More and more job fields require some form of higher education, and the pressure is on for schools to adequately prepare our students to compete both nationally and globally and help drive economic growth.

It takes bold direction and leadership to heal a divided nation.

The job of the press is to defend their institution, hold the government accountable and freely report and gather information.

Solutions and ideas should come from the bottom up, generated by local communities and not mandated from Washington.

The Republican name used to be synonymous with limiting the size and scope of government, and we need to re-establish that reputation. We must work to eliminate government waste, make certain taxpayer dollars go to meaningful programs, and leave resources directly with the people.

My purpose is to call on my colleagues, whether they're Republicans or Democrats, to get behind the agenda of trying to reform the government and make it work for the people rather than the other way around.

It is hard to imagine an area in which Congress has more express constitutional authority to act than in protecting the right of minorities to vote.

Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.