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The U.S. Congress is navigating yet another government funding deadline — the eighth in less than six months — and are at an impasse over sending aid to key allies in Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. Divisions among Republicans in the House and Senate killed a major bipartisan border policy bill. Reforms to bedrock programs like Medicare and Social Security are desperately needed but no closer to getting passed. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives spent close to a month without a speaker last year due to infighting between moderate and hard right factions of the Republican party.

When U.S. Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, begged his colleagues in November to “give me one thing I can campaign on and say we did,” he was articulating what many lawmakers and observers were feeling: Congress isn’t working.

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WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on the retirement of Congressman Ken Buck (R-CO) from Congress.

"My friend Ken Buck and I got to know each other well when we were both elected as the Freshman class presidents of our respective caucuses in 2015. What I have always appreciated about him is that, even though we’re largely ideological opposites, Ken has been willing to find policy areas where we can find common ground. That’s what legislating is all about. I’ll miss having him as an ally on issues related to privacy and artificial intelligence, among others. I have admired that throughout his time in Congress, Ken has been independent-minded and consistent in his convictions. Ken was not afraid of swimming against the political tides because of the power of his principles. Ken embodies the definition of political courage. I wish him the best as he soon embarks on a new chapter in his life of service."