member of Congress to write legislation that was passed by the entire U.S. House of Representatives, and the second Republican freshman to author a bill that was signed into law.

This legislation, H.R. 1590, titled “The Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act,” was authored by Congressman Guest and signed into law by President Donald Trump on October 9, 2019. The bill promotes the identification and determent of terrorist travel and enhances the United States government’s ability to respond to terrorism by instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and conduct a preparedness exercise related to the detection and prevention of terrorist and foreign fighter travel.

“This bill supports President Trump’s National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel, and I expect that future law enforcement agents who are charged with protecting our nation from foreign threats will be better equipped, trained and prepared to prevent and respond to terrorist activity in our country,” Congressman Guest said.

Congressman Guest has used his experience as a former District Attorney to defend President Donald Trump against the partisan impeachment process. He voted against the Articles of Impeachment and cosponsored legislation to censure Congressman Adam Schiff for misleading the American public and providing false statements on his interactions with the whistleblower.

Congressman Guest has also been active in supporting Mississippi’s agricultural community. He’s working to address flooding that affects many Mississippians near the Mississippi River—including supporting the completion and installation of the Yazoo Backwater Area Pumps Project to address high-water events.

He has also highlighted the need to increase border security to address the problem of illegal drugs flowing across the southern border of the United States. “In 2017, looking at illegal drugs analyzed in the U.S., the results showed 91% of all heroin could be traced to Mexico, 93% of all cocaine could be traced to Colombia, and as much as 97% of methamphetamine was produced in Mexico,” Guest said. “Clearly, we must do more to stop this epidemic that’s hurting so many people and communities in the U.S. That’s why I’m supporting President Trump’s efforts for tougher border security to fight illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs into our country.”

Congressman Guest also introduced legislation to authorize the Operation Stonegarden grant program within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This program provides grant funding to local law enforcement agencies involved with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Our law enforcement agents risk their lives to keep our communities safe,” Guest stated. “As a nation, it’s imperative we provide the men and women of law enforcement with the proper equipment to perform their duties. Operation Stonegarden will provide necessary resources to agencies tasked with protecting the borders of the United States.”

On Peace Officers Memorial Day, Congressman Guest co-authored a resolution to recognize National Police Week and to honor the men and women who serve in law enforcement. He also introduced legislation to designate a U.S. Postal Service facility in Brookhaven as the “Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White Memorial Post Office Building” in memory of three Brookhaven officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

In his first term in Congress, Congressman Guest serves as a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security including serving on the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations, and the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. He also serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and two of its subcommittees—the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment and the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade.

In addition, Congressman Guest is the only first-term Member of Congress currently serving on the House Committee on Ethics which is an important committee charged with maintaining the integrity of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was appointed to this position by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Prior to being elected to Congress in 2018, Guest served for 11 years as District Attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties. He is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the Rankin County Bar Association. Congressman Guest is a longtime resident of Rankin County where he and his family are members of Brandon Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. His educational background includes being a graduate of Brandon High School, as well as earning an accounting degree from Mississippi State University and a law degree from the University of Mississippi. Congressman Guest is married to the former Haley Kennedy of Brandon. They have two sons, Kennedy and Patton.

The Republican primary election is on March 10, 2020, and the general election is on November 3, 2020. For more information about Michael Guest, please visit www.MichaelGuest.ms.

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