Victoria Spartz

Spartz Named Health Care Legislator of the Year

Position: Rep. Spartz states that health care is her top priority and calls for competition, choice, price transparency, and accountability to challenge health care monopolies and lower costs for patients and taxpayers.

MUNCIE, IN — Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (IN-05) was named Legislator of the Year by the Indiana Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) at its annual conference in Muncie. The award recognizes Spartz’s health care policy leadership and continued work to improve access to affordable, high-quality care, as well as her ongoing engagement with Indiana’s community health centers. Spartz has worked extensively on health care reforms focused on increasing competition, choice and price transparency, reducing waste and fraud, and challenging health care monopolies to lower costs for patients and taxpayers. IPHCA also recognized Spartz’s participation in the Community Health Center Congressional Caucus, engagement with Indiana health center leaders, and health care roundtables held throughout Indiana’s 5th District. “I am honored to receive this recognition from Indiana’s community health centers,” said Rep. Spartz. “Health care is my number one priority because our current system is unaffordable and unsustainable for patients and taxpayers. We need real competition, choice, transparency and accountability to challenge health care monopolies and bring down costs for all Americans.” “Community health centers play an important role in providing access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities,” Spartz continued. “I appreciate the work they do for Hoosiers and look forward to continuing to work together on meaningful health care reforms.” Image

Spartz Introduces Combat Veterans Retirement Restoration Act

Position: Rep. Spartz introduced legislation to allow combat-disabled veterans who medically retired before 20 years of service to receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) introduced the Combat Veterans Retirement Restoration Act, narrowly targeted legislation to ensure combat-disabled veterans who were forced to medically retire before completing 20 years of military service can receive both their earned military retired pay and VA disability compensation. “Combat veterans forced to medically retire because of their injuries should not lose retirement benefits simply because they could not reach 20 years of service,” said Rep. Spartz. “This targeted fix honors our commitment to those who sacrificed in defense of our nation.” See the full bill text HERE.

AHEAD OF STATE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING, SPARTZ SEEKS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR IEDC AND LEAP

Position: Rep. Spartz calls for accountability and independent oversight of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the LEAP Research and Innovation District, citing concerns about past audit and legislative oversight and requesting a state subcommittee review and a federal GAO review.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In light of the upcoming September 29 meeting of the Indiana Legislative Council Audit and Financial Reporting Subcommittee, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) sent a letter to the Subcommittee raising serious concerns about the adequacy of state audit and legislative oversight of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the rapidly expanding LEAP Research and Innovation District. Under Indiana law, the Subcommittee has statutory responsibility for independent review and oversight of the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) and the state examination process, including reviewing examination reports, internal accounting controls, and corrective actions. “Indiana taxpayers deserve to know what happened, why our existing audit and oversight mechanisms failed to identify these serious problems, whether any wrongdoing occurred, and whether anyone should be held accountable,” said Rep. Spartz. “With significant state and federal resources involved, we need proper independent oversight—not just changes in policies going forward.” State Audit and Legislative Oversight Rep. Spartz’s letter raises questions about oversight of IEDC and LEAP as IEDC’s funding, authority, land holdings, contractual commitments, and development activities expanded significantly beginning in 2022. The letter asks how IEDC’s changing risk profile was evaluated under the State’s risk-based examination process; what oversight the Subcommittee conducted of IEDC, IEDF, and LEAP; what actions were taken following prior audit findings; and why significant governance, contracting, conflict, internal-control, and compliance concerns subsequently identified by FTI Consulting were not identified through the existing examination and oversight process. The October 2, 2025 FTI forensic review identified 45 findings and observations involving governance, internal controls, contracting, conflicts, compliance, and financial oversight. FTI also expressly stated that its work was not an audit or comprehensive investigation and was not designed to identify all errors, irregularities, or potential fraud. Rep. Spartz is asking the Subcommittee to address these matters at its upcoming meeting and has offered to participate in the discussion. See letter to the Indiana Legislative Council Audit and Financial Reporting Subcommittee HERE. Additional GAO Inquiry Rep. Spartz also sent an additional inquiry to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a federal review of IEDC and LEAP, including federal funding, financial controls, compliance, and federal agency oversight. This GAO inquiry is separate from Rep. Spartz’s earlier request concerning the Citizens–Lebanon water project and its use of federally capitalized Drinking Water State Revolving Fund financing. See letter to GAO HERE.

Spartz Requests Federal Review of LEAP Water Project Financing and Environmental Oversight

Position: Rep. Spartz requests that GAO and EPA OIG conduct an independent review of federal DWSRF financing eligibility, environmental review, and EPA oversight for the Citizens–Lebanon water supply program tied to the LEAP district. She states that federal water financing should not subsidize large economic development projects and that existing communities and water resources should be protected.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA OIG) conduct an independent review of federal oversight and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) financing for the Citizens–Lebanon Water Supply Program associated with Indiana’s LEAP Research and Innovation District. The Indiana Finance Authority has approved financing through Indiana’s federally capitalized DWSRF for a major regional water infrastructure program designed to provide up to 25 million gallons of water per day to Lebanon from the White River watershed. Citizens Energy Group sought approximately $560 million in DWSRF financing for the program, with approximately $104.8 million in initial financing closed in December 2024. “Economic development is important, but it must be done responsibly and transparently,” Rep. Spartz said. “When hundreds of millions of dollars in federally capitalized financing and critical water resources are involved, taxpayers and communities deserve accountability. We need an independent review to make sure federal requirements were properly followed and the long-term impacts on existing communities, agriculture, future economic development, and our water resources were adequately evaluated.” Federal DWSRF regulations restrict funding for projects needed primarily to serve future population growth and establish environmental-review requirements for projects receiving assistance. Rep. Spartz is asking GAO and EPA OIG to review whether the Citizens–Lebanon projects meet federal DWSRF eligibility requirements; whether appropriate environmental reviews were conducted; whether the entire 25-MGD program and its combined water-resource impacts were adequately evaluated; and whether EPA Region 5 provided appropriate federal oversight. “Federal drinking-water programs should protect existing communities and public health—not become a backdoor subsidy for large economic development projects,” Rep. Spartz said. “GAO and EPA OIG should independently review the facts and determine whether federal law and proper processes were followed.” See a copy of Rep. Spartz’s full letter HERE.

Spartz Seeks Independent Federal Review of Indiana Data Centers and LEAP

Position: Rep. Spartz requests an independent federal review of data-center and LEAP district projects in Indiana, arguing that Hoosier ratepayers, taxpayers, farmers, and small businesses should not be made to subsidize private projects and that the energy, grid, transmission cost, and water impacts and their cost responsibility must be fully disclosed and enforceably protected.

NOBLESVILLE, IN — Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum requesting an independent federal review of the rapidly expanding LEAP Research and Innovation District and other major data-center projects across Indiana, raising concerns about energy generation, grid reliability, transmission costs, water resources, and who ultimately pays. “For two years, I have been raising concerns about the massive energy and infrastructure demands of data centers, as well as the significant water demands of the LEAP district,” said Rep. Spartz. “Based on my numerous recent town halls, Hoosiers are increasingly concerned and deserve clear answers about who is paying for what. I support bringing advanced manufacturing and strategic industries to Indiana, but Hoosier families, farmers, small businesses, and existing industries should not be forced to subsidize extraordinary private projects.” In February, Meta announced a more than $10 billion LEAP campus with 10 planned data centers and approximately 1 GW of capacity. MISO planning documents estimate total LEAP demand at approximately 1,200 MW, with hundreds of millions of dollars in transmission infrastructure already identified. At the same time, federal reliability warnings are escalating. The U.S. Department of Energy reported that MISO was reclassified from “elevated risk” to “high risk” for 2028–2031 and is now using emergency authority to preserve existing generation. MISO has also identified new transmission violations and worsened reliability issues resulting from additional LEAP load, requiring major corrective projects across multiple Indiana utility systems and raising concerns about the risk of blackouts as electricity demand continues to grow. In June, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) preliminarily found that MISO lacks adequate protections against shifting large-load transmission costs to other customers, potentially resulting in “unjust and unreasonable rates.” FERC also raised concerns about inadequate transparency surrounding required transmission upgrades, their costs, and cost allocation. Spartz’s letter further raises concerns about significant loopholes in transparency and oversight created by Indiana laws during LEAP’s development, as well as plans to supply up to 25 million gallons of water per day to Lebanon and LEAP from the White River watershed. Spartz is requesting a full accounting of how much energy and water these projects will require, what new generation and infrastructure must be built, how much it will cost, who is responsible for those costs, and what enforceable protections exist to prevent Hoosier consumers and taxpayers from being left with the bill. “We cannot retire firm generation, add massive new loads, spend hundreds of millions on infrastructure, and then leave Hoosiers guessing who will pay for it,” Spartz said. “We must ensure Hoosiers are not left paying higher utility bills while facing increased risks of blackouts. Hoosiers deserve substantiated answers before these commitments are made.” The requested review would extend beyond LEAP to examine the cumulative effects of major data-center projects involving Google, Amazon, Meta, and other developers across Indiana. See the full letter here. ###

Spartz Asks VA for Transparency on $2 Billion Investment in Indiana

Position: Rep. Spartz requests transparency, competitive bidding, and accountability from the VA regarding roughly $2 billion in funding for a Indianapolis VA medical center replacement and a Fishers clinic, and raises concerns about health care market concentration and cost-shifting to taxpayers.

NOBLESVILLE, IN — Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Veteran Health Indiana Director Mike Hershman seeking greater transparency on roughly $2 billion in funding advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives for the replacement and modernization of the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis and a new VA clinic. “After meeting with veterans across my district, it is clear that we still have significant work to do to improve access and quality of care, particularly in mental health,” said Rep. Spartz. “With roughly $2 billion of taxpayer money at stake, we need transparency, real competition, and accountability to make sure these investments actually deliver better care for Hoosier veterans.” Rep. Spartz is asking the VA to provide information on how the funds will be spent, the competitive bidding and procurement processes for the projects, and the criteria used to select IU Health for the planned Fishers clinic. She also requested summaries of bids and proposals received, including bid amounts and alternatives considered. The letter also raises concerns about increasing health care market concentration and asks what safeguards will be in place to prevent providers from shifting additional overhead, facility, or other costs to the VA and taxpayers. “More spending does not automatically mean better care,” Rep. Spartz said. “Congress has an obligation to make sure these dollars are spent efficiently and transparently for the benefit of our veterans - not special interests.” Rep. Spartz requested a response from the VA by October 8, 2026. Read the full letter here.

Spartz Urges President Trump to Approve Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana

Position: Rep. Spartz urges the President to approve a Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana to provide federal assistance for flood recovery in her district.

Muncie, IN – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana following devastating flooding across her district. “I am grateful to President Trump for acting quickly on Indiana’s emergency declaration after we spoke last week. After seeing the damage firsthand, it is clear that additional federal assistance will be needed. Some of the hardest-hit areas are among the poorest communities in our state, and many families simply do not have the resources to recover on their own," said Rep. Spartz. Rep. Spartz continues working with state and local officials to support affected Hoosiers and expedite recovery efforts. Read the full letter here. Image

Spartz Audit Provision for Section 702 FISA Collections Passes House

Position: Congresswoman Spartz supported the House passage of Section 702 FISA reauthorization and advocated for inclusion of an audit provision to increase congressional oversight of NSA and FBI targeting and collection practices under this authority.

Washington, DC – This week, the House passed a reauthorization of Sec. 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), including language worked on by Congresswoman Spartz to audit 702 collections and targeting by the NSA and FBI for the first time. “Protecting constitutional rights of Americans, including Fourth Amendment rights, is a primary responsibility of Congress,” Spartz said. “We know that in previous years, agencies were improperly collecting information on Americans using ‘about’ targeting, but no true audits were ever performed of Section 702 targeting. This new audit will, for the first time, help Congress better oversee how agencies target and collect.” Section 702 of FISA was enacted in 2008 in response to 9/11 and allows the targeting and collection of data on non-U.S. persons located outside the United States without a warrant. Many widespread violations have been identified by the FISA Court, and significant controversy remains over the potential collection of large amounts of data on U.S. persons through this authority. See full text here (Sec. 7).

Spartz Amendment to Make Farming and Food More Affordable Passes House

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Spartz’s amendment to exempt large farm tractors, combines, and sprayers from unreasonable EPA emissions standards, such as DEF, passed the House on a bipartisan basis and was included in the final passage of the Farm Bill. “I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who stood with American farmers and consumers to pass this common-sense amendment,” said Rep. Spartz. “While I’m disappointed that some chose to side with large corporate interests over the hardworking families who feed our country, this is a meaningful win for farmers and consumers.” Under one-size-fits-all EPA regulations, farm diesel engines were swept into burdensome emissions standards, adding unreasonable costs to farmers, causing damaging delays, creating fire hazards, and leading to higher prices at grocery stores. Farm machinery and input costs have surged by 30% to 100% in just the last five years, pushing food prices higher and putting family farms on the brink of widespread bankruptcies. Watch the floor debate HERE and read the full text of the amendment HERE.

Spartz Checkoff Transparency Amendment Passes House

Position: Rep. Spartz advocates for increased transparency and accountability in federal commodity checkoff programs by requiring the USDA to publicly disclose financial information and audit reports from checkoff boards.

Washington, DC –Today, Congresswoman Victoria Spartz’s amendment to increase transparency for commodity checkoff boards passed the House and will be included in the Farm Bill. Checkoffs are taxes on farmers mandated by Congress and have been known to be abused by some boards to pay lavish salaries to executives or lobby for Big Ag against small farmers instead of helping them,” said Rep. Spartz. “Hardworking farmers deserve transparency and accountability to know how their hard-earned money is spent.” This amendment requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to publicly post key financial information for checkoff boards, including audit reports for the previous five years, updated annually. The checkoff is a mandatory fee that many U.S. farmers pay every time they sell any of 22 major commodities for research and promotion purposes. Checkoff programs were originally voluntary where farmers could check off a box to pay into the shared fund, but eventually Congress made these fees mandatory. These programs collect roughly $1B annually and have been involved in a number of abuse and corruption scandals over the years. Read the full amendment text HERE.