Weekly Columns

Especially during this time of year, Oklahomans are on high alert for the possibility of severe weather. Just six years ago, my hometown of Moore was devastated by a massive and intense storm, which caused terrible damage and heartbreaking loss of life. Unfortunately, recent tornados and massive flooding have already dealt devastating blows to many communities across our state this year. After the destruction caused over the weekend, my thoughts and prayers are with those grieving the loss of loved ones in El Reno.

Ever since our brave forebearers declared America's independence, the United States has been a beacon of liberty, hope and opportunity. Indeed, America is still regarded the world over as a land where success can be achieved regardless of where you've come from. And that is because our forebearers trusted free people, free speech and free markets – all of which continue to undergird the "American dream."

During Military Appreciation Month, we rightly join in expressing gratitude for our service members, their families and the daily sacrifices they make on our behalf. It is because of their selfless service that Americans wake up every day with the privilege of peace and freedom at home.

Last week, the House Rules Committee held the first ever legislative hearing on the Democrats' so-called Medicare for All proposal. Both the inaugural forum and the legislation itself reveal a lot about the Democratic majority's priorities in the U.S. House of Representatives.

America is a nation set apart because of the precious freedoms that exist here. Our distinct existence was settled because of patriots who first dreamed of liberty and fought hard to secure it for future generations. Liberty remains our foundation because of generations of Americans who resolved to preserve it.

On April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed, and the United States entered the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as one of 12 founding member countries. Seven decades later, the transatlantic alliance endures, and it has grown to include 29 countries, pledging still to face aggressors and security threats together.

As penned in the Declaration of Independence, our forefathers founded this nation with the strong belief that individuals are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." Among those is the right to life, which influences my commitment to protecting the most vulnerable, including the unborn.