I was honored to join my colleagues last week in Washington to be officially sworn into the new Congress. The 110^th Congress includes dozens of new members, elected in November, with rich and diverse backgrounds that will contribute to our effective representation of all Americans.

We also marked a significant and historic milestone last Thursday with the election of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as Speaker of the House - the first woman to attain that office in the history of our nation. I appreciated Speaker Pelosi’s call for “partnership not partisanship” in the new Congress.

In this spirit, I look forward to finding opportunities to work together with the new Democratic majority on many of the complex issues shaping the security and prosperity of our country.

The voters have spoken. The balance of power in the House of Representatives has shifted for the first time in 12 years. Yet the country remains divided among political ideologies. While the results of the November election were a clear call for a new direction, they were not a mandate for sweeping changes to our economic policy that would be devastating to today’s robust economy. Nor where the results a collective wish to return to old practices of tax-and-spend liberalism, or to abandon the needs of our troops.

Conservatives in the new Congress need not compromise principles to effectively represent their constituents and produce the results that the American people expect. The Democratic majority has an ambitious agenda that they intend to pursue in the first 100 legislative hours. The House will take up votes on earmark reform, energy policy, minimum wage, 9/11 Commission recommendations, and legislation to allow the federal government to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices.

These complex and far-reaching proposals are being quickly brought to a vote without the thorough consideration of committees, contradicting Speaker Pelosi’s pledge to ensure an “open, honest and full debate” on all matters before the House. When the majority last changed in 1995, Republicans demanded that their “Contract with America” proposals were put through the normal committee process.

            Though fresh ideas are important to a healthy democracy, hasty and unilateral policy reversals not fully vetted by both parties are not. I think it’s important to temper this early flurry of legislation by looking at what’s working.

Over 38 million seniors have prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D. Competition has reduced average monthly premiums and empowered seniors to make their own choices about drug plans. 80% of recipients report high satisfaction with the new program.

Democratic leaders plan to introduce legislation this week that would require the federal government to negotiate with drug companies in an effort to control costs. Actuaries for the Congressional Budget Office and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services predict no savings from this effort. Increased government control could lead to restrictions on drugs plans currently offered to seniors, weakening a successful program.

The House will also consider the Democrats proposal to increase the federal minimum wage. I support the wage increase and voted accordingly in the last Congress. I believe, however, that an increase must be combined with tax relief for the small businesses who will shoulder the financial burden to pay for it. 

I also look forward to building a working partnership with Democrats to strengthen ethics rules and affirm our responsibility to spend taxpayer dollars in a more responsible and transparent manner.

Finally, we cannot waver in our commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terror and ensuring that our troops have the tools they need. Though we may debate our differences on strategy, the security of our nation must remain our most important priority.

There are many complex challenges immediately facing the 110^th Congress. It is my great hope that we will embrace this new beginning and work together to make our country stronger.