U.S. Representative John Kevin (Jake) Ellzey, Sr. (R-TX) on the importance of protecting American small business
As an agent for the people in the 6th District of the Lone Star State, U.S. Representative John Kevin (Jake) Ellzey, Sr. (R-TX) has a long record of public service, including a 20-year stint and nine deployments in the U.S. Navy, his tenure as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, and his current status as a Congressman.
As part of Today’s Hotelier’s ongoing efforts to help AAHOA Members get to know their government representatives a bit better and to demonstrate the crucial impact making connections with lawmakers can have on the industry, Rep. Ellzey sat down for a wide-ranging interview, which covers his strong stance on the importance of protecting small businesses and the crucial role hotels play in the economy of his home state, as well as the country and economy at large.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WHEN THE NEXT SESSION BEGINS?
When Republicans took the majority in the House of Representatives in January, we made a commitment to America that we would work to create an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future that’s built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable.
To do that, we must end unaffordable federal spending that burdens taxpayers and businesses by changing current tax policies. We also must work to balance the federal budget and reduce our national debt. We need to secure our borders to stop illegal immigration and the unprecedented flow of drugs that are resulting in more than 104,000 Americans dying by overdose every year. Ensuring that we continue to make moves to gain energy independence again and reduce gas prices by advancing pro-energy policies is one of my highest priorities.
WHAT SORTS OF POLICIES, SUCH AS TAX AND REGULATORY REFORMS, DO YOU HOPE TO WORK ON TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY?
As a member of Congress sitting on the Small Business Committee, there are many ways we are trying to reduce the regulatory and tax burden on small businesses. Inflation is hurting all industries, hospitality included. This is cutting into people’s purchasing power and changing their spending habits. I’m supporting key tax provisions that will be helpful to travel and tourism, including preserving small business deductions, like-kind exchanges under section 1031, and stepped-up basis provisions.
In addition to efforts in Congress, the Small Business Administration needs to improve hoteliers’ access to capital and develop or improve strategic relationships with hoteliers.
WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT SERVING IN CONGRESS?
Being able to impact the lives of my constituents directly and having the opportunity to play a role in moving our country forward. As a member of Congress, I am in the service industry. Each day, I have the privilege of representing more than 800,000 people in Texas’ 6th Congressional District. There is nothing I would rather be doing, and I am blessed to be in this position.
WHAT INDUSTRY (OR INDUSTRIES) DID YOU WORK IN BEFORE YOU WERE ELECTED TO CONGRESS?
Before being elected to Congress, I served 20 years in the Navy as a helicopter and fighter pilot. After I retired in 2012, I worked as a contractor in the Navy, as a Southwest Airlines pilot, and as a small business owner.
WHAT LED YOU TO RUN FOR CONGRESS?
Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to serve our country. After four years at the Naval Academy and 20 years in the Navy, I think dedication to our country and fellow man is ingrained in me. In between my retirement from the Navy and when I was elected to my first position as a State Representative, I consistently volunteered and served in whatever capacity I could, both locally and statewide.
WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT STAYING IN HOTELS?
For the last 30 years, since my military service, I have made my bed every day without fail. That means I effectively have over 30 years of experience making a bed. To be considered an expert in something, it’s said you need 25,000 hours of experience. That means I have 10 times the number of hours needed to be an expert at bed making, and I still cannot make a bed better than a great staff at a hotel.
WHY ARE HOTELS AND HOTEL OWNERS IMPORTANT TO YOUR DISTRICT/STATE?
Texas is one of the most traveled states in the nation. If you combine the air traffic from DFW and Dallas Love Field, we get the most incoming flights in all of the United States. This is in part due to the success of the hotel industry. With the amount of traffic coming into Texas, we need quality places for travelers to stay. Specifically, in my district, we are home to two major interstates, have close proximity to several major sporting and entertainment arenas, and see thousands of in-state travelers coming to the DFW area for both business and long weekends. Hotels and the hospitality industry are not just nice to have in Texas. They are a must.
THE HOTEL WORKFORCE WAS ONE OF THE INDUSTRIES MOST AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. DO YOU SEE CONGRESS PLAYING A ROLE TO SUPPORT BUILDING BACK THE HOTEL WORKFORCE?
I have called on the current administration to continue to scale back pandemic-era protections and drop the emergency powers. We see far too many help-wanted signs across businesses in our country. Pandemic policies made people more inclined to sit on the sidelines instead of getting jobs. I am committed to focusing on incentivizing work through the tax code to show there are good-paying jobs out there right now that don’t require four-year college degrees.
is the vice president of Alpine Group, a bipartisan, bicameral government affairs consulting firm located on Capitol Hill, and he can be reached at [email protected].
