Buckeye Reporter

The Republican-majority U.S. Congress is holding true to the promises it made to the American people, according to the presiding chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

“We told the American people we would get rid of 87,000 IRS agents who are going to harass folks and we passed that legislation,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “We told the American people we would pass the parental bill of rights for kids' education. We passed that legislation. 

"We told the American people we would put together an energy package that would make us energy independent like we were just a few years ago," he added. "We passed that legislation and [recently] we passed what I think is the strongest immigration enforcement border security legislation ever.”

Jordan expressed his opinions at the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA)’s annual policy conference May 12 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia.

“We need to pass bills to fix the problems,” Jordan told the audience of about 200 attorneys. “We need to get the crazy spending under control. Then we need to do the oversight that is our constitutional duty and we have been doing all those things.”

Jordan touched upon a scheduled debt ceiling meeting between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) that was called off May 12. Negotiations are expected to resume this week, according to media reports.

“We’re $31 trillion in debt right now and that amount of increase in spending we've had the last couple of years is just unbelievable, Jordan said to an appreciative audience. "The package we put together on the debt ceiling will begin to rein in spending, limit growth, and does some good things on the regulatory front.” 

Jordan said his greatest concern is that progressives will destroy the First Amendment. He noted that journalists like Mike Taibbi and pro-life Catholics are being targeted by the IRS and FBI, respectively.

“Every single right we enjoy under the First Amendment has been attacked, including your right to practice your faith, your right to assemble, your right to petition, free press, and free speech ... all have been attacked," he said.

Jordan urged RNLA members to defend the First Amendment.

“Take the risk associated with getting off the sidelines and getting in the game to defend the First Amendment,” he said. "If you get involved in politics today, you’re taking a risk but it is worth it because this country is the best thing going.”