WXII12: New Triad Congressman Pat Harrigan discusses goals for his first term
Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Pat Harrigan is one of the nation's newest members of Congress, having been elected to office for the first time in his political career in North Carolina's 10th District in the November election.
His two-year term began Friday, and in a virtual interview with WXII from his new office in Washington, D.C., he talked about his goals, his optimism and how he plans to work with President-elect Donald Trump.
Harrigan said his experience so far has already been special and consequential. On Friday, the House narrowly reelected Rep. Mike Johnson to another term as speaker, and Monday, Congress officially certified Trump's Electoral College victory.
He said his biggest goals are securing the country, unleashing the economy and restoring governmental integrity. When asked how the government can play an impactful role in reducing consumer prices, especially on things like groceries, he said it boils down to eliminating wasteful spending.
"Look, when the government spends a lot of money, that has an inflationary effect," said Harrigan. "I think we're going to be very principled about how we spend the government and the people's money during this next Congress, and that will help President Trump in his agenda to bring overall prices down, and I do think that we will see those results."
Harrigan took over the seat once occupied by fellow Republican Patrick McHenry, who retired. The 10th District encompasses Yadkin County and part of Forsyth County.
Harrigan's party has a slim four-seat majority in the lower chamber, but he believes his party is united and offers proof in the fact that it only took one round of voting to choose a speaker. He says he looks forward to working with the new president to get his agenda implemented but also said he will not shy away from disagreeing with him.
"You know, I think from a political position it would (be hard to speak up), but from a character position, no. I'm not wired that way. I'm not an automatic vote. I'm not just somebody who falls in line because that's what everyone else is doing. I'm going to fight for the things that I believe in personally that align with my values. But those are also nested in the values and principles that my constituents in the 10th District of North Carolina sent me here to voice on their behalf," he said.
As for which issue he expects Congress to address first, he believes the new administration and leadership will tackle a number of their campaign promises simultaneously.
"House leadership and President Trump have been on the same page about this. There's going to be one big beautiful bill, and this bill is going to be all-encompassing," Harrigan said.
His initial committee assignments have landed him on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. As a former Green Beret, he says he can't think of two more important places to be.