resident Donald Trump last week at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
Credit: Senior Airman Areca T. Bell/U.S. Air Force
Freshman Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has penned a letter following President Donald Trump’s address last Tuesday to a joint session of congress.
Below are Fitzpatrick’s thoughts:
Estimates put the number of Americans who tuned in to President Donald Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night around 40 million.
What they got was a departure from the rhetorical bomb-throwing and ‘Red Team vs. Blue Team’ politicking that has defined our national discourse during the first weeks of the Trump Administration – and even before, back to election day and beyond.
What millions of Americans and the assembled audience of Senators and Representatives, Justices and generals received was a vision for a nation that could work for everyone, led by leaders who work together. Between policy objectives that seeks to reignite the economic engine of our country and a commitment to national security and safety, President Trump spoke like the non-politician he is and said:
“Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed. Every problem can be solved. And every hurting family can find healing, and hope.
Our citizens deserve this, and so much more — so why not join forces to finally get it done? On this and so many other things, Democrats and Republicans should get together and unite for the good of our country, and for the good of the American people.”
What a novel concept: The idea that the beauty of America – that we can accomplish anything we can put our minds to – is being wasted at the hands of partisanship and political short term-ism. And he’s right.
Last year, Harvard released a report that concluded: ‘The federal government has made no meaningful progress on the critical policy steps to restore U.S. competitiveness in the last decade or more…Today, we believe that our political system is now the major obstacle to progress on the economy, especially at the federal level.’
That should be unacceptable to every member of Congress and every American.
The president’s address highlighted the fact that if we are to accomplish the common goals laid before us – of which there are plenty, including many outlined by the president himself – we need to work together. If we don’t, we’re only hurting ourselves and those whom we represent.
I understand there are differences between Democrats and Republicans. But on the issues where there is common ground, we must move forward. That’ why, as someone who has dedicated my first two months in office to seeking out solutions – regardless of where they come from – I was so pleased to hear President Trump speak to the issues that unite us.
The president correctly noted that true investment in America’s roads, bridges, ports and IT infrastructure has been woefully lacking. Channeling the memory of the great president Dwight D. Eisenhower, father of the interstate highway system, the president called for a commitment to infrastructure upgrades which will support our small business, put Americans to work and bring our systems into the 21st century. This worthy objective can, and must, be supported by leveraging both public and private capital. By bringing together funding we can avoid saddling taxpayers with the bill while increasing cooperation and interaction with the businesses who will utilize this network.
Along with infrastructure, members of the Problem Solver Caucus have also announced we are at the ready for work on bipartisan tax reform that unshackles small businesses and helps middle class families keep more of what they earn. While the devil is in the details, the president’s call for reform – in the tone of the address – should elicit hope for bipartisan progress. It will be on true leaders to be willing to come to, and stay at, the table to accomplish this needed reform… finally.
And, while building a stronger, more inclusive economy warrants support for members of every stripe, perhaps no call to action given by President Trump was more important than a call to protect our homeland, support our allies and promote the cause of freedom for those who suffer without it. I support efforts to responsibly invest in our military to respond to the threats of terrorism – from any region – and was proud to hear the president’s support for a strong, engaged NATO which is needed now more than ever, and a commitment to work with our Muslim allies. At home, I, like many, welcome the support for our nation’s law enforcement and first responders as they serve our community, pushing back the tide of addiction and crime.
Bipartisan areas of agreement go on: trade that benefits the American worker, regulatory reform that benefits those battling rare or terminal disease, caring for our veterans.
While I have not been afraid to speak out and disagree with the administration when needed, it is crucial that members of both parties – and Americans nationwide – remember, that on the issues that unite us, there is no room for partisanship. “[W]e can only get there together.”
