(11/1) A line down the center of the aisle in the chamber where the House of Representatives meets divides the Republican seats from the Democratic seats. To many, it divides right from wrong, good from bad. This has become the ultimate expression of the partisanship that is holding us back.
I’m proud to be one of the few who’s not afraid to cross it to get things done for the good of the country and for the good of the people I represent.
In business, we focus on results and make decisions for the long term. How can we better serve our customers? How can we turn big bold ideas into reality? How can we improve our bottom line? Innovative thinking allowed my business to grow. We never asked or worried about the politics of the people who came up with the idea. Ever. One of the reasons I got into public service is because I realized that very few people in government think this way.
Partisanship has infected our government for too long. The letter next to someone’s name too often stops folks from working with one another to get things done. And the American people are the ones who suffer. So when I came to Congress, I committed to working with anyone — no matter their party — to make progress on the issues that matter and make a difference in people’s lives. That’s why I spend a great deal of time in the Republican cloakroom at the Capitol. (*Important note: they serve chili cheese dogs.)
I quickly learned that Republicans and Democrats agree on much more than pundits want you to believe. When I began speaking with colleagues about my passion for curbing the opioid epidemic and improving mental health, members from both sides of the aisle offered support. When I travel across the 6th District, I work with leaders of both parties to bring federal investments to expand broadband, build roads and bridges, and improve community health. Little by little, we are showing that working together with a commitment to our community is more important than our political party.
Bipartisanship works, and I believe it’s the key to moving our country in the right direction.
Over 80% of the bills I’ve authored have been co-sponsored by members of BOTH parties, and many of my 11 bills that have been signed into law were cosponsored by Republicans.
We’ve shown that Democrats and Republicans can work together in the fight against addiction. I started the Bipartisan Freshman Working Group on Addiction soon after I arrived in Congress. Together, we’ve met with experts, conducted research, and introduced dozens of pieces of legislation to combat the opioid epidemic.
In my second term, I helped form the Bipartisan Mental Health and Addiction Task Force. We’ve introduced over 100 pieces of legislation. 22 have passed the House, and 7 have been signed into law.
My bipartisanship was recently recognized nationally when I was named the most bipartisan legislator in Maryland, and the 12th most bipartisan Member of Congress in the entire country. But for me, it’s not about recognition. I do it because I know it’s the key to progress.
After a Montgomery County police officer took his own life while on duty, we found a way to help others in that situation. I wrote the COPS Counseling Act, which allows law enforcement officers to get mental health support without it going on their record. This bipartisan law was signed into law earlier this year after nearly unanimous votes by the House and the Senate. It helps officers on the front line and stands as proof that support for law enforcement is not a partisan issue – no matter what others want you to believe.
We must put petty partisan differences aside if we want to solve the biggest challenges we face as a nation. I am doing everything I can to demonstrate that working together is the key. American families are struggling. The impact of the pandemic still needs attention. There is still much more to do to curb substance use, improve mental health, deliver results to local communities, and create a brighter future for our children.
I sincerely believe we can do these things if we work together and stop tearing each other down.
