A Bipartisan Call for Unity and Problem Solving in a Fractured Washington
In a rare display of bipartisan collaboration, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), co-chairs of the Problem Solvers Caucus, joined Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing Congress. Despite representing districts with starkly different political leanings—Fitzpatrick’s Pennsylvania district narrowly went to Kamala Harris in 2020, while Suozzi’s New York district backed Donald Trump—both lawmakers emphasized the need for bipartisanship to address the challenges ahead. Their conversation highlighted the growing divide in Washington but also offered a glimmer of hope for cross-party cooperation.
The pair began with the looming threat of a government shutdown on March 14, with Fitzpatrick and Suozzi expressing frustration over the lack of bipartisan negotiations on the Continuing Resolution (CR). Fitzpatrick noted that Republicans were still reviewing the bill, which was only released the day before, and had not yet decided how they would vote. “Like most bills, there’s some good in there, some not so good,” he said, emphasizing the need for lawmakers to evaluate the legislation thoroughly. Suozzi, meanwhile, made it clear that he would vote against the bill in its current form, criticizing the lack of outreach from Republican leadership. “It’s kind of been a ‘my way or the highway’-type of thing,” he said, predicting that Democrats would eventually be brought to the negotiating table as Republicans realize they cannot pass the bill on party lines alone.
Both lawmakers agreed that a government shutdown would be disastrous, with Fitzpatrick recounting his experiences as an FBI agent during past shutdowns, when critical operations like wiretaps and surveillance teams were forced to cease. “You never, ever want to shut the government down,” he said. “It’s a symptom of a broken system.” Suozzi echoed this sentiment, calling the current approach to the CR “not normal” and stressing the need for bipartisan solutions.
The Politicization of the FBI and the Need for Nonpartisanship
The conversation shifted to concerns about the politicization of the FBI, a topic that has garnered significant attention in recent weeks. Fitzpatrick, the only FBI agent currently serving in Congress, expressed alarm over the departure of James Dennehy, the top agent in the New York office, who reportedly clashed with Justice Department officials over a directive related to January 6, 2021, investigations. Fitzpatrick, a staunch defender of the Bureau, called the politicization of the FBI “dangerous” and warned that it undermines public trust. He suggested that the FBI should include political bias in its polygraph testing for agents to ensure they “check their politics at the door.”
Suozzi concurred, adding that the erosion of trust in institutions like the FBI is part of a broader trend of norm-busting in Washington. “We can’t see this politicization of the FBI. It’s a dangerous thing for our country,” he said. Fitzpatrick also criticized former FBI Director James Comey for his overtly political behavior, such as tweeting about voting for a single party during an election. “That’s terrible,” Fitzpatrick said. “The FBI needs to be completely nonpartisan, completely apolitical.”
The conversation also touched on the ongoing tensions between the FBI and the Justice Department, with Fitzpatrick noting that he would be speaking with FBI Director Patel in the coming days to address these concerns. While he acknowledged that there were problems at the highest levels of the Bureau, he reiterated his commitment to supporting the FBI’s rank-and-file agents, who he described as “tremendous people” who are “completely nonpartisan.”
Border Security, Immigration, and the Path to Bipartisan Reform
From national security to border security, the lawmakers turned to one of the most contentious issues in Washington: immigration reform. Suozzi acknowledged that illegal border crossings have reached historic lows, but he stressed that this is not a time for complacency. “We need to make a permanent law,” he said, calling for a comprehensive approach that combines border security with fixes to the broken asylum system and legal immigration reforms.
Fitzpatrick, who co-chairs the Problem Solvers Caucus with Suozzi, echoed this call for action, emphasizing the economic and national security benefits of immigration. “We’re a country of immigrants,” he said. “Every problem we face in our country is complicated, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find solutions.” Fitzpatrick, an ardent supporter of Ukraine, drew parallels between the U.S. and Ukraine’s experiences, noting that both nations are defined by their openness to newcomers. “That’s the huge advantage that we have over our adversaries,” he said. “We can combine border security and the rule of law with bringing the best and brightest people into this country.”
Suozzi and Fitzpatrick acknowledged that achieving bipartisan consensus on immigration will not be easy, but they expressed optimism, citing their work with a coalition of lawmakers, business leaders, and advocacy groups. “We need to secure the border. We need to fix the broken asylum system, and we need to treat people like human beings by fixing our legal immigration system,” Suozzi said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Standing with Ukraine Against Russian Aggression
One issue where Fitzpatrick and Suozzi found common ground was their unwavering support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Fitzpatrick, a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, was critical of recent reports that the U.S. has withheld intelligence and military support from Ukraine. He suggested that this could be part of a broader strategy to pressure Russia to negotiate, but he emphasized the importance of ensuring that Ukraine emerges victorious from the conflict. “Vladimir Putin regrets his decision to invade Ukraine,” Fitzpatrick said, summing up his vision for success. “If we reward dictators for invading sovereign, freedom-loving democracies, we are sending a message to every other dictator and aspiring dictator across this planet that if you do that, you will be rewarded. That cannot be the message coming out of this.”
Suozzi agreed, calling Putin’s actions “horrible crimes” and warning that allowing Russia to prevail would embolden other authoritarian regimes. “Putin invaded. Zelensky is democratically elected,” he said, noting that Ukraine’s president won with 73% of the vote in a free and fair election. “We cannot reward the guy responsible for murdering, for kidnapping, for raping, for all the awful things that have happened to the Ukrainian people.”
Both lawmakers affirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine, with Fitzpatrick referencing the lessons of World War II. “We should never get to that point where we have to send our young people to fight on Omaha Beach because we didn’t act early enough,” he said. “These dictators want to relitigate the outcome of World War II. In World War II, freedom won over dictatorships. They want to relitigate that.”
Bridging the Divide: Bipartisan Collaboration and the Path Forward
Throughout their conversation, Fitzpatrick and Suozzi repeatedly returned to the theme of bipartisanship, emphasizing the need for lawmakers to put aside their differences and work together to address the nation’s challenges. They acknowledged that this is no easy task in today’s deeply polarized political climate, but they expressed a shared commitment to finding common ground.
Fitzpatrick attributed the current dysfunction in Washington to a flawed system where “if you get 218 votes, you get everything, and if you get 217 votes, you get nothing.” He and Suozzi are working to change this through the Problem Solvers Caucus, which brings together lawmakers from both parties to advance bipartisan solutions. “Compromise is not a dirty word,” Suozzi said. “We have to figure out how to start moving our country forward, not with this ‘all my way or the highway’ approach.”
The pair also addressed the growing tension between lawmakers and their constituents, particularly in the wake of disruptions at town halls and other public events. Fitzpatrick noted that while virtual town halls can be effective, they offer limited opportunities for dialogue and engagement. Suozzi, on the other hand, expressed concern over the growing polarization within Congress, pointing to the recent censure of Texas Democrat Al Green as an example of how even minor infractions can escalate into full-blown partisan battles. “If it was a Republican doing the same thing to a Democratic president, I would have voted for that as well,” he said, explaining his decision to support the censure. “We need to maintain the decorum of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Conclusion: A Call for Compromise and Unity
In a political environment defined by division and distrust, the conversation between Fitzpatrick and Suozzi offered a rare reminder of the potential for bipartisanship in Washington. While they acknowledged the deep challenges facing Congress, their commitment to collaboration and compromise was evident throughout the discussion. From averting a government shutdown to reforming the immigration system and supporting Ukraine, both lawmakers underscored the importance of working across the aisle to achieve meaningful solutions.
As they concluded their interview, Fitzpatrick and Suozzi called on their colleagues to rediscover the art of compromise and put the interests of the nation above party loyalty. “We need to be the ones who step up and lead,” Suozzi said, summing up their shared vision for a more unified and effective government. “We need to make a difference, because the American people expect us to do that.”
