Columns

Our nation’s founders understood the importance of establishing a universal postal system from the very beginning. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin postmaster general for the American colonies, nearly a full year prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The costly consequences of unnecessary, burdensome regulations represent one of the greatest threats to future American prosperity. In fact, a 2024 report produced by the Biden-Harris administration showed, in the year prior, the annual government-wide paperwork burden on Americans increased by 1.6 billion hours to more than 12.1 billion. This is the highest total on record.

In 2023, nearly 70 percent of the 105,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. involved fentanyl or another synthetic opioid. For the last four years, the lethality of these synthetic opioids was compounded by the failed open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration which allowed these highly potent drugs to flood in and destroy far too many American lives.

The American education system develops our next generation of leaders, but we must reckon with serious challenges facing our nation’s students, families, and educators. Preparing to meet the demands of adulthood and the workforce in our rapidly changing economic landscape is no easy task. It requires resilience and robust community support.

This week, Washington was filled with Americans showing their support for the voiceless as they’ve done every year since the March for Life began in 1974. While the pro-life movement has made historic strides in recent years, standing up for the unborn continues to be a deeply important and urgent cause.

Recent discussions I have had with President Trump and my congressional colleagues highlight both the significant challenges and the opportunity we will soon have to get our country back on the right track. After four years of inflationary spending under the Biden-Harris administration, voters have demanded a change in leadership and policy.

Ensuring the United States meets challenges we face around the world is a demanding but vital task. Dispute resolution and advanced international cooperation are rarely straightforward, with bad faith actors abusing processes and power.

A new year brings a valuable chance to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous year and prepare for the opportunities ahead in the next. This week, it was especially meaningful to have my two young children with me as I was sworn in to serve Nebraska’s Third District as a member of the House of Representatives in the 119^th Congress.