E-Newsletters

Budgets are about priorities. The federal budget has to provide for our military men and women, protect Social Security and Medicare, and it must show that we are serious about getting control of the national debt.

Americans by and large have been disappointed with the results of Obamacare. Premiums have risen, small businesses have scaled back hiring, and many who liked their previous health care plans have been forced to give them up.

The House of Representatives has worked to protect Americans from the blow backs of Obamacare. Unfortunately, we have seen all of these attempts blocked by the President's allies in the Senate.

America is an energy-rich nation that acts like an energy-poor nation. Radical policies have prevented us from taking advantage of all the natural resources at our disposal, forcing us to rely on countries like Russia and Iran. That has to change.

The single most important responsibility of the federal government is ensuring this country maintains the strongest military on earth. We have to give our service men and women the resources they need to confront our enemies abroad before they become threats at home. Anything less is unacceptable.

The House recently passed the conference report to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a final step before this important legislation can be signed into law.

A lot of hard decisions will have to be made to get our nation's debt under control, but cutting duplicative and wasteful programs within the federal budget should be a no-brainer.

Every year the Government Accountability Office (GAO) puts out a report identifying billions of dollars' worth of waste in the federal budget, and every year these suggestions go ignored. That is simply unacceptable.

I am blessed to have three great kids. My youngest daughter just started her first year at Mizzou. The day we welcomed Emily into our family still doesn't seem that long ago.

Like any parent, I had so many emotions when my children were born. Mainly, I was relieved they were healthy, and just in awe of the miracle of life. But something else happened to me on those days. With the arrival of each of my children, I became more convinced that those of us who are pro-life are on the right side of the issue.

A few weeks ago, President Obama said that those of us who oppose his Iran deal are "crazies." What's actually crazy is that our President trusts Iran with a nuclear weapon.

It's crazy that the Obama administration's July 14 agreement provides billions in sanctions relief to the Iranian government. It's crazy that this deal only requires Iran to postpone expansion of its nuclear program for 10 years. And it's even crazier that it allows Iran to continue building a nuclear weapon after those 10 years are up.

As we celebrate Labor Day this weekend, we remember the sacrifices and hard work that have made America the greatest and most prosperous nation on earth.

For those of us in office, it is also a reminder of the responsibility to protect the free markets that have made that prosperity possible.

Government does not exist to create jobs, but rather to protect our country from its enemies and foster a climate where free markets can thrive. Ultimately, our goal is for everyone to have a shot at the American dream. Opportunity – above all else – must be protected.