Looking Forward, 2024 Goals
As we enter 2024, many of us throughout Oklahoma are setting goals for the New Year. This is a time to focus on what we would like to accomplish and things we would like to achieve. For the remainder of this Congress, I will be working to deliver results and increase quality of life for Oklahomans throughout the Fifth Congressional District. These efforts will focus on two major initiatives: safeguarding our nation and revitalizing our economy.
In order to effectively safeguard our nation, we must secure our southern border. The Biden Administration's lack of action on this critical issue poses a serious threat to our national security. Since Biden took office, there have been over 8 million illegal crossings nationwide and an additional 1.7 million known gotaways. In the 2023 fiscal year alone, 169 people whose names appear on the terrorist watchlist were stopped trying to cross the Southern Border. We have never seen such an influx of illegal crossings, and this is due to the Biden Administration, who took more than 60 actions to undermine our border security. It is past time that Senate Democrats consider legislation such as H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, which the House passed at the beginning of 2023. This legislation will increase the number of Border Patrol agents, end catch and release, strengthen and streamline the asylum process, and deploy new technology to the border. In addition, we should pass my legislation, Kate’s Law, which would impose a mandatory minimum sentence for any person who has multiple convictions, or a conviction of an aggravated felony, who enters the country illegally. This year alone, Kate’s Law would have stopped the deaths of multiple Americans who were killed by criminally convicted illegal immigrants.
When it comes to the economy, inflation remains a significant concern for every single Oklahoman. Despite attempts by the media and the Biden Administration to downplay it, prices continue to remain high. The price of food is 20.2% higher than January 2021. The drastic increase in costs has strained wallets, with many individuals facing tough choices between essentials like food to feed their families and gas to get to work. The federal government must prioritize stimulating economic growth rather than stifling it. Workforce initiatives are paramount. We must create partnerships that help employers and educational institutions identify and fill workforce needs. My legislation, the Workforce and Education Partnership Act, does just that by expanding existing grant programs which seek to fill vacancies for companies across the country and providing employment opportunities for all.
Republicans in the House are unwavering in our commitment to addressing these issues throughout the year. However, it is important to remember that we only control one-half of one-third of the federal government. It will require dedication, but our goal is clear: to see America prosper without government hindrance. Together, we must work towards a future where our citizens can thrive and our great nation continues to flourish.