The people of the 17th Congressional District put their trust in me Nov. 6 to represent them in the U.S. Congress. I’m humbled and honored to be taking a seat in the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives, which once featured some of the greatest statesmen of our nation’s history – names such as James Madison, William Jennings Bryan and John F. Kennedy.

The excitement of winning the election and the honor of serving in Congress are tempered by the challenges facing our nation and the people of this new 17th Congressional District. We must act to energize our economy, create good-paying jobs, address our national debt, and strengthen the middle class. And we must find ways to break through the gridlock that has paralyzed our government for too long and produced harmful consequences for the American people.

These challenges can’t wait. People I met on the campaign trail are struggling and looking for solutions. That’s why I’m bringing a sense of urgency to tackling these issues by laying the groundwork for action before I take office in early January.