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Diana Harshbarger
02/18/2026 | Press release | Archived content
CITIZEN TRIBUNE: Politicians Speak at Hawkins Legislative Breakfast
"My job is to keep our government from spending money they don't have," Harshbarger said. "You all have a budget for your household and your businesses. If you don't have any money, guess what? You shouldn't be spending it, should you? That's the whole point. We are trying to retrain the government not to spend money they don't have."
Harshbarger said that the thin Republican majority in the House of Representatives have pressure to get things done. She also said that during passage of the "Big Beautiful Bill," there were more things that President Trump wanted to include.
"We did as much as we could with the budget reconciliation," Harshbarger said. "Bottom line is a lot of things were approved that you won't see until this year as far as taxes go."
The "Safe America Act,"
originally called the "Safe Act" under President Joe Biden, requires that voters provide identification, such as a driver's license and proof of citizenship when going to vote. She said that one Democrat joined the Republican majority to pass this act, which was passed with a two-person majority in Congress.
"We had to give and take on a lot of things," Harshbarger said. "We have accomplished a lot with a two-person majority. Give (Speaker of the House) Mike Johnson credit for pulling our troops together."
In comparison, Tennessee has one of the most stringent election programs in America, Harshbarger said. One has to show their identification and prove that they are a resident of that county.
Harshbarger discussed redistricting of Congressional districts in Virginia that will result in two Republican Congressmen being forced from their seats.
"(Losing two seats) is a little bit much," Harshbarger said. "We're going to lose a lot of seats in that state if Virginia is successful. It's imperative to get out and vote."
Harshbarger said that it matters who governs, whether it be local, state or federal.
"When it comes to things like infrastructure, if you submit a request, we're going to try our best to get that in," she said. "I can't read your minds. If there are things that you need, you've got to tell me. There are grant programs out there."
In addition, Harshbarger said that her office can help with IRS, Social Security and other issues and even in cases when one is out of the country and can't get back home.
Harshbarger said that $900 billion of fraud, waste and abuse was found in the Medicare/Medicaid systems.
"When there is that much involved with the Medicaid/Medicare systems, there are people getting that," she said. "There is so much fraudulent activity, we're trying to make to protect the integrity of that program. There are illegals who are receiving these benefits, as well as able-bodied people."
Those who receive these benefits should participate by volunteering, among others, Harshbarger said.
Harshbarger also discussed making more funding available to trades.
"We need more people who work with their hands," she said. "That's a skill that you'll use forever. We'll have more money going to those facilities to train these people to build American."
Harshbarger serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, is Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Health, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Energy. Harshbarger is a member of the Appalachian Caucus; Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force; Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus; Career and Technical Education Caucus; Congressional Family Caucus; Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus; GOP Doctors Caucus; GOP Election Integrity Caucus; Make America Healthy Again Caucus; Republican Study Committee; Rural Broadband Caucus; School Choice Caucus; the TVA Caucus and the Western Caucus.
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Diana Harshbarger published this content on February 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 11, 2026 at 15:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]