U.S. Congressman Matt Van Epps Makes First Official Visit to Wayne County

U.S. Congressman Matt Van Epps made his first official visit to Wayne County last week and spoke with county leaders about their visions for the future.

Congressman Van Epps was elected to represent the 7th Congressional District of Tennessee in a special election last December. The district was previously represented by Mark Green, a Republican who was elected to Congress in 2018. Green resigned from office in July of 2025, triggering the special election. The 7th District encompasses the northern and western third of Davidson County, portions of Williamson and Montgomery Counties, and about a dozen rural counties, including Wayne.

Van Epps handily defeated his Democrat opponent, Aftyn Behn, by a nine percent margin across the entirety of the district. He received 84.6% of the votes in Wayne County. Because this was a special election to fill former Congressman Mark Green’s unexpired term, Van Epps will have to run again this fall to secure a full term.

Van Epps, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard, served on active duty as a combat helicopter pilot and Air Mission Commander in the Army Special Operations. He was previously a General Services Commissioner for the State of Tennessee.

After the special election, Congressman Van Epps was appointed to two congressional committees: Homeland Security, and Science, Space, and Technology. He is assigned to the Counter Terrorism and Intel and Transportation and Maritime Security subcommittees, along with the Environment subcommittee. The congressman said he didn’t really have a choice as to what committees and subcommittees he was appointed to, but he is very pleased with his placement. Being a West Point graduate with a 23-year military career, Van Epps is sure to make his mark in the U.S. Congress.

The Wayne County News was invited to sit down and speak with Congressman Van Epps before he left for the next destination on his agenda. He was more than happy to answer the two questions presented.

The first question was in regard to illegal vs. legal immigrants. Wayne County has several immigrants in the workforce, and with all the recent national attention on ICE, deportation is a big fear among them.

Congressman Van Epps said that all legal immigrants should feel safe and secure with no fear of deportation. He said the first step against illegal immigration is securing the United States/Mexico border. “Deporting criminal illegal aliens is something we must continue to do,” said the congressman. “Those are the ones that should be worried.”

The congressman said that in the months leading up to the special election, he was approached by legal immigrants who were frustrated with illegal immigrants basically “cutting in line.” The legal immigrants were understandably upset because they had gone through the citizenship process correctly, and the illegal immigrants, in some situations, were taking jobs and benefitting from other opportunities they were not legally able to obtain.

Congressman Van Epps recommended an ICE website called “Arrested: Worst of the Worst.” It is a listing of criminal illegal aliens – murderers, rapists, etc., who have been caught and deported or in the process of being deported.

The second topic presented to Congressman Van Epps was the economy. “Jobs, or lack of them, is a major problem affecting Wayne County,” said Emma McWilliams, Staff Writer for The News. “Almost all the manufacturing industries located here in the 1980s and 1990s basically packed up and left, leaving hundreds of their employees jobless.”

“We must continue to make Wayne County a business-friendly environment,” said Congressman Van Epps. “Lower taxes, less regulations, things to make it favorable for companies to want to come to the 7th Congressional District, and to want to come to America, period.”

“I have recently spoken with representatives from industries that are interested in the possibility of establishing companies here in the Tennessee 7th District,” continued the congressman. “There are many real opportunities for businesses to come here, we just have to show them what all we have to offer. I am excited to work with Wayne County’s leaders to recruit and attract those industries.”

Congressman Van Epps’s next visit to Wayne County will be a town hall meeting where all county leaders and all Wayne Countians are invited. “I am truly excited to speak with county leaders and especially all 7th District constituents,” said the congressman.

The Wayne County News will publish the date and time of the town hall meeting as soon as it becomes available.