Sunday is Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day, where we honor the mothers, fathers, siblings, and all other family members of the brave U.S. servicemembers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Military families, especially Gold Star Families, have sacrificed so much in defense of our nation. We will never forget these families’ and their fallen loved ones’ service and sacrifice. One way to honor them is to live a life worthy of their sacrifice. We must also make sure we each do our part to keep this nation free, safe, and strong.
Unfortunately, America’s freedom, safety, and strength are all under threat like never before.
Inflation remains up 8.3% from last year and is now costing the average household an extra $700 a month, or over $8,000 out of your pockets this year. Democrats’ “Inflation Reduction Act” and President Joe Biden’s student loan bailout plan will only raise your taxes and make this inflation crisis even worse.
At our border, for the first time ever, more than 2 million illegal crossings have been recorded in a single fiscal year. Last week we learned that nearly 80 people on the terrorist watchlist attempted to cross. Failing to secure the border and stop these illegal crossings, as well as the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl, is a threat to every community in America.
In our communities, violent crime has skyrocketed. National homicide and aggravated assault rates have risen roughly 50% and 36%, respectably, compared to this time in 2019.
Our nation is facing difficult times, and the American people deserve solutions. However, my Democrat colleagues don’t have a plan to address these issues. House Republicans, on the other hand, have a plan.
On Friday, House Republicans introduced our “Commitment to America,” a detailed plan to take our country in a new direction and establish a future of security, freedom, and prosperity for you and your family. You can read our plan at CommitmentToAmerica.com.
First, we have a plan for an economy that’s strong. The economy remains the most pressing issue facing families across this country. We are committed to getting it back on track by slashing reckless spending, cutting taxes, and fostering an economic environment that encourages growth, job creation, and lowers costs.
We also have a plan for a nation that’s safe. In short, we will reduce crime and secure our border. We will work to tackle the crime wave plaguing our communities by rejecting the liberal anti-police and soft-on-crime agenda and giving law enforcement the resources and support they need to get the job done. We will also work to secure our border through enacting proven, commonsense measures such as keeping “Remain in Mexico” in place and finishing the wall.
Beyond this, we have a plan to secure a future built on freedom. This means giving you control of what happens in your kids’ school, and it means confronting big tech censorship. It also means personalizing your health care to provide affordable options and better quality. Last week, I helped move us in the right direction when the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed my bipartisan MOBILE Health Care Act, a critical piece of legislation for expanding health care access in rural and underserved communities.
Finally, we also have a plan to build a government that’s accountable. This starts by standing up for your God-given rights and safeguarding the First and Second Amendments from progressive overreach. It also means making sure the government in Washington fulfills its obligations to the American people. The federal government exists to serve you, and Congress has the responsibility to ensure it is doing just that. Unfortunately, too many in Washington have forgotten this. Government has become too big and too unaccountable. For example, last week, I called on Congress to get answers from the Biden administration on issues like the origins of COVID-19 and how billions of your tax dollars have been spent to expand broadband access. Unfortunately, Democrats blocked these questions.
Under the one-party rule in Washington, our nation has faced challenges like never before. But House Republicans have a plan to fix it. Rest assured, I will never stop working on my commitment to you and to our nation by securing an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable to you.
Richard Hudson is serving his fifth term representing North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and in House leadership as the Republican Conference Secretary.
