We grew a company to several hundred employees and saw over that time what i thought was the overreach of government, the encroachment of government in decisions we were making, Additional Resources that we had to commit to complying with regulations. I really believed government, that overreach of government was Holding Businesses back. I think it still continues to help our economy back, holds people back. So i decided to run to ensure that my kids, my grandkids would have the opportunity to live the American Dream that i had the opportunity to do. Host what was your business . Guest so construction company. Just a little background. Ill go back even further. I think im the only member of congress ever to be born into an amish family. My parents were actually whats called order amish. Driving the bug. I was number ten of 12 kids, and so i was the first to my family to graduate from high school. The amish tradition is education tonight great. So when i push my parents with that idea, they agreed, the reluctant at first but they allowed me to attend high school. I couldnt go to a Public Schools i attended, im a graduate of lancaster heights. I had to pay my own tuition site on my way to high school hanging drywall at night, and then i was doing a four and older right out of high school, bot that Small Business just a few employees and was a Business Owner at 17 years old. Operating the business out of a bedroom of my parents home, but again, the tremendous opportunity to grow that company. We became a regional leader in commercial construction with several hundred employees, but thats what im talking about, being able to start with little or nothing and live your dreams. Thats what america is about. Theres stories all throughout my district and throughout the country very similar to that. But today i think would be a lot harder. That was about 35 years ago that i started this company. It would be a lot harder today for someone to do that because of the overreach of government. Host are you still part of the Amish Community . Guest so the area that i represent, particularly the Lancaster County portion of that district, is the largest Amish Community in the country. But i myself am not amish. Im lutheran today. Host and what impact do you think you got that childhood, amish, until you are . What do you take away from that . Guest well, the Amish Community is really hardworking, great family values, really care about their neighbors and care about other people. And so those are all sort of values i was raised with, and so i think that led to some degree to my interest in trying to find solutions to problems that we are faced with. I first started as a county supervisor, got involved in local government and found that it really enjoyed that opportunity to hear from our neighbors and others, and try to solve problems. Thats been my approach in the state senate as well as that would be my approach you as well. Host what would you say your record was at the state senate level . What were you focused on . Guest well again, i represent a diverse district, but also a pretty conservative district. In a lot of ways, but i tend to like the no labels aspect. Theres actually a no labels caucus here that i am potentially joining, but the point im making with it is i worked in the state senate to try to find solutions to difficult problems. And im willing to work with anyone who may agree with me, and knowing that everyone is he representing different districts, and they have different expenses. And so a big part of being successful in the legislator, i found the state senate is learning to listen and try to understand other viewpoints and then try to find common ground. Host what is your focus in washington . Guest im very pleased to be part of the educational Workforce Committee. In fact, i was chair of the Education Committee in the state senate. We worked hard to ensure that every child in pennsylvania have the opportunity to worldclass education that prepares them for their career college, military, whatever they chose to do. And here were going, what are the focus ive had of the Workforce Committee is the reauthorization of the Higher Education act. I think will be some really great opportunities there, particularly i think we need an additional focus on career and technical education. We have a lot of jobs available, we need to ensure that we are preparing our students to take those jobs. Jobs are changing today. I think thats a real opportunity. Im also the transportation and infrastructure committee. I think this will be a great session to be part of that. We did some work on that in pennsylvania as where as well where we realized that infrastructure is a core function of government. So we were able to increase funding for our highways and bridges. That was very, very necessary. At the same time that we were cutting back in government and others. I think its about focusing on what are the Core Functions of government. So im looking forward to working with the administration and with colleagues across the aisle on building a 21st century infrastructure as a. Host on education in your previous job at the state senate, he did some work on education pertaining to illegal immigrants. What was that legislation . Some might be that asked not in line with republican party, but explain. Guest we must fix our immigration system. It does start i believe with securing the border. We have to know who is coming into our country. We have to know who has come across the border when they should not have to quit to know who is overstayed their welcome. We know there are people in the world there out to harm us. So whatever we end up doing with immigration, you start with securing the border so i fully support that approach. And then from there we have two build a system that, we have to fix our Legal Immigration system. We are a country of immigrants, and we are back talking about in a country earlier. We should be welcoming people who want to come here, who want to work hard, you want to raise their families, who want to live the American Dream. I think thats whats made our country great in the past and will do so in the future as well. Host you have, you have what some of the members of congress say its a shorter commute compared to those who live on the west coast. Just had to drive a couple of hours to get back home. Back home, tells about your family. Guest sure. I have a little over two hour dr. If i hit the traffic right. It is a little different when i served in the state senate. I was able to commute everyday, and i would would do that you as well but i really, a high priority by to get back to the district. I want to hear from constituents but also be back with my family. My wife isnt there but i had a 14 year old son who is in eighth grade, event to who are in college as well, 19 and 21yearold daughter, what does your wife do . Guest my wife has been focused on raising the kids. Shes been a stayathome mom while we are raising the family, particularly, i am particularly appreciative of that because of course the state legislature and here, it does take a lot of time away from the family so shes been focused on trying to create this normal childhood for our kids as possible. Its been great. Host what did your children think about you money for this u. S. House seat . Guest theyre excited about it. Obviously, he means that im not there as much for them. It wouldve been probably more difficult decision for me had my kids been younger, but its a good age now with two of them in college. They are very excited about whats happening here, and particularly my son really seems to be, hes 14. Hes interested in politics. One of the things easy gets to meet some people he would not get to meet otherwise, and we try to have the family then as much as we possibly can. So its been great. Host congressman smucker, thank you very much for some of your time today. Appreciate it. Guest thanks for having m me. Life network pro forma session of the u. S. Senate of te senate i appoint the honorable roy blunt to perform the duties of the chair. Signed orrin g. Hatch, president pro tempore. The presiding officer under the presiding officer under the u. S. Senate is meeting every three days while on a twoweek break to prevent recess appointments. Synergy will do this again next monday and again on thursday when the return of religious at work on monday april 24 the senate lummox are expected to