Columns

Independence Day is rooted in the celebration of our history and the founding principles that formed our young nation. Every year on the Fourth of July, we reflect on the greatest experiment in freedom the world has ever known, and the extraordinary conviction it took to declare ourselves a self-governing people 244 years ago.

Rep. Roger Williams
Washington Examiner
Opinion: In our time of need, model responsibility for younger generations

Recent events have made clear that we are failing our younger generations. In this season, we must not divert our eyes from the hemorrhaging of pain and anguish in our streets, but rather find empathy in the stories of our countrymen and encourage understanding of one another to propel our drive to affect change.

Since the beginning of our republic, we have called upon our military patriots to defend the American people and our way of life on distant battlefields far from home. And while all gave some, some gave all.

This weekend, we pause to honor the men and women of our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. I pray we all take a moment to reflect upon the sacrifices of these heroes, so their memory may live on and their legacies are never forgotten.

In mid-March, at the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), state and local governments across America took unprecedented action to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. They imposed restrictions on travel, commerce and public gatherings in a concerted effort to prevent our healthcare systems from being overwhelmed. By most metrics, the draconian measures served their intended purpose, but the economic repercussions were a devastating cost to pay.

The American people expect their elected officials to put the interests of their countrymen above their own well-being. From the beginning of this crisis, we asked the same of our healthcare professionals, truck drivers, grocery workers, and thousands of others fulfilling essential functions, often at great risk to their own safety. While these members of our workforce have answered their call to serve, the United States House of Representatives under Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not responded in kind.

Rural hospitals and Rural Health Care Clinics (RHC's) provide lifesaving and essential care between mile markers – they serve a crucial function in the wellbeing of our communities. Doctors and nurses in these facilities see patients who would otherwise be burdened with extended travel to the closest hospital for emergency and routine care. For far too long, many operated on limited financial resources and slim margins to keep their doors open.

The impact of COVID-19 has now spread to nearly every community in the United States, whether the toll has been financial or health related, we have all witnessed how an invisible enemy can alter our lives. Small businesses remain in desperate need of cash flow to retain employees and cover expenses, while our first responders selflessly place themselves on the front lines of a war that has already claimed over 33,000 lives nationwide.

Small businesses are one of America's greatest assets. They breathe life into our communities, and they are the gold standard for unleashing human potential. It is because of their determination that our country possesses the opportunity for unparalleled growth.