All across America, something remarkable is happening. In the face of politicians who are more concerned with scoring political points than solving problems, and a political culture that is more interested in tearing people down than bringing people together, ordinary people like you are standing up and saying "Enough!"

I've seen it here in Omaha, Nebraska during my campaign for Congress. People who have never voted before, people who have never gotten involved in a campaign or cared about politics, are getting involved in this election. It is inspiring, and it gives me the motivation to work even harder. I know exactly why people are getting involved, and it's the same reason I got involved two years ago. We need to change the way things are done in Washington so that the government works for the people once again.

Last week, I traveled to Afghanistan to get a firsthand perspective of the situation on the ground. I arranged the trip with help from the University of Nebraska-Omaha's Center for Afghanistan Studies. The center is one of the foremost resources in our country for information and expertise regarding Afghanistan. I spent about a week in the country, and met with Afghans, Americans, and others who are dealing day-to-day with the delicate situation in this volatile region.