FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Indiana’s Third Congressional District Representative is getting ready to take office and as Congressman – elect Jim Banks gets prepared, he tells WOWO News, his number one priority when he gets to Washington D.C., will be the nation’s debt.

“First and foremost the 19.5 trillion national debt that our country has today… we got to do something about that or my daughter’s generation will fully pay the price… and as the baby boomers retire and see their retirement dwindle, that national debt, I believe, is the greatest threat that we have today to the American dream.”

He says his second priority will be restoring the might of American troops. He says it’s a must to have a strong military to combat the growing national security threats that America faces.

Banks will take office as the Third Congressional District’s Representative in January. He says between now and then he has a lot of work to do, but he’s very humbled to be chosen by the Third District.

Banks will replace Representative Marlin Stutzman.