Tom Cole: A Year in Review

As we prepare for the new Congress that assumes office on January 6 of 2015, it is important to think back on the full year behind us and remember what it meant for our country. While there were numerous challenges both at home and abroad, I believe that this year proved productive and set a positive example of bipartisanship. Despite inevitable differences on both sides of the aisle, there were several legislative achievements that proved government can function—even when it is divided.

We began this year with the passage of the omnibus appropriations bill. This compromise measure followed the top-line number set in the Ryan-Murray budget deal and funded the government for fiscal year 2014, and lawmakers did so while also reducing discretionary spending for the fourth consecutive year. Tough decisions like these have helped to lower the deficit from $1.4 trillion, when the GOP took control of the House in 2010, to less than $500 billion today. While that figure is still much too high, it represents real progress in dealing with the deficit.

Also toward the beginning of the year, both chambers of Congress supported the farm bill conference report, which saved taxpayers $23 billion in mandatory federal spending. Not only did the farm bill save hard-earned tax dollars, but the five-year extension that was signed into law by the president restored certainty to farmers, ranchers and consumers.

During the spring, I am pleased that both chambers of Congress and the Administration saw the value of legislation that would redirect taxpayer dollars that were being wasted to instead do some real good. Signed into law in April, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which I co-authored with my colleague Congressman Gregg Harper, redirects taxpayer dollars used for political party conventions and instead funds pediatric disease research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With these additional dollars to NIH, there is new potential for researchers to discover treatments and cures that could change and save lives.

Just before August, lawmakers passed legislation to address the internal mismanagement at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and require greater accountability there in the future. There is no obligation more sacred than to provide for our service members and their families, both during and after service to their country. Especially when our veteran heroes require special care, they should never receive less than the best treatment. Swift passage of the VA conference report, addressing the problems at the VA, proved both Republicans and Democrats agree that we should take care of our veterans.

With another government shutdown looming at the end of the year, I am pleased that lawmakers came together to vote on legislation that fully funded the government. This omnibus was the product of months-long negotiations between leadership in the House and Senate to reconcile differences on previously passed funding legislation for fiscal year 2015. While the negotiations were certainly tough, I believe that the omnibus reflected common sense and conservative priorities, and it did so by using the terms already set out in the Ryan-Murray budget agreement.

Of great importance to the Fourth District of Oklahoma and following recent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, I am pleased that the omnibus fully funded our military and prevented the Administration’s recommended deactivation of seven AWACS aircraft stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. Such a move by the Administration would significantly impact the readiness and ability of our Armed Forces to combat current and future conflicts. Also addressed in the military funding, the omnibus acknowledged the need to maintain our national security by dealing with threats that currently include the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and the growing terrorist threat posed by ISIL in the Middle East.

As we begin the 114th Congress in the coming days with a fresh Republican majority, I remain optimistic that we will continue to find common ground with each other. I hope lawmakers will take note of our bipartisan successes from 2014 and find similar reforms that benefit the American people. Certainly, we will face obstacles in the future, but I believe we can continue to find agreement.