Washington, D.C. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement after Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected to serve as the 56th Speaker of the House:

“The first job of a leader is to inspire trust. Speaker Johnson has the heart and mind to lead us through the challenges facing our nation. I was proud to nominate him for Speaker of the House this week. He believes in fostering unity and teamwork by empowering Members based on their unique strengths and goals. Together, we will make people’s lives better with lower energy costs, less crime, a more secure border, and a better quality of life—the things we were sent here to accomplish. 

“As we continue to support our allies in Israel, Speaker Johnson’s leadership on the Armed Services Committee makes him the right man to meet the moment. Further, his two decades of experience as a constitutional lawyer will be critical to the People’s House reasserting our Article I authorities, preserving fundamental freedoms, and bringing transformational change to how the federal government operates.

“Every time we walk into the chamber, we see our nation’s motto, ‘In God we Trust!’ engraved above the Speaker’s chair. Today we voted unanimously for Mike Johnson to serve as Speaker—an individual who will lead us to rebuild trust first in God and each other, and ultimately with the people of this greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever known, the United States of America.”

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