Weekly Columns

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. Freedom has always come with a high price, and it is our privilege to remember the men and women who died in service so that we may continue to enjoy our freedom.

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. Upholding the rule of law is one of the most basic tenets of American government. Without it, our government doesn't function, and our society slips into chaos.

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.

Conservation is inherently conservative. While the Left has radicalized the narrative on environmental issues, I'm here to set the record straight. A strong economy and a clean environment go hand in hand. I was proud to re-introduce my bill, the Trillion Trees Act this week as a part of House Republicans' energy innovation agenda. The Trillion Trees Act is an important step in supporting market-based solutions to climate issues that we can all get behind.

For every bad idea put forth in the House of Representatives by the Democrat majority, it seems another, even more radical piece of legislation follows right behind it. This week, Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) filed legislation to expand the Supreme Court from nine justices to 13 claiming that he is not packing the court, but rather, "unpacking it." He said the bill would "restore balance to the nation's highest court after four years of norm-breaking actions by Republicans led to its current composition."

About a month ago, I took to social media to ask the people of Arkansas' Fourth District to nominate their fellow residents who have gone above and beyond to selflessly serve others in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The response was staggering! We received an incredible number of inspirational stories of those who gave back to their communities while expecting nothing in return. Last week, I visited 17 of these Hometown Heroes to congratulate them on their service and listen to their stories.