During Coffee with the Congressman event Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., stressed a program he is helping to develop with conservative House Republicans of restoring America's confidence.
Coffee with the Congressman was hosted at Cossatot College in Ashdown, and Westerman introduced the program "A Better Way-Our Vision for a Confident America."
"It's an honor to serve the fourth congressional district, but it's frustrating, the slow pace in Washington, D.C.," said Westerman.
While Westerman introduced the plan, he praised America after a recent tour where he visited seven countries in nine days, which included a Syrian refugee camp.
The camp included shanties and few toilets with an estimated 80,000 refugees living in a couple of square miles.
"Seeing the orphan kids breaks your heart," Westerman said.
Visiting the countries taught him America is considered by some countries as the "Big Satan" while other countries watch the U.S. for world leadership.
The Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives want to restore a "confident America" and "get back on track."
"One thing is clear-the American people feel like their voices aren't being heard in government. The status quo won't fix that nor the problems they are facing day in and day out," he said.
"After seven years of the president's top-down, government-knows-best approach, we're putting forward a better way that looks beyond this president to what we can achieve in 2017 and beyond. It's a way that trusts people to make their own decisions and pursue their own version of the American dream. It's a choice for our future," said Westerman.
"We want an America where every man, woman and child feels secure in their lives and in their futures," he said.
"This bold, forward-looking agenda uses ideas from around the country to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time: constitutional authority, jobs and economic growth, health care, national security and poverty.