Weekly Columns

Less than two weeks ago, Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the Supreme Court after three decades of service. Appointed by President Reagan in 1988, Justice Kennedy was one of the court's conservative voices, though in recent years he has been the deciding "swing vote" in many high-profile cases. Following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, then candidate Donald Trump made it one of his campaign promises to appoint a justice whose judicial philosophy would emulate that of the late Justice's.

It is often said that the United States is a nation of immigrants. Indeed, other than our Native American population, that is true. Historically, the United States has been one of the most generous countries in terms of allowing people born in other parts of the world to legally enter the country and live the American dream. The U.S. currently accepts over a million immigrants a year legally. Despite this generous policy, many people continue to enter the country illegally.

The U.S.

As the leader on the global stage, the United States is re-entering an era of military preeminence. Our nation's military needs to be restored to advance America's competitive military advantage to rival those of nation's like China and Russia, as stated in the recent National Defense Strategy. We now believe that the greatest threat to America is not terrorism, but the reemergence of great power rivals like China and Russia.

It has been quite a busy week in Washington, D.C., and despite the fervor and fireworks on Capitol Hill, Congress has accomplished a number of legislative items amongst the debate on immigration. Although that debate is still occurring, some of the fundamental work that Congress is obligated to complete has progressed. Each year, Congress is required by law to produce and present a budget that responsibly spends outlines federal spending. However, Congress has been faced with the challenge on how to control and reform excessive spending.

What seemed to be once impossible, has finally come to fruition. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last week. For the first time in history, a U.S. President and a North Korean leader met in an official capacity in an effort to strengthen ties and reach a peace agreement. President Trump has achieved something previous Administrations have not been able to do.

Our economy is witnessing an exciting change that is affecting millions. With thousands of new jobs and a reformed, working tax system, Americans everywhere are benefitting from the recent economic boost that is bound to deliver continued long-term results. But in just a few short months, our nation's economy has seen the immediate effects of healthy economic and tax policies.

Since President Trump was elected, the stock market has displayed enormous confidence and has repeatedly closed at record numbers.

In recent years, our country has been ravaged by a deadly epidemic that is destroying communities and families alike. The opioid crisis has been a devastating battle for Americans young and old, and combatting this epidemic has become one of the most significant challenges facing families and communities across the nation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 115 American die each day from an opiate overdose. That is one American every 13 minutes. In fact, drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among Americans under 50.