Real Achievements

Despite the commonly held opinion that this has been an unproductive Congress, I believe that this year lawmakers have proved that the federal government can function under regular order and responsibly get the work of the American people done. It is especially encouraging that, even in the era of divided government, there are a number of legislative achievements that can make all Americans rest assured that the work of the people, through their elected representatives, is indeed getting done.

Since this spring, lawmakers have been working on legislation to responsibly fund the government, and this year marked the first time since 2006 that all 12 spending bills were passed through the Appropriations Committee in both chambers. In the House of Representatives, six of those funding bills passed by bipartisan majority votes on the floor.

However, it wasn’t until after a long negotiation between leaders in both chambers of Congress and in communication with the president that worry of another government shutdown was finally laid to rest. Guided by funding levels previously agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Act and spending recommendations from the groundwork laid in the Appropriations subcommittees, the resulting “omnibus” legislation passed before Christmas represented an acceptable, albeit imperfect, compromise. Passed by a strong majority in Congress and signed by the president, it not only keeps the government open but it provides financial peace and much needed stability for a full fiscal year. It is important to note that more than 60 percent of the spending in the so-called omnibus bill went to fund the military and support our veterans.

During the same week that Congress passed vital legislation to fund the government, lawmakers also supported and the president signed into law a bill that permanently extends more than 20 temporary tax provisions. In addition to helping out individuals and job creators and boosting economic growth, the law also encourages comprehensive tax reform, reduces potential fraud and abuse within tax credit programs and seeks to further rein in the power of the IRS. This was a responsible, sensible measure than not only gives greater certainty to businesses as they make plans for investments and potential expansion, but also spares American taxpayers from burdensome and immediate tax increases. In the days ahead, it will certainly empower American job creators, benefit American workers and give the American economy the best chance to succeed.

Earlier this spring, I was pleased that Congress secured and the president signed into law some real entitlement reform through legislation that permanently replaced the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate that had often short-changed Medicare reimbursements for doctors. Rather than relying on another temporary and expensive “doc-fix” solution, lawmakers offered an alternative to the broken payment model that properly compensates physicians and allows patients to receive the best possible care. The legislation also lowered Medicare’s unfunded liabilities by nearly $3 trillion. But even more recently, the budget deal passed in October included a provision that saved Social Security Disability payments from a nearly 20 percent cut and still lowered the long-term cost of the program.

Another landmark achievement during this Congress was passage of legislation to invest in our nation’s roads, bridges and rail. In fact, this Congress marked the first time since 2005 that a multi-year “highway bill” made it through both chambers and was signed into law by the president. At its core, the legislation showed commitment to a safe, efficient and well-maintained infrastructure. It will offer greater certainty to state and local projects, help move people and products and keep our economy strong and vibrant.

For the first time since 2002, Congress worked to improve the educational outlook for students across the entire nation through passage of legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Specifically and most notably, the legislation that was signed into law by the president repealed No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which had excessively increased the federal government’s role in K-12 education in every state in the country. Instead of an excessive federal role like that mandated by NCLB, the ESEA Conference Report ushers in an era that allows states and local education leaders to develop criteria and maintain responsibility for measuring the success of students and schools, address failures and fill learning gaps. It also prohibits a federal mandate requiring states to follow Common Core standards and protects private and home schools from needless federal interference.

This year, both chambers of Congress passed unquestionably bipartisan legislation to address human trafficking. In February, the House dedicated an entire week to consideration and passage of 12 bipartisan bills to improve enforcement of current law, ensure captors and those paying them are held accountable for their crimes, provide better recovery resources and encourage awareness training in communities. Later in the spring, both chambers passed the Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act of 2015, which was signed into law at the end of May.

Throughout the year, lawmakers acted in bipartisan cooperation to pass legislation that keeps the promises made to our veterans. The president signed into law the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act and the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2015. Other legislation passed included measures to reform mismanagement and address abuses at the Department of Veterans Affairs, improve veteran access to quality care, ensure veterans receive their earned benefits and help veterans succeed in the workforce following their military service.

In light of rising concerns about the threat posed by ISIL, lawmakers passed legislation directly in response to perceived holes in the system for bringing in refugees and weak spots in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for accepting visitors. Both bills were written and passed with the goal of strengthening the screening process and preventing terrorists from entering the United States under the ruse of a refugee or temporary visitor. I am pleased that the omnibus spending bill included the House-recommended changes to VWP in order to prevent acts of terrorism by visitors to the United States.

Finally, the House recently experienced a fresh change in leadership. After the retirement of Speaker John Boehner, I was very pleased that Paul Ryan was pressed into service by his colleagues and encouraged to take his place. Speaker Ryan is not only an accomplished legislator who has chaired two major committees and served as his party's nominee for Vice President, but he has also demonstrated the ability to effectively articulate a conservative vision that has the ability to attract support far beyond the Republican base.

While some of these things may not be earth-shaking achievements, they are certainly real achievements. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a testament that people of good will, even when they have sharp political differences, can still work together for the good of all Americans.