Just minutes ago, I was sworn in to the 114th Congress to start my third term in the House of Representatives. I want to thank you for the faith and trust you have placed in me as we continue the work of building an America that works for all citizens. This year we face a variety of challenges that we must address to ensure the strength and equality of our great nation.

These challenges include renewing the Voting Rights Act so that all citizens’ voices are heard in the political process regardless of their racial and ethnic backgrounds. Anyone who believes in the fundamental right to vote for all Americans must support efforts to advance this bill and join the conversation about how to protect voters from the real threats they are facing right now. Inaction is not an option. Silence is not an option. Every day that Congress fails to live up to its constitutional obligation to protect every American’s right to vote gives a free pass to those who would deny that right.

Increasing the minimum wage to allow every hard working American the ability to provide for their family and give a much needed boost to our economy is long overdue. No one who works hard every day and plays by the rules should live in poverty, but today a single mother with two children who works full-time and earns the minimum wage lives below the poverty line. Raising the minimum wage would help both workers and the overall economy – generating $22 billion in increased economic activity and creating 85,000 additional jobs.

Revamping our criminal justice system to keep our streets safe while we redirect wasted money and stop wasting lives must also be addressed. Our prisons are overcrowded and they impose significant costs to you, the taxpayer. We should make smart reforms that will reduce the number of individuals in our prison system while at the same time encouraging inmates to acquire skills to join the 21st century labor force upon their release.

Reforming our broken immigration system so that we can strengthen our economy and secure our borders will also be a priority. I think we can all agree that our current immigration system is untenable.  Over a year ago, the Senate passed a comprehensive, bipartisan solution, but we have only seen delay after delay in the House. Because House Republicans have refused to act, the President laid out his plans to address one of the biggest economic and humanitarian issues of our time. The Executive actions by the President are welcome but they are not a complete solution and do not excuse the House from addressing this issue.

As we begin work in this new Congress I want to ensure that the closing of the Pledge of Allegiance rings true to everyone who calls the United States home. That we are one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and JUSTICE FOR ALL!