August is one of the busiest times of year with parents gearing up to send their children back to school. It’s a time of excitement though, with the promise of new beginnings and fresh routines. The Mullin family is all too familiar with this season, as we now have three kids in college and three in middle and high schools in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, this back to school season is a grim reminder for most of how tough the Biden-Harris economy is for working families.

Parents are pinching their pocketbooks to make ends meet. According to the National Retail Federation, the average household with children in elementary through high school is expected to spend approximately $875 during back-to-school shopping. Nearly one-third of parents simply cannot afford back-to-school expenses and teachers are dipping into their own savings to shoulder the burden of additional costs. This is the reality of an economy with record-high inflation costs and the cost of goods having skyrocketed up nearly 21 percent.

Those attending higher education institutions are suffering as well. College students and their families are expected to spend on average $1,365 on supplies. These exorbitant costs, coupled with rising tuitions across the country, are making higher education out of reach. My wife and I sympathize with families in Oklahoma and nationwide who are making tough decisions to prioritize their children’s education.

We do want to thank the educators across Oklahoma who are pouring into our students every single day. Those who dedicate their livelihoods to raising up the next generation of leaders and play an important role in empowering and shaping them into the men and women they will become. Christie and I are products of Stilwell Public Schools, and couldn’t be more grateful for the teachers in our family’s lives – both inside the classroom and outside on the wrestling mat.

As Oklahoma families rally this week to kick off another strong school year, far too many are facing a brutal economic reality that’s forcing everyone to pay more to get less. I remain committed to fighting against inflationary, radical spending of the Biden-Harris administration that has led us to this place. By contrast, Senate Republicans believe Americans are better off with limited government and more freedom, not an overpowering administrative state. We’re advancing policies to lower costs and ease the economic burden for families here in Oklahoma and across America. The path to economic prosperity for Oklahoma students and families is simple: stop out-of-control spending, unleash American innovation, cut excessive regulation, and keep more money in your pocket.