Whittier’s lament is an appropriate epitaph for the 115th Congress: “Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: it might have been.”

In 2016, the American people voted at a pivotal moment in the life of our country with a simple mandate: to “make America great again.” As a practical matter, this meant reviving the economy, balancing the budget, securing our borders, and rescuing our healthcare system. To accomplish these goals, voters provided Republicans all the necessary tools: majorities in both houses of Congress and the presidency.