Letters To The Editor For September 3

Here are today’s Letters to the Editors…

Submitted by Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick of Levittown:

This January, the largest Republican Congressional majority since 1931 was sworn into office, retaining the House of Representatives and retaking the Senate. While some political pundits and puritanical partisans seemed content with declaring victory based on just those results, I knew that history would judge us not by party, but by what we accomplished for the hardworking people we represent.

If America is to remain the land of freedom and opportunity for all, its leaders must find solutions to the challenges it faces. With that simple understanding, the start of this Congress has taken major steps to accomplish that lofty goal.

In the first seven months of the 114^th Congress, we have taken bold action to address the most significant issues facing our nation. And the numbers back us up: Through the first quarter of this Congress, the House has passed 190 bills while considering 200 more amendments than the average Congress over the last quarter century, ensuring opposition voices and bipartisan cooperation.Thirty-two of those bills passed the Senate and were sent to the president’s desk. Over the last three decades, only one other Republican controlled House has had more bills signed into law.

But with legislation, the numbers don’t always tell the whole story and passing bad legislation yields bad results. But, for this Congress, the legislation passed and oversight championed firmly represent solutions to the trials we face:

Growing Our Economy:

We’ve cleared that path for an economic surge that grows family paychecks, not Washington’s power, by modernizing education policies, promoting American energy and providing meaningful tax relief for small businesses.

Serving Our Veterans:

This Congress has taken that commitment seriously by reforming the VA in the wake of unacceptable scandal and providing much needed bipartisan committee oversight. Likewise, we’ve come together to overhaul how we identify and address the PTSD and veteran mental health issues.

Standing for Our Values:

In bipartisan fashion, the 114^th Congress has worked to advance legislation protecting our kids in school from predators by ending the practice of “passing the trash,” updating the U.S. response to the modern-day slavery of human trafficking and protecting our most vulnerable – including seniors and the under-served.

Reforming Our Government:

In a push for a more transparent and accountable government, we’ve advanced checks on executive and agency overreach, put forth the first joint balanced budget proposal in a decade and continued the historic ban on earmarks.

Protecting Our Nation:

At a dangerous time in our world, members of both parties have committed to a strong national defense through increased oversight of terror financing, updates to cyber security measures and a strident commitment for allies like Ukraine and Israel in the face of threats.

Those are our priorities because they are the priorities of the American people.

By breaking the log-jam that for too long deactivated Congress, we have seen a rise in bipartisan cooperation and achievement. No Labels has jumped on the opportunity to ensure Congress continues moving forward, introducing resolutions in both chambers which outline a bipartisan national strategic agenda. This first of its kind push, of which I am a co-sponsor, outlines a governing vision to accomplish common goals and fits into a new-look Congress laser focused on results for all Americans. I will continue to advocate this resolution in the coming months and advance my work with members of both parties on common ground issues.

Bottom line: We need to have policies that are right for America.

When Congress reconvenes this fall the agenda will be heavy with issues that require definitive action by Republicans and Democrats in both chambers. Almost immediately we will take on the administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran, finalizing a budget, tackling the debt ceiling and passing legislation that once-and-for-all restores our nation’s infrastructure.

Each of these items is crucial to the continued to success of our country and the rebuilding of faith in Congress; we cannot let the bipartisan momentum built early in this Congress fade. As representatives, we will be successful as long as we are committed to working together toward the common goal of a stronger, more prosperous United States – and taking responsibility for the future.

Submit Your Letter to the Editor

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