Earlier this month, Republicans in the House of Representatives met to establish our priorities for the coming year.

We realize that we have a tremendous opportunity to change the path our nation is on, and we will use this year to advance a pro-growth agenda that represents the American people’s priorities.

This year we will focus on five major issues: national security, jobs and economic growth, opportunity, healthcare and constitutional authority.

As our national security remains one of our top priorities, it goes without saying that we must recommit ourselves to exerting our constitutional power to ensure those who seek to perpetuate evil against our nation and our allies are eliminated before they further advance their hatred.

Since being elected to congress, jobs and economic growth in Virginia’s Fifth District and our nation has consistently been one of my top priorities.

A couple of weeks ago, the house and senate sent a repeal of the president’s healthcare law to his desk. He vetoed it, but soon, the house will vote to override his veto.

Finally, time and again we have seen President Barack Obama push his agenda via executive action rather than engaging the congress.

His lack of engaging leadership has done immeasurable damage to our system of government and has compromised the constitutional bounds our founders envisioned.

We must reinstate the principles of our constitution to ensure and enable the voice of the American people.

Of course, House Republicans cannot accomplish these goals alone; we will do everything we can to work across the aisle and with the Senate and the president to make our agenda a reality.

Robert Hurt, a Republican, represents Lunenburg County in the U.S. House of Representatives. His website is hurt.house.gov. He can be reached at his Farmville office at (434) 395-0120.