Columns

A month from now, we will welcome a new year and a new Congress with a new majority. For the 118^th Congress House Republicans have put forward our Commitment to America agenda. In the new Republican Majority, we will work to rein in reckless government spending, strengthen and make permanent the tax relief included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), maximize take-home pay for all Americans, and build an economy that’s strong.

As many of you know, this harvest season has been a tough one for Third District farmers. Arid conditions across Nebraska contributed to an expedited harvest completion and severely diminished yields. Ongoing drought has taken its toll, and yields for crops such as corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and sorghum are expected to be down significantly from last year. As consumers face record inflation at the grocery store and we’re seeing global food insecurity, we must do what we can to reduce barriers, not add them, for Nebraska farmers to feed and fuel America and the world.

Pausing to reflect on the heroic service of the servicemembers in our nation’s history is an important American tradition. Extending recognition for the immeasurable impact our veterans have made through selfless devotion and love for the United States is why we pause each Veterans Day. We can never fully repay those who have put their lives on the line for freedom in America and around the world, but we can work to ensure those who have served and sacrificed have access to the care and benefits they have earned.

In October, Creighton University’s nine-state Mid-American Economy Report showed the survey’s Business Confidence Index reached its lowest level since March 2020. This is a far cry from the promises of a thriving economy President Biden made as a candidate before taking office. Recent polling by the Economist and YouGov reveals 66 percent of Americans believe the country has become more politically divided since then, and 63 percent of Americans foresee the divisions getting worse in the next few years.

As American families continue to battle historic inflation at 8.2 percent, Nebraskans are feeling the pain every time they reach for their wallets. According to the Joint Economic Committee, households in Nebraska are spending an extra $759 each month, or more than $9,000 annually, because of inflation.

As Vladimir Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine continues and China’s aggression towards Taiwan intensifies, we must take steps to ensure we have sound national security policy at home and abroad. Iran, which is undergoing turmoil over internal human rights protests, has contributed arms used in Russia’s recent attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

From rising inflation to spiraling energy prices to unaccountable schools and rising crime in many parts of our country, America is on the wrong track. That’s not just my opinion. According to the RealClearPolitics average on nine regular surveys of public opinion, more than two-thirds of Americans – 66.9 percent – feel this way.

According to a recent survey, 60 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and 71 percent of workers feel their pay isn’t keeping up with the cost of living. The numbers bear this out – 6.2 percent wage growth alongside 8.3 percent inflation means that Americans’ paychecks are worth 2.1 percent less than they were at this time last year. Employers are scaling back their plans to hire new workers and beginning to plan for potential layoffs.