After nearly 10 years in office, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) has witnessed many political transformations first-hand.
The political landscape of Congress, as well as the nation, has undergone many changes during her tenure.
Through it all, however, Rodgers believes that more change is needed. She believes work must be done to restore the trust that Americans have in their government.
“When I put my hand on the Bible and was sworn in to serve the people of Eastern Washington, I was eager and excited to represent them,” Rodgers recently explained in the Ripon Forum. “I was determined to legislate with both my head and my heart. And I was humbled that so many people had instilled their trust in me to make their lives better. (A decade) later, as Chair of the House Republican Conference, I can say with certainty that trust is fundamental to effective lawmaking. At a time when Americans’ trust in government has hit an all-time low – with just 28 percent in the legislative branch and 43 percent in the executive – it’s time to change the culture in Washington.”
Rodgers believes that by working together with a common goal, members of Congress can restore trust in government and accomplish the goal of creating positive outcomes.
“We need to bridge the ever-growing chasm between the American people and their elected leaders,” she said. “(It’s) a rift that has been exacerbated by the administration’s flagrant executive overreach, a loss of opportunity for middle-class Americans and a lack of transparency that pervades the federal government. But it hasn’t always been this way. And it certainly doesn’t need to stay this way. We can restore the public’s trust by fostering relationships; advancing 21st-century solutions; and incorporating technology and American ingenuity into public policy.”
Rodgers reiterated that teamwork is key.
“If there is one thing I have learned as a legislator, it’s that we cannot achieve great things alone,” Rodgers said. “It takes a willingness to come together, put aside our differences and advance solutions that make people’s lives better.”