Marlin Stutzman

The real American Dream is about hard work and opportunity, but the biggest threat to the American dream is Washington’s $33 trillion debt. My top priority in Congress will be to cut the federal government back down to the size of the original piece of parchment on which it was written - the Constitution.  Only when the government is held accountable and forced to live within its means will the full potential of the American economy  be unleashed. Federal bureaucracies are out of control and many are un-Constitutional.  It's time to clean house.  As the author of the Conservative Federal Budget, I proved that it is possible to reduce our national debt and balance the budget by enacting thoughtful entitlement reforms while still preserving Social Security and Medicare for the next generation.  It’s time to get Washington out of the way, stop the reckless spending and fix the broken tax system in order to give American workers freedom to succeed.

Our nation’s strength is grounded in the values Hoosiers live out each day, but our rights to personal conviction and faith are under assault.  As a Christian husband, father, employer, business owner and legislator, I will always bring our Hoosier values to the center of the debates in Washington.  I have fought for our rights of free speech, worship and conscience by authoring legislation safeguarding the sanctity of life, marriage, and freedom of religion. Now more than ever, we need an effective voice in congress who can go to work on day one to defend our families, our churches and our communities from the continual attacks we are experiencing from our government.  I will continue to fight for religious freedom and conscience protections guaranteed under the First Amendment to families, parents, churches, employers, healthcare workers and members of our military.  

Actions speak louder than words, and my record of protecting the second amendment rights of every American is long and clear.  The Second Amendment to the US Constitution has been under attack for decades and I have been honored to protect and defend it on the state and federal levels.  With a lifetime A rating from the NRA, I have defended our right to bear arms by co-authoring the Lifetime Handgun Permit in Indiana and authoring The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act as well as the Separation of Powers Restoration and Second Amendment Protection Act in the US Congress. As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee’s Second Amendment Initiative, I have actively promoted educational outreach and activism to promote our right to bear arms.  “The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Paychecks are falling, employers are cutting hours and thousands of Hoosier families are struggling to afford even the most basic insurance.  Government healthcare is not what we were promised and the wait times to see a doctor or have a much needed procedure are the longest they have been in our history.  That’s why I have a step-by-step, common sense solution to health care reform that actually reduces costs and provides patient-centered solutions.  Expanding free market solutions like Health Savings Accounts, transportable coverage, tax credits for businesses which provide health care and providing protection for doctors from frivolous lawsuits are the first steps toward providing access to the quality care Americans need.  Americans deserve a healthcare system that works!

The first responsibility of the federal government is to “provide for the common defense.”  The simple but powerful axiom, “Peace through strength,” has kept America safe and a beacon of hope as the leader of the free world.  I will continue to support a robust military and make sure that our service members have the tools they need to do their jobs and come home safely.  Their dedication and professionalism are second to none and they deserve the lasting thanks of a grateful nation.  I’ve seen firsthand how Washington’s decisions impact our National Guard here at home.  That’s why I’ve worked with our governors and generals to defend and enhance the strategic assets our Indiana Guard provide.  I have been a vocal supporter of the border wall and will fight to see completed. Our wall should be high but our gate should be wide in allowing legal immigrants a more attainable path to citizenship while keeping America safe from the threat of the massive number of illegal immigrants overwhelming our borders.