The Iowa Republican - Congressman Young Headed to Three Border States with Homeland Security Chairman

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By Craig Robinson

Congressman David Young is no stranger to Washington, D.C. As Senator Chuck Grassley's former Chief of Staff, he knows how to get from one place to another at the U.S. Capitol, is familiar with the rules, and knows who the key players are.

In an interview with Congressman Young on Monday, I asked him how being a Congressman is different than working for one. "It's a lot bigger responsibility. I felt the gravity of this when I was sworn in and have an office with my name on it. I pray for wisdom and encouragement to do the right thing every day."

Young was quick to remind me, "Nobody has mastered that place, and I don't think anyone ever will."

The focus of my conversation with Young was his upcoming trip to the U.S./Mexican border and tonight's State of the Union Address.

Young to Visit Southern Border

While Republican candidates for president will flock to Iowa with the national media in tow, Young will be traveling to the U.S./Mexican border as part of a 15-member congressional delegation being led by Texas Congressman Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in the U.S. House. The Congressional delegation will investigate U.S. border issues in three states -- California, Arizona, and Texas.

The group will meet with border control agents, and ranchers, but Young told TheIowaRepublican.com that he would like to break away and meet with some other local officials like sheriffs. "Sometimes you get the dog and pony show from the administration with the border control agents. I understand that they have to do what they are told, so I'm going to try and get off the grid with some of my other colleges to go see some other folks."

Young told TheIowaRepublican.com that the trip is part of an effort in the House to pass a stand-alone bill that would secure the southern border of the United States. Young wants a stand-alone bill because, before you can deal with everything else that is going on with the issues facing our immigration system, you have to deal with the border first. "Secure the border, enforce the rule of law, protect the homeland, then go from there," Young added.

Young admits that the big question will be how one knows if the border is secure. "What I'm very encouraged to hear from Chairman McCaul is that it's not going to be up to anyone in the administration, [and] it's not going to be up to the Secretary of Homeland Security or some bureaucrat to determine if the border is adequately secured." Young suggested that there might ultimately be a non-partisan commission tasked with looking at all the various metrics to determine if the border is secure.

"I want got get down there and check the border out. I want to do it for myself. I want to do it for the Third District because I promised them I would, and now there is even more of a nexus because I'm on the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee. If you want to make it secure, it's going to cost some money," Young responded when asked about the appropriation process.

Young has no illusions that Congress alone has all the answers. "We are going to consult with the folks down in those states, [and] the governors know where the border is the most porous and were the biggest needs are. They might need to build a wall in one section, or employ more agents, drones, or cameras," Young stated. The newly elected Third District Congressman also admitted that there are issues on the northern border as well but said the two are "different beasts."

State of the Union

"What I want to hear, and what I think the American people want to hear, is something bold," Young said about the President's State of the Union address. "That's understanding what the November election was really about. It was somewhat a repudiation of this administration. It was also not just a green light for Republicans to do whatever they want. I think the American people are saying, "Republicans, we put you in power in Congress. We are giving you a chance, live up to it. If you don't do better than the last bunch, we will start all over again.'"

I told Young that I agreed that the November 4th elections were a repudiation of the Obama Administration, but I also believe that it was a response to being frustrated by a government that can't deliver on the things it says it will do. "It's a failure of the management of government in a lot of ways," Young added. "People hold their nose at a lot of the policies, but what really blows up is when you find out what's happening to veterans. That's a management issue. As much as I do not like Obamacare, what really blew up was [the launch of] Healthcare.gov, another management issue." Young said he is looking forward to using the appropriations process to see how these programs and departments are being managed.

Back to the State of the Union…

"I want to hear him get serious about national security after what just happened in France, but it began five months ago with the beheadings, and national security was back on our radar again." Young admitted that the campaign was really about Obamacare, immigration, and the economy, and then all of a sudden the issues were Ebola and national security issues again.

Young also wants the President to talk about energy security. The House recently passed legislation regarding the Keystone pipeline. Young isn't sure that there are enough votes to override a veto, but it's important that bill was sent to the President's desk. Young believes that the U.S. can become energy independent with an all-of-the-above energy strategy.

Young's guest for the tonight's State of the Union address is Bishop Richard E. Pates, the Catholic Bishop of the Des Moines Diocese. Young said that Bishop Pates will give the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.

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