House Majority Whip: ‘We are all members of the same team’

While acknowledging Republican power in the Congress and White House, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer called for the country’s two political parties to work together “to make the communities we love a better place for our children and our children’s children.”

“We may even bump into each other and challenge each other at times,” the Republican from Minnesota told attendees Feb. 23 in the Washington Hilton ballroom. “That’s not a bad thing. This is what teams do, but they come together at the end.”

Before he dove into policy talk, Emmer, who has represented Minnesota’s 6th District for the past 10 years, had to get something out of the way before speaking to the General Session audience.

“There are Minnesotans in the crowd, where are ya?” he asked. 

“It’s good to see fellow Viking fans!” 

The former hockey coach then started a chant of “USA,” after the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams earned Olympic gold.

Emmer welcomed the crowd to Washington. 

“I’m encouraged by the thousands of you from across the country who have gathered here in our nation’s capital this week to engage on the issues that matter most to our communities,” he said. “Governance starts at the local level, from public safety to infrastructure to economic prosperity. You are all boots on the ground fighting the good fight and making America, our country, the greatest place to live on the face of the planet. So, on behalf of the entire House Republican Conference, I want to say thank you to you first. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our country.”

“The way I see it, we are all members of the same team working toward the same goal, just like those two teams I just mentioned, and like any successful team, we may not always agree with each other,” he said. 

“As the 2026 tax season begins to unfold,” he said, “we’re hearing more and more about the once-in-a-generation piece of legislation that is benefiting Americans from every walk of life, thanks to common sense tax provisions like an increased Child Tax Credit, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security. Families are able to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets.”

Emmer ticked off a laundry list of congressional accomplishments:

• Laken Riley Act: Passed by both chambers of Congress with bipartisan votes, it was sent to the president for signature in January last year; it requires federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for certain crimes (e.g., theft, assault on police) and allows states to sue the federal government for failing to enforce immigration detention rules.
• HALT Fentanyl Act: Passed by the Senate (84–16) and House (321–104) it became law on July 16, 2025, permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, making it easier for law enforcement to prosecute trafficking.
• GENIUS Act: Passed by the Senate (68–30) and House (308–122) it was signed into law on July 18, 2025, creating the first federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Proposed legislation intended to establish clearer federal rules for digital assets and stablecoins.

“The road, to good governance hasn’t always been an easy one, though, in fact, it’s got pretty bumpy and ugly at times,” said Emmer. 

“In my role as whip, I’ve got a front row seat at what governing really looks like. Some like to joke that my job is similar to herding cats. I like to tell them I wish they were all cats.”