In the new year, a new secretary will take the helm of the Department of Labor. Working families and small business owners face tough challenges, and they desperately need a labor secretary who will put their interests — not special interests — first. Andy Puzder is just the man for the job. Puzder has real-world experience creating jobs, and he knows that American workers and business owners both need to thrive. He will provide a sharp break from the failed policies of the last eight years. Tim... Read more

For far too long, there has been a discrepancy in what students are learning in the classroom and what employers say they need in the workplace. The passage of the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014 was an important step for the millions of Americans who are looking for work and for the employers who have job opportunities that remain vacant due to the skills gap. However, great jobs are still going unfilled, Americans are still missing out on rewarding careers and many ... Read more

March is Women’s History Month, which honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States. Since 1917, when Republican Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to serve in Congress, 313 women have served as U.S. Representatives, Senators or Delegates. Many Americans might assume that their congressional representatives come from exclusive and rarified backgrounds. Well, my story could hardly be less rarified. As a child, my... Read more

America is the land of the free because we are the home of the brave. When you stop to think about it, it’s amazing that men and women choose to serve in our armed services, knowing full well that their sacrifice could be tremendous – and even require their life. But still they volunteer. They do so because America – her ideals, her people and her way of life – is worth defending. The entire nation owes our military personnel and veterans a huge debt of gratitude, and ensuring that debt is prope... Read more

As a child, my family’s home didn’t have electricity or running water. My parents, while dedicated and hardworking, were poor with little formal education. Fortunately, I was pushed by the right people – teachers and administrators who wouldn’t let me settle for less than my best. In the mountains of North Carolina, I learned firsthand the power of education and its vital role in the success of individual Americans. Unfortunately, today’s K-12 education system is failing our students. Decades of... Read more

For the past two years, my email inbox, mailbox and phone lines have been flooded with reports of cancelled health insurance plans, soaring premiums, increased deductibles and exasperated constituents trying to navigate the confusing Washington bureaucracy that is Obamacare. Members of Congress have to buy their health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges along with millions of other Americans, and I have experienced many of the same frustrations, including the nightmare of navigating a confusin... Read more

As a country, we are uniquely blessed. We live in a nation where each one of us has the opportunity for nearly limitless fulfillment and prosperity in the world’s finest democracy. That freedom and opportunity has been made available to us because of the sacrifices of those who have fought for and defended America. On this Memorial Day, we ought to remember in particular those who made the ultimate sacrifice and through that sacrifice blessed us with liberty and unparalleled possibilities. Unfor... Read more

The current K-12 education system is failing our students. Just 36 percent of eighth-grade students read at grade level and only 35 percent are proficient in math. Unfortunately, state and local attempts to improve student achievement have been hampered by an enormous federal footprint. Parents and education leaders have lost much of their decision-making authority to Washington bureaucrats, and the Secretary of Education has bullied states into adopting the Obama administration’s pet projects. ... Read more

Most of us understand what it means to balance a budget. We work hard to get a paycheck. We use that money to feed and clothe our family and keep a roof over our heads. If we’re able, we put a little aside in case of emergency or for a rainy day. We all know the feeling of sitting at the kitchen table, long after the kids have gone to bed, shuffling through bills and pay stubs. But we only spend what we earn. In my family, balancing our budget isn’t just a priority, it’s a requirement. We need t... Read more

Each year Washington imposes thousands of pages of rules and regulations on America’s local governments and small businesses. Hidden in those rules are costly mandates that stretch state and city budgets and make it harder for employers to hire. In 1995, members from both parties got behind, and President Bill Clinton signed, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), which sought to expose Washington’s abuse of unfunded federal mandates. However, over the years, weaknesses in the original legisla... Read more