Weekly Columns
This Fourth of July, I find myself recalling the story of Nathan Hale, an American patriot during the American Revolution who, at the young age of 21-years-old, served his nation by spying on the British. Hale posed as a Dutch schoolmaster while gathering information, but was later captured while trying to return to the Americans and sentenced to be hanged.
For too long, those on the Left have pushed the false narrative that only they care about our environment, attempting to dominate the environmental policy conversation. This could not be further from the truth. Conservation is a core tenant of Conservatism. Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, widely considered the father of conservation, established the National Park System.
Freshman year of college is hard for any young person. A child leaves home, often for the first time, to face a brand new world of independence and new ideas. While college should be a challenging experience, it should also be an environment open to exploring new concepts and refining one's own perspectives.
Those with a life-threatening illness or condition know that time is of the essence. This week, I reintroduced a bipartisan bill to cut red tape so patients with terminal conditions may quickly access lifesaving treatments with positive clinical data.
In his 1967 Inaugural Address, then California Governor Ronald Reagan spoke about his vision for democracy. "Perhaps you and I have lived with this miracle too long to be properly appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction.
This year's Memorial Day will be special for many Americans as our nation begins to return to normal, with many joining in-person gatherings with family and friends for the first time in over a year. As we celebrate the holiday weekend with cookouts, sunshine, and good food, let's take a moment to count our many blessings because of the sacrifices of others.
For months we waited with bated breath as Operation Warp Speed spurred vaccine development and began distribution at a record pace. Now, with the vast majority of Congress members and staff fully vaccinated, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi still refuses to end the harmful practices of proxy voting and remote committee hearings and remains defiant on masks on the House floor.
When did it become a polarizing, political statement to say that one "backs the blue?" Tragedy has caused our culture to spiral into an intense anti-police mindset that has demoralized and dehumanized our good and honorable men and women in uniform. With chants of "defund the police" come consequences that will only hurt the American way of life.
If you have yet to hear the story of Sara Kruzan, this is your sign to look her up. Sara has a harrowing story with a bittersweet ending. She was groomed by her abuser to be trafficked at the tender age of 11. Forced to live a life of prostitution until she was 16-years-old, Sara killed her trafficker to escape her abuse. She was then sentenced as an adult to life in prison without parole.
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to attend President Biden's Joint Address to Congress this week, not only because I have a deep respect for the institutions of Congress and the Presidency, but also because every President deserves to make his case to Congress and the nation.