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A congressional agenda for strength, safety, freedom and accountability

In November, I was re-elected to a third term to represent Pennsylvania’s new and expanded 9th Congressional District. “The new Pa-9th” my team and I will represent and work for continues to include Lebanon, Schuylkill, Northumberland, Columbia, Montour counties as well as parts of Berks and Luzerne and now also includes all of Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties in their entirety, as well half of Lycoming County including Williamsport. The district is large, larger than the state of Connecticut, and my team and I are looking forward to thoroughly serving each ...

Protecting personal, public health

Prioritizing personal health is important but easily neglected. Even when we do not acknowledge it, we know that we often make decisions concerning our own health. Our actions like activity, diet, and sleep have a direct impact on our body. However, despite this understanding, we frequently overlook the importance of habitual daily behaviors. One of the largest issues as of late is the ignorance towards COVID-19 safety measures. Covid-19 sits in the past for most as an afterthought. Rapid advances in medical technology and vaccines are disregarded, and the pandemic has been polarized ...

Wars of the past — and the future of World War III

Make no mistake about it; we are currently fighting World War III. On the one side is Russia, Iran, and its more silent allies like China and the Arab world. On the other are the Allies; Ukraine, United States, Western Europe, and some of their supporters. In studying World War II, one cannot help but be impressed by the military leadership. Books like Team America, and many others about our generals both in the field and in Washington, are impressive. What made that greatest generation of military leaders so successful? Part of the answer lies in their experience from World War I. ...

Happy New Year — with or without COVID-19

I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions anymore. I know myself too well. I know that I tend to make promises to myself that I can’t—or won’t—keep. Two years ago I swore to finally read James Joyce’s “Ulysses.” I felt like someone as well read as I like to think I am should have read it. Besides, I wanted to see what all the fuss has been about. The dust on that book is two years old now. So, as we begin a new year, I haven’t made a New Year’s Resolution. But I know what I’m going to do in this fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m going to do what matters most ...

Bring back the Monday opener

A coalition of hunters and businesses across the state is supporting legislation aimed at changing the opening day of deer season back to Monday. Pennsylvania has opened its rifle deer season on the Monday after Thanksgiving for over 60 years, that is until 2019. The Pennsylvania Game Commission moved the opener two days earlier. To those not familiar with Pennsylvania’s hunting culture, the change would seem innocuous, but it has turned out to be anything but. State Rep. Brian Smith, R-Punxsutawney, recently announced plans to introduce legislation soon to amend Title 34 and ...

Solving our energy crisis starts with smart policies that support natural gas, oil

The global mismatch between energy demand and available supply has put upward pressure on fuel prices, impacting U.S. consumers everywhere from the gas pump to the supermarket. In the U.S., petroleum demand returned to pre-pandemic levels in late 2021 and has remained near the top of the five-year range, even as inflation remains high. Despite the need for more energy, Washington has introduced numerous policies that constrain natural gas and oil production and may discourage investment, such as pausing federal leasing and canceling pipeline infrastructure. As the editorial ...