House should skip August break to get its work done

After eight years of failing policies and executive overreach by the Obama administration, the American people entrusted Republicans with unified control of the House, Senate and White House. We promised our constituents that we would work quickly to restore constitutional order and take much-needed steps to revitalize our economy.

Republicans made a hard commitment to the American people — we would fully repeal “Obamacare,” implement pro-growth tax reform, balance the federal budget and do much more. We have begun clearing the overreach of the Obama administration by enacting significant reforms to Veterans Affairs, repealing Dodd-Frank and passing vital regulatory reform.

Yet we are now more than six months into the 115th Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration, and we have not made enough progress toward achieving our primary goals.

If we do not pass these pieces of legislation this year, our agenda will be in serious jeopardy. As Congress heads into an election year, it becomes more difficult to pass legislation that makes the sweeping reforms we promised.

Besides these big-ticket items, there are several items Congress must consider this year. They include reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the National Flood Insurance Program and Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. We must also work to ensure that the VA Choice program has the funding it needs to care for our nation’s heroes.

That is why I have worked diligently to urge that the House cancel the August congressional recess to inspire us to remain focused on achieving our agenda. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact these transformative policies, so Congress should respond in a once-in-a-generation manner.

The annual August recess is a luxury, and most members of Congress look forward to being in their respective districts for an extended time. I was looking forward to meeting with my constituents, spending time with my family, going to my church and recharging my batteries in Arizona before a return to the D.C. swamp.

Yet with so much to do, and little time for the pressing issues on our docket, we cannot afford the luxury of going home this year. I applaud Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s announcement that the U.S. Senate will cut short its August recess by postponing the start by two weeks.

No one should be under the illusion that completion of our agenda will be easy, but we should work in good faith. Since the start of the 115th Congress, we have achieved notable accomplishments that have been called singles and doubles. Only by working through August can we hit home runs and restore the trust of our constituents.

In my short time in Congress, I have heard a lot of talk about the plans we have. We have talked enough about our agenda; now, we must enact these vital policies and assure the American people that we are capable of finishing the work we started.

The people who founded this country were willing to sacrifice their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to fight for the truth that “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”

The least we can do to carry on the founders’ torch of liberty is sacrifice the month of August to keep our promises and give our children the opportunity to experience a more free and prosperous America. I am committed to staying in session as long as it takes to accomplish our goals.

Republican Andy Biggs represents the 5th Congressional District of Arizona. Follow him on Twitter @RepAndy BiggsAZ.