Weekly Columns

After three full weeks of legislative business in Washington, it’s refreshing to be back in Oklahoma just in time for Small Business Week. Throughout my service to the Fourth District, I’ve had the great privilege of meeting numerous individuals who either own or work for a small business. During every visit and after every story I hear, I am reminded that American prosperity rides on the success of Main Street.

The increasing boldness that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS) continues to display makes it abundantly clear that the president has badly underestimated its resolve to wage jihad against our allies in the Middle East and, eventually, the United States. Considering that the terrorist group has already been responsible for killing Americans and attacking a number of our allies, it should be clearly evident that the United States cannot ignore the escalating conflict.

There are some dates that you remember with complete clarity for the rest of your life. Without question, Oklahomans will never forget where we were and what we were doing on April 19, 1995. The memory of that day 20 years ago will remain permanently imprinted in my mind as long as I live.

As threats of terrorism continue to unfold around the globe, particularly through the spread of extremist groups in the Middle East, it is critical for America to show strength and focus in its dealings with friends and foes alike. Beyond condemning specific acts and sponsors of terror, our country must be guided by a clear strategy in our dealings abroad, including our approach to our relationships with both allied partners and those who wish us harm.

Each year when it comes time for filing income taxes, hardworking Americans are forced to navigate what has become a needlessly complicated process. Because of the headaches associated with gathering or finding the necessary filing documents, navigating the tricky instructions and wondering still if you covered all your bases, it’s no wonder that many rely on paid professionals to comply or end up requesting an extension.

With the March 31 deadline for initial negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 just days away, I am very concerned by the president’s failure to consult Congress and his lack of stated intention to do so. Concern over what the new framework could include for Iran’s nuclear program is not a partisan issue. In fact, members on both sides of the aisle have told the president to err on the side of caution and remember the history of our relationship with Iran.

In households across the United States, many families already understand that getting out of debt and staying out of debt requires a budget. Like the countless families who recognize the importance of setting spending limits and living within their means, Republicans have long agreed that the federal government should follow the same example.

Sometimes referred to as the guarantor of the rest of our constitutional rights, the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution has rightly remained a fundamental freedom in American society. While we have come a long way as a nation and certainly look different today than our first years, it doesn’t erase or change the importance of “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms.” For even the most fundamental freedoms must be looked after in order to preserve American liberty for future generations.