Working Together to Break the Gridlock

I have the utmost faith that our country’s best days lay ahead, but only if we begin to tackle the challenges confronting us today.  Moreover, the issues we face are too great to confront with ideology alone. To move this country forward, we must commit to working together, regardless of party, and find that common ground where progress becomes inevitable.

Now I’m a proud, life-long Democrat. Still, I don’t think either party has a monopoly of all the answers. That’s why I am always willing to partner with anyone—Democrat or Republican—who has good ideas, an open mind and willingness to work together.

This freshman class in the House came to Washington with the goal of breaking the gridlock. This spirit of transcending partisanship is growing, and it’s exactly what we need—it’s what our constituents, families and businesses need.

It’s in this vein that I am honored to be a part of the No Labels Problem Solvers, a robust and growing group of Representatives and Senators from both parties who want to find common ground and address our country’s toughest challenges together.

Whenever I am home, I spend as much time as possible meeting face-to-face and talking with people in my district about the challenges they face. Regardless of the venue, I hear over and over again about the great frustration with the partisan gridlock and inaction in Washington. People tell me they are most aggravated by the inability for Congress to work together to advance even the simplest, most sensible solutions to the issues we face.

Yet I know there is common ground where both parties can work together to make progress. The challenges we face, such as strengthening small business, closing the skills gap, reducing gun violence and preserving our environment, must be tackled now. They must be addressed holistically, and they must be addressed together.

While we all don’t see eye-to-eye on everything, there are many areas where we can, and will, find agreement. That’s what the Problem Solvers are focused on—finding those areas where interests and objectives overlap so we can shape positive solutions.

I’ve been a problem solver all my life. It’s what drew me to engineering, and it’s why I joined the No Labels Problem Solvers. Like my No Labels colleagues, I believe that we’re all in the same boat, and that together we will work to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for the next generation.

-Brad