Opinion Pieces
Are you better off now?
Washington,
August 13, 2018
Are you better off now? I am working with my colleagues in the Republican led House and Senate to advance a conservative agenda, grow the economy, put more Americans back to work, make communities safer, and strengthen our military. I can assure you halfway through President Donald J. Trump’s first term Washington, D.C. has changed for the better. Take a minute to reflect on the last two years and ask yourself, are you and your family better off now? Under the Obama Administration, the American people watched as our economy crumbled, jobs decreased, and the American Dream diminished. Hard-working men and women of this country have been buried under mountains of bureaucratic red tape. Our tax code prioritized filling the government coffers over families, workers, and small businesses. Meanwhile, our southern border remained wide open and our military shrunk to the smallest it had been in more than 50 years. Seeing these, and other, changes in the fabric of our country drove me to run for Congress. In order to protect our country for future generations, I felt it my duty as a father, grandfather, and veteran to help guide the nation back to the prosperous and respected status it once held. In 2016, House Republicans laid out a bold policy agenda called A Better Way to tackle some of the biggest challenges of the day, including: tax reform, the economy, and national security – and we have delivered. As part of this agenda, the Republican led House and Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Since President Trump signed this historic legislation our economy has boomed and thousands of Americans continue to reap its benefits. In less than one year more than 1.6 million jobs have been created since the tax bill was passed into law, 90 percent of workers are receiving bigger paychecks, and unemployment has hit historic lows. In my Congressional District alone families will now be taking home an average of $19,500 in additional income over the next 10 years thanks to the tax cuts. I have heard story after story of how this extra money is helping to start new businesses, put children through school, or rebuild after the destruction of Hurricane Harvey. These are real world results, not political rhetoric. Congress has also taken steps to make our communities safer by making significant investments into combating the nation’s growing opioid crisis. This year I held an opioid workshop where stakeholders from across Southeast Texas discussed the importance of working collaboratively and developing strategies to combat this epidemic. A few weeks ago, the House passed dozens of bills to combat this epidemic. I am working hard to restore the strength and respect of our military. America no longer apologizes for being the last superpower. Congress has provided our Armed Forces with more funding in order to add new troops, upgrade equipment and technology, and enhance training. Not to mention, this year our brave military men and women will receive their largest pay raise since 2010! Additionally, it is time that the VA does a better job at taking care of those who have so selflessly served us. As a veteran and medical professional, I was proud to support actions that hold bureaucrats at the VA accountable for their actions, or lack thereof. We are two years into Donald Trump’s presidency and there is no question that the American Dream is alive and well. Americans have more opportunity and confidence in the future than they have had over the last decade. More work remains, but the economy is continuing to boom, our communities are safer, and our military is stronger. Ask yourself: Are you better off now than you were in August 2016? Rep. Brian Babin serves as a U.S. congressman for Texas’s 36th district, which includes greater Baytown. |