John –

As I write this, I’m journeying home by train to Pennsylvania after being in Washington for the last seven days. I left my family early on Friday, Jan. 3, to travel down to be sworn in as part of the 119th Congress. Why is it called the 119th Congress? Because the first Congress happened 236 years ago, and each Congress lasts for two years, so … history and math. On Jan. 3, 2027, the 120th Congress will begin. You get the idea. This 119th Congress will be when we celebrate this nation’s 250th birthday.

The U.S. Constitution has a lot to say about the peaceful transfer of power and mandates that Jan. 3 be “swearing-in day.” It also mandates that on Jan. 6, every four years, members of the new Congress convene to certify the results of the most recent presidential election. Because of the importance of Monday, Jan. 6, and because of the coming snowstorm that ended up shutting down much of the East Coast, many of my colleagues and I stayed in Washington over the weekend to make sure we didn’t get stranded elsewhere and could be present on Jan. 6. 

Jan. 3 was a good day. I’m grateful to my community for reelecting me and I am optimistic that my team and I will continue to make progress on things such as paid family leave and quality of life improvements for service members and their families. Once again, I was proud to vote for my friend and colleague, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, for Speaker of the House. I think 2027 will be his year? 

If you followed the speaker vote, you know that Rep. Mike Johnson didn’t have an easy time securing the speakership – this says a lot about the power of the most extreme members of the Republican Party. It’s likely going to be a rocky, difficult two years. 

In contrast, Jan. 6 was a hard day. Memories of being barricaded in my office four years ago … walking through metal fencing and heavily armed law enforcement that rioters four years ago made necessary … anger watching many Republicans in Congress pretend it didn’t happen, that it was a “day of love” … and finally watching Vice President Harris – a woman we all worked so hard to elect, who would have (and maybe someday still will) represented our nation’s values immeasurably better than Donald Trump will – graciously preside over the certification of the results of the election … It was a hard day for many of us. 

This week, in my first vote of the new Congress, I also voted against a bill – the Laken Riley Act – that has become highly politicized, with understandably compelling talking points. But what most people don’t know or perhaps may choose to ignore is that, as written, this bill would erase the well-established constitutional protections of due process. As an Air Force veteran and now as a U.S. representative, I have taken many oaths “to support and defend the Constitution.” I take that oath seriously, so my first vote in the 119th Congress was certainly going to be in protection of the Constitution, as will be each of my subsequent votes.

Lastly, this week, I had the opportunity and privilege to attend a memorial service for President Jimmy Carter, a smart and decent man who made our nation better. I was most struck by a particularly poignant quote in the service that reflected on his life: “May the works I have done speak for me.” His life of public service, his pursuit of civility and decency, and his compassion for those who are struggling are themes that I carry with me. I hope you do, too.

Thank you for the privilege to serve. Thank you for allowing me to share these early reflections. And thank you for being on this journey with me. 😊

There is work to be done.  

Chrissy