Charlie On the Issues

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Abortion

No unborn child should be punished because their parent is facing hard times. I have no doubt that we should do more to reach out to mothers in need and provide assistance during their difficult circumstances. Just as it is wrong for the elderly to be abandoned in rough times, we must not sanction a policy that simply shrugs off the abortion problem and allows taking of innocent life...more

Bills by Charlie

When a Member of Congress is said to have "sponsored" legislation, this means they are the primary author and originator of the legislation for that particular Congress. A co-sponsor is a Member of Congress who joins with the sponsor in originally introducing the legislation, or officially supporting it after the measure has been formally introduced to the Congress...more

Education

While the vast majority of education funding comes from the states, as it should, I have voted for a number of measures that increase funding for schools, reduce paperwork burdens, eliminate needless regulations, and most importantly, support our teachers at the federal level...more

Gas Prices

Congress and the federal government cannot turn a blind eye toward the current gas price crisis in this time of need. All Americans have been hurt by the 300 percent inflation in gas prices over the last four years...more

Healthcare

The cost of medical care is rising for all Americans, and so is the level of healthcare spending. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to reverse this trend. In America, we balance a number of desires and cost pressures when it comes to healthcare. To begin with, we all want the best healthcare possible. It's our health after all! Because of outstanding privately and publicly-funded medical research, our nation has the widest range of cutting-edge health procedures and prescription drugs available in the world. While these improvements have benefited the health of millions, the fact is these medications and services are expensive. And unlike most other sectors, advances in healthcare have generally raised costs rather than reducing them. The more services we desire the more the bill goes up...more

Immigration and America's Borders

I have supported many efforts to increase border security during my time in Congress. These include initiatives to allow construction of a wall along our southern border, permit our Armed Forces to assist the Department of Homeland Security in enforcing our borders, and increase Border Patrol funding so that the agency could employ proper staff and resources...more

Iraq

The war in Iraq has become a serious point of debate between well-meaning Americans of all political stripes. Recent discussion in Congress and other forums of public debate have demonstrated the strong passions of individuals on both sides. I believe these conversations are a necessary part of our democratic process. Nothing is inherently wrong with criticizing the decision to go to war or critiquing the way in which the war is being conducted. What is not acceptable is for either side to engage in baseless accusations or revisionist history in an effort to prove their point...more

Marriage

Marriage is an institution of such importance that it is uniquely protected under our laws and within American culture. Marriage as an institution has existed for thousands of years and no civilization can survive without it. Those societies that have allowed marriage to become degraded, irrelevant or have succumbed to the lure of disregarding the union of a man and a woman have quietly faded into history...more

Outsourcing

While unemployment across the country reached a five-year low of 4.7 percent in March, the financial troubles and impending closure of many manufacturers in our area are very troubling. Georgia has been hit particularly hard by the reckless liberalized trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)...more

Prayer

As a man of faith who happens to be a public official, I strongly believe that all Americans - including elected officials functioning in official capacities - should have the right to express our personal religious beliefs. I have never tried to hide the fact that I believe in God. In fact, I've learned the power of prayer firsthand through my health difficulties in recent years. Were it not for the prayers of my family and friends, there is no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't be here today. As a result, I have a responsibility and deep personal desire to acknowledge the role faith plays in my life...more

Taxes

I realize that our tax code needs major reform. Americans pay far too much in taxes every year. Since the federal income and payroll taxes are automatically deducted from a worker's paycheck, many don't realize just how much money they send to the federal government every year. What's worse is that filing taxes has become so complicated that millions of Americans find it necessary to hire a professional accountant to file their income taxes. This example of bureaucracy run amok is not simply unfortunate, it's un-American...more

Trade

Our wide trade deficit with Red China has a huge impact on the United States manufacturing industry. In addition, given China's consistent human rights abuses, I can't understand why we continue to grant China "Most Favored Nation" status. I have consistently voted to revoke China's Most Favored Nation status and will continue to do so...more