The Solutions Majority

This week, newly elected lawmakers as well as those returning to Congress will come together and be sworn in to represent the beliefs, values and viewpoints of every state across the nation. But with the start of this new Congress also comes a fresh majority that was decisively elected by the American people.

With the historic Republican victory in November that expanded the existing House majority and captured Senate control, the American people affirmed their desire for solutions that work. Since the last Republican wave in 2010 that took back the House, lawmakers have considered and passed legislation that would put the nation on fiscally-firm footing, address the president’s unworkable healthcare law, ease burdensome regulations for small businesses and pave the way for energy independence.

Most notably, Republicans have recommended tough choices to deal with our nation’s deficit. Since taking control of the House, these decisions have helped shrink the deficit from $1.4 trillion to less than $500 billion today. While that figure is still much too high and requires continued work ahead, it represents real progress in dealing with the deficit, especially in divided government.

While there were certainly some legislative victories over the last four years, there were countless House-passed pieces of legislation that were not even acknowledged or considered by the Senate. Due to the upper chamber’s lack of cooperation and failure to even vote on many items, few items made it to the president’s desk, which unfortunately allowed the president to hide behind the Senate, rather than lead.

Now with the Senate back on our side, I am eager to get to work with my colleagues to move important pieces of legislation that our country desperately needs. At first, that will include crafting a budget and passing legislation to finally approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Perhaps later on, legislative efforts in both chambers could include addressing problems with our immigration system.

As shown in recent events like the surge of illegal minors at our southern borders last summer, there is a real need to deal with our broken immigration system and enforce current law. It is unlikely that Congress and the president will agree on comprehensive legislation, but there are already areas of agreement—like border security, e-Verify, Visa reform and seasonal labor—that could be passed in pieces and sent to the president’s desk.

Regardless of the issue, the American people need solutions that repair our nation and ensure its success and resilience for our children and grandchildren. Republicans are ready to offer those solutions. It remains to be seen how the Administration will move forward—with us or against us. For the good of the nation he was elected to lead, I hope the president chooses to find common ground with this Congress.