It’s not a secret that Washington’s blowout spending habits have led to high interest rates, ruinous inflation, and a national debt crisis totaling over $33 trillion.

That’s why I have dedicated my time in Congress to fixing the status quo and getting our country back on track to fiscal responsibility.

We had an opportunity to make significant strides last week to cut wasteful spending, secure the border, and create a debt commission to tackle the nation's growing deficit while also funding the federal government for 30 days to give us time to finish the twelve budget bills. I voted for this legislation that was introduced by Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19) last Friday.

Unfortunately, every single House Democrat voted to shut down the government rather than to secure the border. You can view the vote total here.

The following day, the House voted on something called a “clean” Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund our government for the next 45 days. This measure continues the Pelosi-Biden spending levels that were set the year before, which have led to a $2 trillion deficit just in the last year, and did not include border security measures.

I voted against this legislation because the American people can't afford the status quo of profligate spending and utter border chaos any longer. You can view that vote here.

Ultimately, the “clean” CR was signed into law – giving Congress 45 days to pass the twelve appropriations bills to fund the government for the next fiscal year.

The Republican-led House has already passed four responsible budget bills to cut wasteful spending, secure the border, provide a pay increase for service members, and fully fund veterans’ programs. The Democrat-led Senate has passed zero.

While there is still much work to be done, these bills fund more than 70% of the federal government’s discretionary spending, and they get our country moving back in the right direction.

The bottom line is Congress has not passed twelve regular appropriations bills in over two decades. This is absolutely unacceptable.

Wisconsin families must balance their budgets. It’s past time for Washington to do the same.

Keeping the work we still had ahead of us in mind, I voted against the motion to vacate Speaker McCarthy. While he does have his flaws, as we all do, it was a priority of mine to not lose sight of the real target – passing all the appropriations bills to provide much-needed relief to the American people.

However, now as we look ahead as a House Republican Conference, I will be supporting a new speaker who will ensure single subject bills, at least a 72-hour notice of the bills we are voting on, and someone who will lead the charge on securing our border and getting our fiscal house in order.

Having served with him on the Judiciary Committee for the last three years, I believe Jim Jordan is the right person for the job.

It’s time for the House to get back to work. America stands at an important crossroads, and it’s up to the Republican-led House to change the trajectory and reverse the damage the Biden administration has inflicted on our country over the last two years.