Why did you choose to enter public service?
For me, public service was a calling. I served my country in uniform in Afghanistan, and I felt called to run for office at the local, state and federal level. And now I feel very lucky and honored to be able to serve the entire state of Indiana. I’m the son of a factory worker and nursing home cook and I’ve truly been able to live the American dream and see what America offers to those who dream big and work hard. My family has lived the American dream, and I want to preserve that for my kids and grandkids.
Before being elected to the Senate, you served eight years in the House and six years in the Indiana Senate. What is a lesson you have learned about public service or leadership from each of those experiences?
I also served for two years at the most local level of government, the county level, as a member of the Whitley County Council in Indiana. And that’s where you learn that government closest to the people is the most effective and best form of government. Government is all about the people; listening to people and hearing their needs and the issues that impact them. I really believe that what happens in places like Whitley County, Indiana is more important than what happens in Washington, D.C. I think government should respect that more. That’s why I agree with President Trump’s efforts to shut down the Department of Education, because education policy should be set at the state and local level. I’ve made it my mission in Washington to dismantle as much of the federal government as possible and send policy back to the people locally where it belongs.
How did your time in the U.S. Navy shape you and the leader you are today?
There was no greater honor of my life than when I briefly wore the uniform in Afghanistan. I got to experience what our military families and service members go through. I’ve met countless service members from my time on the House Armed Services Committee and now on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and it’s helped me understand what we need to do to serve them better and give them the benefits that they deserve and have earned. I’ve made it my mission to help support our service members and take care of our veterans. It’s my top priority.
What would you like bankers to understand about the legislative process?
One thing that I’ve found frustrating about the Senate is how slow the process works. But the Senate is also more collaborative and bipartisan than people think. The feedback I get from Indiana bankers about what’s important to families, farmers and small businesses is what makes me a better legislator. We’ve had some big issues in the Banking Committee recently and I’ve received very helpful feedback from Indiana bankers that has guided my decisions and my leadership.
What is the most effective way for bankers to increase their advocacy engagement in Washington?
Not a week goes by where I don’t have a representative from Indiana bankers in my office or hear from somebody on important issues. You all do it very well. I appreciate the relationships that I have with many Indiana bankers. Whether it’s in big cities or small towns across the state, Indiana banks are the lifeblood of a lot of our communities and you all do great work keeping our banks thriving.
What is the most untapped or under-resourced economic development opportunity for Indiana that you want to support from Washington?
We have a strong defense industrial base in Indiana, but there is so much more than we can build upon. We are the top manufacturing state in America per capita, and the top steel-producing state. We make a lot of things, especially important things for our military. But we need to grow it even more. We need to invest in companies and projects like Prometheus at Crane. If we are going to defeat our enemies, we need to increase our defense industrial base in America. Indiana should be leading the way for advanced manufacturing, whether it be drones, munitions, autonomous weapons systems or anything else. We can do it all in Indiana, and we need to lean into it more. With President Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense budget, there is a lot that Indiana needs to capitalize on and increase our defense industrial base.
Regulatory burden is a persistent concern for bankers, especially smaller institutions. What specific regulations do you think are most ripe for reform or repeal right now?
Anti-money laundering reporting requirements are long overdue for regulatory reform. Banks across the state are drowning in paperwork chasing down transactions that pose basically zero risk, while the actual bad actors find workarounds. Last year, I led a letter with 86 of my colleagues urging Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to eliminate unnecessary red tape and exempt U.S. businesses from the Corporate Transparency Act’s Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirements. Instead of curbing money laundering, the CTA saddles more than 30 million law-abiding small businesses with compliance mandates, and I am glad to report that there is positive movement addressing this issue.
As a member of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and three of its subcommittees, what do you foresee for the banking industry through the remainder of your current term?
The next couple of months are going to be consequential. We have real work to do on deposit insurance modernization, on getting digital asset regulation into a framework that makes sense and does not disadvantage banks, and on making sure the credit crunch that smaller banks have been quietly absorbing does not turn into something bigger. My goal is to make sure banks of all sizes come out of this period stronger and with a regulatory environment that reflects how they operate.
Who or what was your greatest influence growing up in Columbia City?
My parents. They worked hard; they sacrificed so much so my brothers and I could have better opportunities and a shot at the American dream. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I fully appreciated all the sacrifices they made. Not a day goes by where my parents don’t tell me that they’re proud of me. They were and are the greatest influences I have in my life.
