U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s (NY-3) platform has been focused on addressing issues through bipartisan solutions, and that will continue as he serves as co-chair of the House’s Problem Solvers Caucus.
“I am honored to rejoin the Problem Solvers as co-chair,” Suozzi said. “My philosophy is simple: I’ll never abandon my values, but I’ll work with anyone who wants to genuinely solve problems and make life better for the American people.”
The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan coalition of representatives that touts its intent to seek resolutions that reach across the aisle. It is led by one Democrat and one Republican, with Suozzi taking the Democratic lead.
He will co-chair with Pennsylvania’s Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
Suozzi’s appointment as co-chair comes a week after he was appointed to the House’s Ways and Means Committee, which is in charge of the nation’s economic policies, including but not limited to taxation, trade and tariffs, Social Security and Medicare.
The caucus exists in a House with a narrow Republican majority, which Suozzi said will require reaching across the aisle to get things done.
“This Congress is so narrowly divided. The Republicans only have a two-seat majority to work with, and they will need Democratic support to get things done,” Suozzi said. “We have to be able to work together and find compromise, and the Problem Solvers know how to do that.”
Suozzi campaigned on a platform of seeking bipartisan solutions, a promised he said aided in his re-election in spite of Republican dominance on Long Island in the November election.
“The election results signal a mandate for common-sense solutions to longstanding challenges like border security, immigration reform, and economic recovery,” Suozzi said. “Achieving progress on these fronts demands bipartisan cooperation.”
Suozzi’s is returning to the caucus, which he joined in 2017 as a founding member. He also served as vice-chair for three consecutive years.
Actions taken by the caucus include the First Pass Act, which aimed to improve criminal justice reforms and reduce federal prison populations, delivering aid to children and families at the U.S.-Mexico border, providing emergency COVID-19 aid relief and negotiating the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Suozzi stressed the importance of the caucus amid political divisiveness.
“We cannot solve complex problems in an atmosphere of fear and anger,” Suozzi said. “True solutions require people of goodwill, even people who may disagree, to do the hard work to find common ground for the common good.”
