Reclaiming a Confident America
As we enter into 2016, it’s interesting to see things through a couple of different lenses:
- As a lawmaker working toward the end of my final term. I’m looking to finalize priority policies I’ve worked on in Congress — issues and solutions from Bucks County: the Saracini Aviation Safety Act, Fairness to Veterans and others;
- As a member of Congress working with a president who is preparing to leave the White House. My efforts have always been to find common ground and advance shared objectives — and, to that end, President Obama has signaled support for things like bipartisan criminal justice reform. However, we’re also seeing executive orders on guns and far-fetched policy ideas like taxing individual oil barrels to fund green energy projects as he tries to round out his presidential legacy;
- As an American watching the presidential races. We’re seeing the media’s reoccurring-four-year obsession with horse-race politics and national polling, the emergence of new candidates and ideas and the seemingly existential crisis in both parties about what merits “conservatism” or “progressivism”.
With this unique view, I believe it’s important to take stock in where we have been and where we are going. I can only speak for myself, but ultimately I believe this type of autopsy is crucial to the success of our Union moving forward — we simply cannot continue down the path we are on.
It’s been said that 2016 is nothing short of a generational defining moment. And surely we can see we are at a fork in a road — trust in government is at an all-time low, faith in elected officials to put politics aside and accomplish real goals is faltering and — as we’ve seen this cycle — anger has reared its head as a force in civic engagement.
But anger is not a platform, and distrust not a mandate.
The exchange of ideas and the embrace of ideals — always has been the heart of American political and governmental discourse — and must continue to be. If we do not like the direction the country is going, then we have an obligation to offer an alternative. We need to regain confidence in America.
That is why one of the most encouraging things I’ve seen recently is Speaker Paul Ryan’s call for a ‘Confident America’ — one that embraces a bold, pro-growth agenda that restores faith in a government of, by and for the people.
By giving the American people a clear choice of ideas and policies; shattering the notion of what is possible in divided government; and restoring institutional trust we can restore the belief in what makes our nation great.
A good place to start when diagnosing a problem is one’s self. In that vein, I believe for too long, the Republican Party has been — as Speaker Ryan puts it — simply an “opposition party” not a “proposition party” that provides contesting ideas to the failing policies in action.
To that end, I am joining with members of Congress of every stripe to embrace the central tenets of the Speaker’s call for a Confident America and provide alternative ideas on issues from foreign policy to poverty reduction. Simply put: There is no issue which we should cede to the status quo.
Let’s begin with arguably the most important issue facing our country right now — one we’re seeing played out in Congress, on TV screens and debate stages: National Security.
Americans are anxious about their security, and they’re concerned about their government’s ability to keep them safe. That’s why we must advance ideas to secure our homeland, build a 21st-century military, and make sure we’re equipped to defeat the threats posed by both radical Islamic terror and rogue nations.
As chairman of the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, I’m working at the nexus of terrorism and finance — something that is quickly becoming the front line in the war against ISIS. Without money, even a group as evil as ISIS cannot function; to choke out their ability to fund their acts, America and its allies must strengthen efforts to address functions like trade-based money laundering — the theme of our most recent hearing — and illicit oil sales.
Additionally, as reports last week highlight, those who seek to do us harm are actively trying to take advantage of our compassion for fleeing refugees. I’ve supported bipartisan legislation like the American SAFE Act which ensures the proper and complete security screening of refugees before they’re allowed to enter the county, as well as reform our Visa Waiver Program.
And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Saracini Aviation Safety Act — named after Bucks County pilot Victor Saracini — to better secure the cockpits of our airliners from terrorists who would use them as weapons — as on 9/11.
A strong and secure nation can only be strong with Economic Growth.
Our economy is far from its potential: wages are stagnant for too many Americans and growth is still sluggish — -Meanwhile, we’re being told monthly the economy is recovering. To truly achieve the growth needed to restore American economic greatness, we must present and enact ideas to fix our tax code, rein in the regulatory state, and maximize our energy potential.
That begins by supporting local growth on Main Street, not just Wall Street. Bills like my Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act which passed the House in this Congress addresses the realities of Washington regulations that target big banks, while crushing the smaller ones. Or by providing the certainty small businesses and manufacturers need to develop and hire through the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act which made permanent over 20 key tax provisions, and extended others beyond the year-to-year cycle they’d fallen in.
And how about setting up our veterans to succeed in the private sector by putting veteran-owned businesses on the front lines of rebuilding our nation’s roads and bridges? That’s what my Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act does. It passed the House with a veto-proof majority and now needs to be taken up in the Senate.
The one major stumbling block holding back sustained economic growth is the woeful state of our nation’s health care system.
Obamacare has driven up premiums, limited choices and hurt the doctor-patient relationship. The House recently voted to repeal the president’s healthcare law. I supported the effort, as well as policies that ensure that, if repealed, consumer protections and access to health insurance coverage would be maintained until a truly patient-centered health care system replacement is put in place.
Serving our constituents is what we do in Congress, but too often we overlook those most in need. If America is serious about being the land of opportunity, its leaders must commit to combating poverty and barriers to success.
Right now, there are 46 million Americans still trapped in poverty even 50 years out from declaring war on it. Maybe it’s time we rethink our strategy — and do it without impugning the motives of would-be reformers.
I’m working with Republicans and Democrats to advance ideas that will bring people back into the workforce, and restore the upward mobility that is at the heart of the American ideal. Policies like the Community Economic Opportunity Act which empowers the Bucks County Opportunity Council and others by reauthorizing the successful Community Service Block Grant program that takes aim on the root causes of poverty: lack of education, workforce skills or financial literacy
And, at the heart of this effort remains the goal of restoring trust in government by reestablishing the bonds of constitutional authority and regular order.
Three co-equal branches of government with very specific roles. When we stay in those lanes, we get things done — It’s a fact. But when one branch overreaches, it undermines the Constitution and damages the people’s trust in government — regardless of party.
We must always support ideas to restore the separation of powers and protect our constitutional liberties. To stay within our bounds, Congress must restore ‘regular order’ — the normal process where every member has a crack at writing a bill or having their voice heard through the amendment process, and where we bring specific bills through the regular system — — avoiding big bills and cliff-side theatrics.
And, we must reform Congress itself. Term limits, no pay raises, end member pensions, No Budget No Pay, and stopping the revolving door from representative to lobbyist.
Only once these efforts are made — when Americans can see Congress acknowledging they themselves are part of the problem — will the healing process begin.
We could say this is a unique time in our nation’s history. Anger and distrust in the age of the internet, Facebook comment sections and partisan blogs represent the ‘new normal.’
But I refuse to believe that our best days are behind us. A Confident America is attainable only if we are willing to challenge the status quo, rethink our strategies and embrace our strengths.
And, the good thing is, I see that outcome as possible through every lens.
Remarks as prepared for delivery. Address to the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce — Feb.9, 2016
