Columns

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.

August’s Consumer Price Index shows inflation continues to rise. Prices for consumer goods have risen across the board – especially necessities like food and shelter. Unfortunately, inflation shows no sign of easing, and the National Energy Assistance Directors Association anticipates a 17 percent increase in the average household cost for Americans to heat their homes this winter.

The United States’ southern border has experienced 18 consecutive months of over 150,000 illegal border crossings each month. In fact, 3.5 million people have been apprehended at the border since President Biden took office, and Fiscal Year 2022 has seen the highest number of illegal border crossings in the history of our country. Border security is getting worse, and it’s clear the Biden administration has lost control of our border.

This week I participated in a Ways and Means Committee hearing on the future of our trade relationship with Taiwan. The hearing explored opportunities provided by ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and Taiwan. In the midst of increased pressure from China through dialed-up military exercises and heavier tariffs, Taiwan is eager to strengthen ties with the U.S. and our democratic values. Done right, expanding our trade relationship could be a win for American businesses and consumers, and a win for democracy.

A common refrain I hear from employers across Nebraska’s Third District is how difficult it has become to find workers to fill the job openings they have. As the unemployment rate rose to a six-month high of 3.7 percent in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of job openings in America sits at roughly 11 million. Job openings in the U.S. outnumber job seekers by a margin of nearly 2-to-1.

This week, President Joe Biden delivered one of the most divisive addresses to the nation I’ve seen in my lifetime. Our country is headed in the wrong direction, and those who oppose the Biden administration’s radical policies do so because of our desire to leave a better, more prosperous America for future generations. Like you, I love this great country, and I couldn’t be more disappointed by the president’s decision to point fingers and call names. This is not the leadership we need at this time, and this is not the kind of president Joe Biden vowed to be.

As communities across Nebraska’s Third District are turning their attention to back-to-school matters, preparation for harvest, and of course, Cornhusker football, this season I have had the opportunity to appreciate many of the things that make the people and culture of our state special. Among our many blessings, we have talented young people, world-class agriculture producers, and a heritage of dedicated service laid down by Nebraskans who came before us.