Every generation of Americans has faced its share of challenges. At times, these obstacles may seem impossible. But as Americans, we are a hopeful and optimistic people who continue to overcome the challenges we face. Right now, our country is heading in the wrong direction, but I believe there’s a better way forward.
To get our country back on track, it’s going to take bold, conservative ideas. As conservatives, we know our ideas work. We know our math adds up. But we’re not doing a very good job of telling the American people why our ideas will make their lives better. Instead of being the opposition, we should present ourselves as a hopeful alternative with real solutions. And that’s why House Republicans are putting forward a six-point agenda that lays out our vision of a better future for every American.
First up: a conservative plan to break the cycle of poverty in our communities and aid upward mobility. Washington spends more than $20 billion dollars each year on 92 different federal programs to fight poverty. Still, if you are born poor, you are just as likely to stay poor as you were decades ago. Clearly, the status quo isn’t working. That’s why our plan takes bold steps to improve education and job-training programs while rewarding work. Further, instead of a one-size-fits-all system, it tailors benefits to people’s needs so that it’s easier for individuals to climb the ladder of opportunity. Finally, the premise of our plan is we should measure the success of anti-poverty programs not based on how much money we spend, but on how many people we lift out of poverty. We are adding more accountability to the system and demanding results.
The second platform of our agenda is strengthening our national security by defeating terrorists, protecting our homeland, shoring up readiness and restoring American influence. From legitimizing Iran’s quest for nuclear capabilities, to failing to hold President Bashar Al-Assad accountable for crossing the “red line,” to refusing to name the enemy for what it is, the Obama Administration continues to lead from behind. This hands-off approach has done nothing but make the world less safe while creating doubts about America’s strength.
We have a better way to keep our country safe, and it includes securing our borders and keeping terrorists out of our country. Some of you might recall my common sense bill to pause the Syrian and Iraqi refugee program unless and until top security officials in the United States can assure the American people we have a safe and reliable vetting process that stops terrorists from exploiting our country’s compassion by posing as refugees. The American SAFE Act passed the House with a bipartisan, veto-proof majority, and it’s a critical component of our plan to address the glaring security vulnerabilities that let terrorists and dangerous individuals slip through the cracks.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be unveiling our vision one agenda platform at a time. We are taking our conservative principles — freedom, liberty, free enterprise and self-determination — and applying them to the problems we face. It’s an alternative to the past eight years, and I think it’s the right path forward for America’s future. To learn more, visit my website at Hudson.house.gov/a-better-way.
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-Concord, represents North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, which currently includes Anson County.