A Decade in Review

December 17, 2022

BIDEN'S BROKEN ECONOMY

When Joe Biden took office, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 1.4 percent. This week, the CPI was reported at 7.1 percent. The Democrats' reckless spending in Washington has sent inflation skyrocketing, costing the average American family an additional $8,000 per year.

Democrats have made it clear they would rather continue with radical government spending than work to reverse the problems their failed policies have created. Another reckless spending bill isn't the right answer.

REFLECTING ON THE PAST TEN YEARS

The end of each year allows us to reflect on what is behind us and look forward to what is to come. As we begin this new chapter, thank you for putting your trust in me. It’s a responsibility I will never take lightly.

Ten years ago, Christie and I were fed up with the Washington bureaucracy telling us how to run our business. The burdensome regulation made it nearly impossible for us to do our job. This kid from Westville had no political experience but ran for Congress anyways, promising to fight for Oklahoma. We never could have imagined what the Lord would have in store.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the Second District, the place where I was raised and have now raised our family, and to fight for the Oklahoma values we hold dear. Using the Constitution as my guide, I hope I have made you proud in keeping our God-given rights at the forefront of all I do. My appreciation for our law enforcement officers, servicemembers, and veterans is unwavering, and I’m grateful to have been given a voice for all of us in Oklahoma.

I’ll always look back on my time on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) with pride. The Energy and Commerce Committee has broad jurisdiction over many government aspects directly related to the everyday lives of Oklahomans, including health care, energy production, and consumer safety. It was here we could fight for our domestic producers and push back again the Left’s radical climate agenda, an issue deeply personal to our state. Further, being tapped for HPSCI was nothing short of an honor, as was the opportunity to witness the dedication of our Intelligence Community firsthand.

Oklahomans have watched our family grow and prayed alongside us as it happened. At the start of this journey, Christie and I were parents to three kids. Through the blessing of adoption, we doubled that number to six, welcoming our twin girls and our son, Jayce. I wouldn’t be here today without the support of my family. Christie is our rock, and I thank God for her every day.

I made a promise no one will outwork me. I quickly learned the only exception to that notion is my staff. My office has returned millions of dollars to constituents from state and federal agencies, taken on the IRS, and ensured our veterans receive the benefits they have earned. One hundred bills were introduced, over one thousand bills were cosponsored, and countless committee markups took place. It’s a team effort, and I’m glad to surround myself with those whose dedication to our great state is the same.

Any undertaking, whether it’s a sport or career, growing a business, or starting a new one, is always accompanied by personal growth. For those who ask, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is how to take a deep breath and quit taking things personally. In this time of reflection, I began saying, “love the people, love the call.” I refuse to give up the fight for what is best for Oklahoma and our democracy and look forward to continuing that work in the new year.

ALWAYS READY, ALWAYS THERE

Happy birthday, U.S. National Guard! Thank you for 386 years of courageous service.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO RURAL HEALTH ACCESS

Many Rural Americans have trouble accessing the quality health services they deserve.

On Friday, I joined U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and Susan Collins (ME) and U.S. Representatives Jason Smith (MO-08), Judy Chu (CA-24), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) in introducing the Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2022. This bill will remove unnecessary barriers that have kept psychologists, who are well-equipped to provide mental health care, from delivering care to seniors under Medicare. It will also modernize Medicare statutes to ensure independent practices, like the ones in my district, are covered.

WORKING IN WASHINGTON

Thank you to everyone who took their time to meet with me this week.

It was great to connect with H.E. Murat Mercan, the Ambassador of Turkiye. We discussed the importance of transatlantic partnerships between the United States and the Republic of Turkiye.

It was an honor to receive the Americans for Prosperity's first-ever "Pioneers for Prosperity" award for the 117th Congress.

WEEKLY WRAP UP

Mr. President, what is more important than our national security? There have been over four million migrant encounters at our southern border since February 2021. The crisis is only getting worse. While Biden says he has "more important things to do," we'll keep fighting. You can watch this week's wrap up on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube.

Thank you for reading my weekly e-newsletter! You can stay in touch by visiting my Facebook and Twitter pages and as always, don’t hesitate to contact me if I can help in any way.

Thank you,

Markwayne Mullin
Member of Congress