U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve and Indiana Rep. Ethan Lawson had plenty to talk about during the question-and-answer session.
GREENFIELD — Congressman Jefferson Shreve, who represents Indiana’s Sixth District, is amid what he’s calling a “Hoosier Heartland Tour” this summer.
It’s a tour that, according to his website, includes meetings with county sheriffs, site visits to local manufacturers and small businesses, hearing from family farmers, visiting at local airports and connecting with constituents in every corner of the district.
As a part of his visits, Shreve stopped by Tuscan Table Ristorante in Greenfield on Tuesday night for a chance to meet with area residents, where he shared information about his first few months as the area’s federal representative.
“This as an engagement opportunity is terrific,” Shreve said.
State Rep. Ethan Lawson was on hand to hear what Shreve had to say.
“I think the best way to represent people is to be as active in every part of your district as you can,” Lawson said. “I think Congressman Shreve is spending as much time in the county as he has been and spending time in Greenfield, so yeah, that does make me feel good.”
Tuesday’s meeting was organized by Americans for Prosperity (AFP), an Indiana grassroots advocacy group planning similar events around the state. Shreve noted, prior to a question-and-answer session with about 60 people who stopped by for the talk and a dinner, that such gatherings reflect his desire to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington.
“I’ll be talking and communicating what we’ve been focused on during the first half of this session, and I expect a lot of talk to be about the one big beautiful bill and what that means close to home here in this district,” Shreve said before a Q and A with AFP leaders and then the community.
Shreve, a longtime former businessman turned politician, said the bill will help “reignite” the American dream; aid local farmers, by helping families be able to keep their farmland; and keep tax cuts permanent.
“That was the unifying focus,” Shreve said. “In order to get some big things done, we all had to come together, and we did.”
Shreve said for seven months he’s been working to deliver for communities like Greenfield and is eager to share the work he’s been a part of to bring wins back home to Indiana.
“It’s important for me to be able to articulate to our constituents, to voters, so they understand and appreciate what is in this (bill) for everyone,” Shreve said.
Shreve has an office in downtown Greenfield but said that location is by appointment only; it’s not among the office locations listed on his website. He said the tour he’s on this summer is about listening, during what he called meaningful visits, and said he was looking forward to having conversations with constituents and hearing how he can better serve them.
“This helps to advance my work in Congress for our communities,” Shreve said.
As a first-year Congressman, Shreve admitted to the crowd the work in Washington has been the steepest learning curve of his life, but he said he’s been up to the task.
“It’s been an extraordinary experience for your freshman representative,” Shreve said. “I’ve worked so hard to get up to speed, to get to work for you and everyone I have the opportunity to represent.”
Shreve also talked about securing the United States’ southern border while still allowing for appropriate legal immigration.
“I had a successful component of the one big beautiful bill,” Shreve said. “I sponsored the ‘Build the Wall’ act, and that was included in the bill. It takes unspent COVID relief funds that the Biden administration (had) appropriated but not spent, so my ‘Build the Wall” act served to use those funds to complete and maintain the physical border wall.”
Shreve also touched on his Transportation Committee work and on Indiana’s infrastructure. He said the federal government will dramatically spend money — $13 billion — on upgrading the nation’s air travel equipment.
“It was very important for me to get a seat at the table where you want to focus your work, and it was very important for me to get a seat on the Transportation Committee, because it matters to the Sixth District,” Shreve said. “We are the Crossroads of America, and Indiana’s Sixth District has four interstates.”
Shreve said even as a freshman member of Congress, he feels he will be able to get some good things done for the Sixth District of Indiana.
“We are reauthorizing the Highway Bill … Indiana needs its fair share,” Shreve said. “We’ve been a donor state for too long … I-70 sorely needs the love.”
Hancock County Republican Chair Holly Lawson said the party was pleased to team with AFP and have a local event like this for Shreve to come and talk to residents.
“It’s really great to have this kind of open forum event where really anyone in, grab some food and hear from the leaders of our government, whether that is at the national or local level,” she said.
Shreve, who has had a business in the district he represents for some 30 years, said his business background has come in handy in representing 11 counties in Washington, D.C. But, he acknowledged he’s just one piece of the puzzle to help the area and residents thrive.
“We have to work across all three levels of government — the township, county, city all the way up to federal level to get things done,” Shreve said.
