Friend,

What a year! As 2015 comes to an end, so does the first year of the 114^th Congress and my first year in the United States House of Representatives. This year representing the First District of Georgia has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Over the last year I have travelled the district to see as many of you as possible, worked to deliver results and promote conservative values, and witnessed history being made.

2015 was a year of firsts.

For the first time since 2005 Congress passed a long-term highway bill.

For the first time since 2002 Congress reauthorized No Child Left Behind to reduce the federal role in K-12 education, restore local control, and empower parents.

We also achieved the first entitlement reform in two decades that will protect seniors’ access to health care.

For the first time since 2009, Congress passed a joint budget agreement that cuts $5.5 trillion in wasteful spending, balances the budget, begins paying down the debt in less than 10 years and provides real solutions to grow our economy.

Also for the first time this year, Congress sent legislation to repeal Obamacare to the President’s desk. As the only pharmacist in Congress, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact Obamacare is having on health care in America, and I am working diligently to repeal the law once and for all. I voted to repeal it in its entirety and replace it with market-oriented solutions to repair our health care system by getting government out of the way and empower patients with more choices, lower costs and better services.

I also worked hard this year with my colleagues in the House to push forward our shared conservative principles.

My first act as a member of Congress was to co-sponsor the fair tax, which would create a simpler, fairer and flatter tax code to build a stronger economy.

We acted to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources often hostile to our national interests and finally lifted the outdated ban on exporting American crude oil.

We voted to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers and held hearings in the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to hold them accountable.

We voted to reject President Obama’s dangerous nuclear deal with Iran.

In defiance of President Obama’s veto, the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law to protect our national defense, meet the needs of our troops, and prepare for the threats of tomorrow.

I also fought to ensure the four military installations in the First District and all our brave servicemen and servicewomen have the resources they need to make them the best equipped, most well trained and highly cared for soldiers in the world.

I’ve also worked to take care of our veterans and make sure they are getting the care and attention they need. Those who serve deserve nothing less.

While 2015 held many high points, we also saw the devastating and dangerous reality of the rise of radical Islam and the threats of ISIS increasing every day. While the President has failed to present a viable plan to defeat ISIS, the House has acted to halt refugee resettlement in the United States from Syria and Iraq, worked to strengthen the Visa Waiver Program to ensure terrorists aren’t able to use the program to infiltrate our homeland, and provided our military with the resources necessary to destroy the terrorist group.

Beyond legislative work, I was blessed this year to witness history with my own eyes. I had the honor to receive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s third address to Congress. As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel is one of our closest and most important allies. Prime Minister Netanyahu is a great friend of our nation who is committed to defending our values and interests in the region.

I also had the opportunity to witness Pope Francis make history as the first Pope to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress. During his address, Pope Francis spoke of freedom, opportunity, and the American dream.

While I am proud of what was accomplished in 2015, there is still much to do. I look forward to continuing the fight in 2016 to rein in this out of control administration, end Washington’s spending addiction, push forward conservative principles, and protect our homeland.

I hope you are enjoying a safe and blessed holiday season and I thank you for the opportunity to serve.

-Buddy