On Wednesday, June 15, House Democrats decided to disregard rampant inflation and a bleak economic forecast in favor of granting the Federal Reserve substantial power outside the scope of its dual mandate. The passage of the Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act is not only an astounding political move at the worst possible time, but it also highlights the radical left’s commitment to a long march through our institutions. They seek to use the Federal Reserve to advance their social justice warrior agenda.

To keep the Federal Reserve’s core monetary policy function from the taint of political agendas, the time has come to bifurcate the Fed and separate its role as a prudential regulator. Americans need monetary policy fully dedicated to addressing 8 percent inflation and an economy on the verge of recession. The whims of political opinion should not sway the Fed’s focus away from its dual mandate of stable prices and high employment. Unfortunately, Democrats are using every layer of government to pursue their environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) agenda, which is exactly what we saw with the Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act.

What is ESG? It depends on who you ask since ESG is in the eye of the beholder. There’s no definitional limitation to the concept, which is precisely why ESG has become a populist rallying cry for Democrats to try to appease different voter groups. Climate change, board diversity, income equality, abortion rights, gender identity, workforce ethnicity, labor practices, and voting rights are just some of the hot topics commonly lumped into the ESG bucket. The ambiguity is strategic and intentionally flexible to allow its use as a political weapon.

The Fed, an independent agency spared from the congressional appropriation process, provides left-wing activists with an ideal vehicle for implementing their ESG agenda. On the topic of climate change, for example, the Fed itself has openly stated that it believes its “financial stability monitoring framework is flexible enough to broadly incorporate many key elements of climate-related risks.”

Unfortunately, this broad interpretation of power appears to be held by more than just bureaucrats at the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act goes further than addressing climate change by, among other things, directing the Fed to: address racial disparities in wealth, income, and employment; evaluate depository institutions based on their diversity practices and require companies to report on their diversity practices; collect information on credit applications from small business owners who self-identify as LGBTQ; and create a federal office that would deploy people posing as potential buyers to test creditors’ compliance with anti-discrimination law.

None of these directives combat inflation, which 66 percent of Americans expect to get even worse in the coming year. The Fed MUST stay focused on its dual mandate—which is why I re-introduced the Federal Reserve Regulatory Oversight Act earlier this year with a Senate companion sponsored by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). This bill would simply separate the prudential regulatory functions from the central bank within the Fed’s structure. It would ensure that 1) our central bank can combat inflation without being distracted by implementing a purely political agenda, and 2) all monies used to fund the prudential regulatory function of the Fed are subject to the appropriations process.

Under current law, the Fed internally funds itself through interest earned on the securities it holds along with the fees it receives for services provided to depository institutions. The Federal Reserve Regulatory Oversight Act would adjust this arrangement to prohibit expending any of these funds towards “non-monetary policy-related administrative costs,” including costs associated with supervisory and regulatory functions. These functions would consequently be funded through the congressional appropriations process and thus directly subjected to congressional oversight. The central bank would then operate without political interference dominating its regulatory and supervisory functions.

Essentially bifurcating the Fed into two agencies has become more necessary as Congress and Fed bureaucrats have continuously tried to leverage the agency’s powers to pursue a political agenda. Now is not the time for that. Now is the time to protect and preserve the U.S. dollar and the broader economy. While some, including myself, have questions or criticisms regarding the U.S. monetary policy in recent years, we should all agree that subjugating the dual mandate and leveraging the Fed as a political weapon will not help America during these trying times.

This piece originally appeared in The Hill

Veterans Day is the day our nation sets aside to thank the men and women who have defended our nation. These are people who continue to enrich our communities today, just as they once accepted a responsibility that could have cost them their lives. It is fitting to have a day to honor these patriots.

Every veteran I know became a better person for their time in service. Since 1973, America has been made and kept free by an all-volunteer force of men and women who chose to risk everything for their country. Their service was not only purposeful and fulfilling but part of their own growth and development. People like me, who enlisted in the infantry, saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, had the opportunity to attend college, and continued to serve others — in uniform and afterward.

Following the Cold War, America’s divisions grew and became more apparent. We were united by a common enemy in the Soviet Union and, for a time, in the war on terror. But even our military has entertained distractions from its unifying purpose: to be always ready to fight and win our nation’s wars. Like any good team, focus matters.

From the first-line leaders to the commander in chief, leadership is essential. Thankfully, our military identifies and develops unparalleled leaders. Collectively, our military has made impossible tasks seem reasonable. However, some problems facing our active-duty warriors and veterans can only be solved by political leadership. Sadly, that record has been disappointing at best.

Unity of command and economy of force are two principles of war that America has consistently ignored in the war on terror. The war in Afghanistan was largely conducted through a series of 20 one-year deployments. Leaders turned over, and the mission itself became distorted and, at times, incoherent. Our military remained at war while America was only passively aware of the fight it was in, of the sacrifices our nation asked of those who serve, and of the consequences of failure. That’s why the Founding Fathers created a Constitution that requires Congress to declare our wars. This requires any war to become a high priority for the entire nation, not just those who serve in uniform.

Congress, for its part, abandoned its post, failing to declare war or define meaningful objectives in its use of force authorizations. Defeating the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq was a noteworthy exception, but successive White House administrations waged expensive and prolonged engagements in the Middle East without well-defined missions and with incredibly limited accountability.

As our troops remained at war, most people stopped paying attention. After we overthrew the Taliban and brought Osama bin Laden to justice for carrying out the 9/11 terrorist attacks, civilians had little at stake in the outcome of the conflict. Preserving the status quo contributed to a sense among Pentagon officials, defense contractors, and hawkish politicians that endless war should become a way of life.

This August, as the United States blundered through a botched and long-overdue withdrawal from Afghanistan, the public was reminded of the costs of war and the price our troops pay. A completely backward plan to pull troops, depend on the Taliban for security, and only then evacuate civilians led to that chaos around the Kabul Airport. The Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate exploited the scene, killing over 100 people, including 13 U.S. service members. In addition to this tragic loss, the Biden administration left behind valuable equipment and weapons, which are now in the hands of our enemies. Worse still, U.S. citizens and Afghan allies were left behind enemy lines.

After an embarrassment of this scale on the world stage, the responsible leaders should offer their resignations or be fired. The lack of accountability at the top is striking, especially when rank-and-file members are thrown into the brig for pointing out the obvious. The glaring two-tiered system of accountability combined with the abuse of constitutional authority for war-making define the urgent need for Congress to reclaim its war powers and properly deploy its oversight authority.

Congress shirked its constitutional duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. Rather than passively cutting checks for endless funding, Congress owes it to our veterans to be more thoughtful in the use of force and to demand accountability — regardless of which political party occupies the White House. This not only honors America’s veterans but also instills confidence in those considering future service to our nation. If we cannot inspire future generations to serve, America cannot be made and kept free — nor shall we have earned freedom.

This piece originally appeared in the Washington Examiner.

This past May, the Department of Treasury issued their General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 Revenue Proposals which contained new Biden Administration policy proposals aimed at furthering Biden’s tax--spend-inflate agenda. While excessive spending and an ongoing tug-of-war over the tax code has become routine, one Internal Revenue Service reporting proposal was truly jaw-dropping.

Treasury’s proposed comprehensive financial account information reporting regime may sound benign, but this proposal would mandate financial institutions report gross inflows and outflows over merely $600 (not a typo) to the IRS. These reports would contain a breakdown of physical cash, transactions with a foreign account, and transfers to and from another account with the same owner. Further, this reporting mandate would apply to all business and personal accounts held at these financial institutions.

Loyalty, duty, respect, honor, selfless-service, integrity, courage: These are the values that every soldier comes to understand through Basic Training. New recruits don’t just learn these values. They come to live by them. It’s something those who serve today share with the veterans who came before them and will surely share with the generation after us. They aren’t simply advice for living well. They are virtues that prepare soldiers for their mission: defending the United States of America and our way of life from all enemies, foreign or domestic.

Ingrained in these virtues, honor, in particular, is a quality we impart to soldiers. We ask and expect soldiers to make great sacrifices, knowing that the preservation of the Republic can be a cause greater than one’s own self. The underlying premise of this training is as simple as it is profound: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends – especially in defense of our great country.

It’s no small thing. And it’s the reason we set aside this last Monday in May.

As a history student at West Point, I spent four years reflecting on those who came before me. My professors remarked that studying history at West Point is different because the history they teach is often shaped by students they taught. The expectation hung in the air: the current class was expected to continue this story.

Knowing this, it’s impossible for soldiers to escape the sense of history and duty in day-to-day life in the military. The bases they’re stationed on, the names of the ships that transport them, and the equipment they use bear the names of heroes, units, and battles that have shaped the history of our nation. Often, these stories are written in blood.

Today, I hope civilians will familiarize themselves with these stories. History books and old war movies are a start, but now that the country is opening again, consider attending a local observance and hearing the stories from those who served alongside patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice. Walk to smaller cemeteries and local memorials and read the names of individuals who died for a country they loved.

President John F. Kennedy had the right idea when he said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” My hope is that as Americans spend Memorial Day honoring the fallen, they will be inspired by them, and come to love this country and their fellow Americans with as much dedication as the men and women we honor on Memorial Day.

We are granted the opportunity every year on Memorial Day to do as President Kennedy has said. I urge everyone to take this holiday to reflect on the blessings we enjoy as Americans. Thank our nation’s fallen defenders by cherishing your blessings and finding a way to advance the cause of freedom in your community.