Weekly Columns

Despite the rosy picture President Biden paints this week in his state of the union address, he cannot deflect blame and ignore the numerous concerns that are facing our nation. The reality is the state of the union is weaker and families are struggling because of Biden’s far-left policies. A recent NBC poll found that 71% of Americans believe our country is on the wrong track, clearly indicating that the leader of our nation is out of touch with the true needs of the American people.

In life, there are certain situations that catch you off guard and inspire you to enact change. Learning about the heartbreaking acts of fertility fraud committed on families across the nation is one of those situations. When I watched the Netflix documentary “Our Father” and heard that there have been hundreds of cases where fertility doctors knowingly implanted their own genetic material into their female patients without their knowledge or consent, I was enraged.

The Republican majority is in full swing. Committee chairs and memberships are in the process of being formed. On the House floor, we’ve passed a strong, conservative rules package and multiple pieces of effective legislation that align with the Republican Commitment to America.

Last week, the American people saw Democracy at work. Although it can be messy sometimes, that is how our nation’s founders intended Congress to function. We emerged with a strong Speaker of the House and a rules package without concessions, but with great conservative wins. I voted each time for Kevin McCarthy because he is best prepared to lead the Republican majority. Oklahomans elected me to provide a check and balance on the Biden Administration and to find solutions to the numerous problems facing our nation, and I’m committed to doing just that.

As this year comes to an end, I’ve taken time to reflect on my first term in the United States Congress. Two years ago, I came to Washington as the Freshman Class President eager to learn and lead. Although, we were in the minority, and under different circumstances due to COVID-19 shutdowns and protocols, it’s been exciting to witness the People’s House slowly come back to life. I’ve been able to have productive constituent meetings in Washington while also visiting dozens of organizations around Oklahoma’s Fifth District.

The most wonderful time of the year is in full swing. Americans across the country are last minute gift shopping, cooking festive meals, and traveling to visit family. Although this is typically a joyous and busy time for many, it’s important to pause and remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Last week, the House passed the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act. This is the single most important piece of legislation to come out of the Armed Services committees annually. This year’s legislation is named after Senator Inhofe, in honor of his tremendous legacy of serving on this committee and advocating for our servicemembers and the safety and security of our nation. The House and Senate both passed their respective versions earlier this year, and lawmakers have since been discussing the differences.

As we approach the end of the year, which means the end of the 117^th Congress, both the House and Senate are left with major pieces of legislative work incomplete. Democrats control the process in both the House and Senate, and one-party rule has led us to this stalemate.