Fifteen years ago today, my life changed forever. On my last mission in the United States Army, I stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and lost two legs and a finger. When I woke up in Walter Reed, I thought my service to our country had ended. But my father gave me advice that I carry with me to this day: don’t let your best days of service be in the past.

His words reshaped my perspective. What could have been just the day I lost my legs became what members of the military call my Alive Day—a reminder that every day we’re given an opportunity to serve a purpose greater than ourselves.

I will continue to serve you in Congress with the same commitment I brought to the battlefield—because every day is a gift, and every day that we wake up under 50 stars and 13 red and white stripes is another chance to fight for what makes America the greatest nation on earth.