E-Newsletters
As I write, our government is mired in the midst of a shutdown for the first time since 1996. Congress' inability to reach an agreement to keep the government open is extremely unfortunate as it personally affects so many Americans.
As I traveled the Sixth Congressional District throughout August, I met with constituents from all walks of life: from farmers in Macon and small business owners in Lee's Summit to teachers in Hamilton and law enforcement officers in Canton.
This past week, our nation commemorated the 12th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We must always keep alive the memory of those we lost, and recall the heroic acts of valor that occurred that day, as firefighters and office workers, police officers and tourists, all worked together to save lives and comfort a nation.
I'm committed to making sure that we take care of those at home who have protected and fought for our freedom abroad. It's a commitment we made and a commitment we must keep. That's why I was proud to support several veterans-related bills in this session of Congress.
John Marshall, the longest serving Supreme Court Justice in history, once noted that, "To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well." Indeed, throughout my time in Congress, I have believed you can learn a lot more by listening.
A candidate vying to be president of the United States once said: "For three long years I have been going up and down this country preaching that government – federal, state and local – costs too much….we must abolish useless offices. We must eliminate unnecessary functions of government.
As high school students begin returning to the classroom, many of them will be thinking about their futures. Some that you know may be considering serving our nation in one of the branches of the military.
In some regards, recent headlines it seem more like 1973 than 2013 right now. From the IRS targeting to the Benghazi attacks, from running guns to planning luxurious retreats on the taxpayer dime, our government is out of control.
Washington has simply gotten too big, too bloated, and too intrusive in our everyday lives. That's why this past week, the House of Representatives passed a package of bills designed to rein in excess, punish abuse, and hold bureaucrats accountable.
In 2010, Nancy Pelosi said we needed to pass the president's healthcare law in order to find out what was in it. It turns out, even those who voted to pass the law are still finding out what is in it, three years later.