Hey Team,

Let's talk about what's been going on in Congress — it's been a real rollercoaster.

FIRST: We teetered on the brink of a potential default on our national debt. We were close to being unable to pay our bills, and that's a big deal. It would've had major consequences for the economy and hurt everyone's wallets, all because House leadership, for a long time, refused to raise the debt ceiling just like we did three times during the Trump administration. We had to act and act fast.

THEN: We faced the threat of a government shutdown. A dire threat to our nation's stability, which would have disrupted vital services, endangered the livelihoods of dedicated government workers, and put our economy at risk, all because some of the most extreme House Republicans decided to use our government as a political bargaining chip to try and advance their reckless personal and political agendas.

NOW: Fast forward to today, and Congress is a real mess. It's like a big puzzle missing a crucial piece. As of Tuesday evening, Speaker McCarthy has been vacated from his position, which means the House no longer has a Speaker to guide our legislative efforts. And frankly, this level of gridlock is not what the American people deserve or expect from their elected officials.

For too long, Kevin McCarthy has been playing with fire, giving in to extremists instead of working for the American people to move our nation forward. As a result, he is now forced to embrace the consequences of his choice to cave to extremism. And while I know the process of electing a new Speaker won't be a walk in the park, I'm hopeful that House Republicans will embrace a smarter path forward.

Look: For the last four years, I proudly chaired the "Fix Congress" Committee to mend our broken system and boost bipartisanship and functionality between Democrats and Republicans. And guess what? We've got over 200 bipartisan recommendations to prove that it's possible. Team, we may have our work cut out for us, but I remain committed to working across the aisle to avoid partisan games and keep our nation moving FORWARD.

It's an honor to represent you,

Derek