John Roberts: A red wave is coming — What will we do with it?

America needs a change in leadership. The Republican Party has a golden opportunity to take back Congress in 2022 and the White House in 2024. I am thrilled about the incoming red wave, but we cannot merely be satisfied with winning back control. We must be prepared to lead day one with an agenda that addresses the new national challenges we face. As the next congressman for Alabama’s fifth district, here is the agenda I will be fighting for in Washington, D.C.

1. Restore Our Economy: With inflation at a 40-year-high, constant supply chain disruptions, and a labor participation rate that is causing a worker shortage nationwide, we have to restore our economy. I will fight for policies that get out-of-control spending in order, stifle Democrat-designed incentive programs that have contributed to the labor shortage, and restart domestic natural gas production to once again reach energy independence as we had under President Trump.

In addition, I will work tirelessly to bring home our production of critical supplies whether that be personal protective equipment, pharmaceutical drugs, or semiconductors. We can never again be dependent on other nations for supplies critical to this country. Made in America, not made in China. By reshoring industry, we can provide much-needed economic opportunities and good-paying jobs right here in Alabama.

2. Fight for Our Freedoms: America’s founding is steeped in freedom and liberty, expressed via the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. The government exists to protect, not infringe, our freedoms. I am committed to upholding the core foundational principle of individual freedom by empowering people, not the government. That begins with fighting against the federal government vaccine mandates and supporting and protecting each of our constitutional rights. You have the right to decide what is best for you and your family; not the government. We will put Americans back in control of their own lives.

3. Strengthen America’s Security: We must have a national security strategy for a new era. That starts at the border. If you have open borders, you do not have a sovereign nation. I am committed to a holistic approach to border security, including completing the wall, providing resources for drones and sensors, and improving the legal immigration process.

In addition to the border, I will always support our brave law enforcement officers and first responders. Failed leadership and dangerous policies have left many parts of the country less secure. Creating safe communities is essential to our quality of life. I will advocate to fully fund law enforcement, remove opioids from the streets, and address our mental health crisis.

Next on security, the defense and aerospace industry of North Alabama is critical in protecting our nation, and they contribute billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our economy. I will fight every day to keep these dollars and jobs in North Alabama. As the threat from China and Russia grows, we have to strengthen our capabilities across numerous domains – space, cyber, missile defense – and renew capabilities that have been neglected. One of my main priorities is to ensure North Alabama remains a leader in America’s security.

4. Revitalize the American Dream: One of my central goals is to protect and bolster the American Dream. There is nothing more American than ensuring every American citizen, no matter their starting situation, has the chance to achieve their dream if they are willing to work for it. I will support policies and programs that help provide the resources, networks, and opportunities for every individual to have a fair shot. I firmly believe in the old proverb, “If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”As a member of Congress, I do not want to guarantee outcomes, but rather safeguard opportunity. If our party will build a positive governing agenda around revitalizing the American Dream and the American worker, we will be the party best positioned to lead in the emerging new America.

Benjamin Franklin had a quote stating, “If you do tomorrow what you did today, you will get tomorrow what you got today.” If we are going to meet the generational-defining challenges of the twenty-first century we cannot afford more of the same. We have to provide solutions for 2022, not 2002. If we address the issues that keep Americans up at night and deliver on an agenda that preserves America’s strength and prosperity, then winning will take care of itself.

John Roberts is a Republican candidate for Congress in Alabama’s fifth congressional district