Weekly Columns

This Veterans Day, I hope you will join me in taking a moment to thank the veterans in our community who have dedicated their lives to service to our great nation. As global conflict persists, it is imperative that we continue to recognize the hard work and sacrifices made by servicemembers, veterans, and their families so we can live in freedom. Today as we enjoy peace and liberty in America, service members stand ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Tens of thousands are already deployed overseas across the world.

The U.S. House of Representatives is back in business. In just three days, we passed appropriations legislation to fund the legislative branch and the Department of the Interior and provide military assistance to Israel, all while reining in reckless government spending and bureaucracy.  When the phrase, “power of the purse,” is invoked, the appropriations process is where Congress, and especially the House, has an opportunity to exercise that power.

One in every five students has a language-based learning disability, most commonly dyslexia.  Although dyslexia is such a common condition and much headway has occurred, all too often schools are not well equipped to diagnose and treat it. Until identification of dyslexia is done in a much more timely and consistent manner, students will continue to be prevented from getting the services and accommodations that are in line with scientific, evidence-based practices which will greatly benefit them in learning to read.

If you’ve been following the news at all in Washington, you’ve seen that the House Republican Conference is at a serious inflection point. At the time of this writing, we still have no Speaker of the House, and every day that goes by without a plan will have massive implications for the future of our nation. Israel is at war, Biden’s border crisis continues unchecked, the Senate has yet to pass a single appropriations bill, and funding for the government runs out in a matter of weeks.

It’s hard to put into words the evil that is plaguing the Middle East right now. On Saturday, we woke to learn that Hamas terrorists launched an unprovoked attack on Israel with no regard for the lives of civilian men, women, children, or babies. Many people have never experienced or even imagined the violence and evil inflicted on innocent Israelis by the Hamas terrorists. It is a disgrace to humanity. 

Since day one, House Republicans, under the leadership of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, remained dedicated to putting America on a better path forward. We made a commitment to America to deliver an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future that’s built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable.

We all know that life is about making choices. Serving in Congress requires making big choices on a big stage that are forever chronicled in our vote record. And making choices is about setting priorities. House Republicans have made it clear that cutting spending, securing the border, and keeping our men and women in uniform paid are our top priorities. On Friday, my vote reflected that.

The Biden Administration’s misguided open border policies have led to a historic crisis affecting the entire nation, making every community a border community. Since President Biden took office, there have been more than 5.8 illegal crossings at the southern border. Many illegal immigrants are going to “sanctuary cities,” like New York City, but they’re buckling under the massive influx. Even the progressive New York City Mayor recently stated that the current border policies will “destroy the city.”