Transition and Honor

Press Release

November 15, 2010
Transition and Honor

This week in Washington, I joined my colleagues in working to ensure a seamless transition to a new Republican Majority in the 112th Congress.

The American people have sent Washington a powerful message that they will not tolerate their voices being ignored. The House of Representatives should be the People's House, and to this end, on Monday I was honored to be named to serve with 21 of my colleagues on the Republican Majority Transition Team.

To prepare the House to focus on the American people's priorities in January, the team has been charged with implementing the congressional reforms outlined in the Pledge to America and looking for additional ways to make Congress more transparent, cost-effective, and accountable to the people.

One of the top priorities of the new Majority in January will be promoting policies for job creation. Last week, the Department of Labor reported that our nation's unemployment rate remained at 9.6% for the month of October. The latest unemployment report underscores the American people's call for Congress to make job creation and smaller government top priorities.

To create jobs, America's small businesses and families need less government raiding their pockets and running their decisions -- not more. And while any private sector job growth last month is welcomed news, uncertainty over tax obligations continues to discourage the job creation needed to reduce the unemployment rate. That is why this Congress must act now to renew tax relief for job creation, listening to the voice of the American people and ending the political games and failed policies that have produced chronic unemployment.

It's time to move forward on behalf of the American people, and Republicans stand ready to lead with proven solutions for job creation and a governing agenda for American prosperity. It's time to end the backroom deals and legislative trickery that have defied the will of the people and led to unsustainable debt and overgrown government. It's time to read the bills, let sunlight into the legislative process, and return the House to constitutional principles that respect the voice of Americans and their individual liberties.

Honoring our Veterans
On Thursday, I attended the Dallas Veterans Day Parade, where this year's theme was "Honoring the Veterans of World War II" from all of the Armed Services. The National Veterans Day Committee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs selected Dallas as a Regional Site for the observance of Veterans Day, and I was honored to join veterans of the 32nd District of Texas in recognizing this national day of respect and remembrance.

This year, four World War II Veterans represented their respective services as Grand Marshals for the 2010 Dallas Veterans Day Parade. The Grand Marshals were LTC James Megellas, U.S. Army (Ret); Sgt. R.V. Bergin, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); LCDR Jessie Naul, U.S. Navy (Ret); and Leonard R. "Randy" Reeves, U.S. Army Air Forces (Ret).

America's history is etched with the courage and character of our nation's veterans -- men and women who served faithfully and loved freedom at any cost. From family members and friends to neighbors and co-workers, every American is connected with a veteran who deserves our thanks and support. Our veterans have great knowledge and experiences from which each of us should learn and appreciate.

As a nation, we must honor our veterans not just with words but with actions. We must fulfill our responsibility and promise to support our veterans and provide the resources they need to succeed -- especially as more veterans bear visible and invisible wounds from war. On Veterans Day and every day, may we honor the men and women who have made the dream of freedom a reality.

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