By Rep. Charlie Dent With the contentious and rancorous 2016 presidential election behind us, it is now time to look forward to the 115th Congress and the possibilities that lie ahead. I believe that a number of opportunities exist for the Congress to be extremely productive and effective for the American people. Congress must address the burdensome overregulation by the federal government that is destroying jobs. The National Federation of Independent Business has shown that for every 10 percent increase in regulatory costs there is a corresponding 5 percent to 6 percent drop in the number of small businesses with 20 or fewer workers. Over the past eight years, we have seen an explosion of regulations -- from school lunches to overtime definitions to fiduciary standards to coal-powered plants to franchisees to ceiling fans. Yes, even ceiling fans. Must the federal government interfere with so many aspects of our lives? Congress has a chance in 2017 to work with President-elect Donald Trump to identify the most egregious examples of unnecessary and burdensome regulations and eliminate them. This will benefit our economy and will allow for the creation of much-needed jobs for American workers. Additionally, 2017 holds the potential to finally see meaningful efforts to reform the tax code and advance a comprehensive infrastructure improvement plan. In fact, the two can be linked by covering part of the cost of the infrastructure improvements by incentivizing the repatriation of trillions of dollars that American companies hold overseas in their effort to avoid paying our outsized corporate taxes. We will have to look at all options to find a more sustainable funding source for building and maintaining our roads. In regards to reforming our nation's tax code, the goal will be to create a simpler and fairer system -- removing and limiting the special interest carve-outs, exemptions and manipulations that have been incorporated over the years at the expense of transparency and efficiency. This is going to be a heavy lift. Our nation hasn't seen a major overhaul of the tax code since 1986 -- 30 years ago. Despite the challenge, an overhaul of the tax code could be one of the most important things this Congress could do to grow the economy and encourage the creation of good-paying, family-sustaining jobs. Another key issue that will be addressed is how to deal with the collapsing Affordable Care Act. Even former President Bill Clinton recognized problems with the law, calling it the "craziest thing in the world" and that hard-working Americans "wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half." The law will likely be partially repealed, and the health care system needs to be reformed and overhauled to ensure all Americans have access to affordable coverage and care from the doctors they choose -- with less government interference. It is critical in making changes, whether through replacement or reform, that attention is paid to ensure that any disruptions to the health care marketplace are minimized and the most vulnerable individuals continue to receive the care and coverage they need. I hope that President-elect Trump can engage members from both parties, develop a plan in a bipartisan manner, and work with the Congress to enact the plan, ensuring that we avoid the same problems that beleaguered Obamacare. How the president and Congress handle the health care debate will likely set the tone for the next two years more than any other item or issue, and therefore, it is critical that it is done correctly. Although all of the issues above are important, I believe that it is even more important that Congress get back to some semblance of legislative discipline and accomplish the most fundamental congressional tasks of budgeting, appropriating, and exercising oversight over the federal agencies. For too long Congress has lurched from crisis to crisis, shutdown threat to shutdown threat. In many cases, our time, energy and capital are expended on internal battles that often lead to the political equivalent of a circular firing squad and the inevitable "can-kicking" to a later date. As a result, public trust in the institution has rightfully suffered. Until Congress can demonstrate that it can effectively govern and work to restore the faith of the American people, accomplishing other big ticket reforms will be exceedingly difficult. We have the chance to accomplish a lot of good for families, workers, and businesses in 2017 during the 115th Congress. I look forward to ensuring that the people of the 15th District have their voices heard in Washington as we tackle these important issues. U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican, in January will begin his seventh term in Congress representing the 15th District, which includes part of the Lehigh Valley.

By Chris Coons and Charlie Dent In August 1990, President George H. W. Bush addressed the American people following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Explaining why he was sending U.S. troops to the Middle East, Bush made a clear case for American leadership in the world. "If history teaches us anything," he said, "it is that we must resist aggression or it will destroy our freedoms." We recently returned from a bipartisan congressional trip to Morocco, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Estonia, and Iceland. These countries' leaders are concerned about recent campaign statements suggesting eroding public support for the very principles articulated by Bush in that 1990 speech - fundamental ideas like resisting aggression, seeking diplomatic solutions to international disagreements, and defending a world order based on the rule of law. As a Republican representative from Pennsylvania and a Democratic senator from Delaware, we disagree on our fair share of issues. But we made it clear to the citizens of the countries we visited that party labels are irrelevant when it comes to standing up for our friends and our principles. We've pursued that same bipartisan commitment in Congress, too. As members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, we've fought to prioritize funding for programs that will help bring peace and strengthen deterrence in these unstable times. Our bipartisan support for the European Reassurance Initiative, the NATO Security Investment Program, international security assistance, and humanitarian assistance programs are just a few examples of how our work in Congress is reinforcing our national security interests and honoring our commitments to our allies. These programs have made a real, positive difference in countries around the world, and are critical for our allies who have stood by us for decades. Estonia, for example, has gone above and beyond its fiscal commitments to NATO and also deployed troops to serve alongside American service members in Iraq and Afghanistan for years. Similarly, Iceland and the Czech Republic have proven to be engaged partners in peacekeeping missions, and the people of Ukraine have sought to build an independent, responsible nation despite continued Russian interference. The countries we visited, like so many around the world, are vital allies and partners. Many were also the battlegrounds of the great struggles against fascism and communism during the 20th century and have been the targets of overt aggression or covert subversion. Because of this history, they are deeply aware of the consequences of isolationism and failing to maintain our international obligations. Look no further than Ukraine. In 1994, Russia joined the United States and United Kingdom in pledging to "respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine" and "refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine." Two decades later, following the fall of a Ukrainian government sympathetic to Vladimir Putin, Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed the Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian soldiers are still fighting and dying for their independence today. Countries around the world - and Americans of all political parties - condemned Russia's actions for a simple reason: The principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity are vital to a world order based on the rule of law. Today, Russia poses a direct threat to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the Baltic states, and seeks to undermine the worldview of a unified, free, and peaceful Europe. If the United States does not clearly and consistently stand up to Russian aggression, Putin will continue to test the resolve of both America and our alliances across the Atlantic. That's why Congress must make clear today what President Bush told the world 26 years ago: "No one, friend or foe, should doubt our desire for peace, and no one should underestimate our determination to confront aggression." Our partners and allies around the world deserve to know that the United States will pursue peace, confront aggression, and remain committed to the international institutions that have served the world so well since the end of World War II. We cannot forget that a free and stable world makes America safer and more economically secure, too. As President Bush articulated, standing up for our principles is a cherished bipartisan American tradition. It's a tradition that we will continue to pursue through our work in Congress in the years to come.