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Now more than ever, I am committed to supporting our troops and keeping our country safe and secure. One of the most important bills that Congress passes annually, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), will be voted on by House Members this week. As our military faces unprecedented challenges, and America is experiencing countless national security crises, this bill is crucial in protecting our nation and supporting those who risk their lives to keep us safe.

Our country will never be the same. Our lives as we knew them ended while we watched terrorists attack innocent civilians in our beloved nation on September 11, 2001. As I reflect on the past two decades, I recognize all that our country lost and sacrificed on that fateful day, and in the days that followed, how we unified to preserve our American values of strength and freedom that terrorists sought to destroy.

National security, defense, and supporting our military are top priorities of mine, which is why it is an honor to serve on the House Armed Services Committee. Each year, the committee is responsible for crafting legislation that makes changes to the policies of United States defense agencies and provides guidelines for military funding for the next fiscal year, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Each year, Congress constructs a federal budget outlining spending for the next fiscal year. That budget is designed to help guide the fiscal trajectory of our nation, and provide transparency for the American people to know how Congress is spending their tax dollars.

Last week, the House passed S. Con. Res. 14 along party lines to begin the budget reconciliation process in the House. Democrats introduced a budget resolution of $3.5 trillion, which calls for the highest sustained federal spending levels in American history.

Domestic energy production drives employment and lowers the cost of fuel and electricity for families and businesses, in addition to helping American allies across the globe. Over time, the United States has achieved environmental progress without sacrificing jobs, economic growth, or energy security. If we alter our energy policies to rely on foreign countries, all of that will change. Now is the time to lay the groundwork in our energy sector for future generations to come.

The events unfolding daily in Afghanistan are a tragedy that could have been avoided. Instead of swift, decisive action, our president ignored the warnings of an abrupt departure from Afghanistan resulting in the capital of Kabul being overrun by the Taliban, leaving the country again under the control of the terrorist group.