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"Today I believe we are at a defining moment in American history. Social Security means We. Privatization means Me. As your elected official in the other Washington, I need to know I am speaking out for Us. Social Security was not some grand social experiment. Social Security was, and is, a bedrock of American Democracy. Social Security is about today, but more about tomorrow."   Read More...

Every other industrialized nation in the world provides universal health care to its citizens. Under the complicated, employer-based American system, average health care spending per person is double what Europeans spend - and many people still have no coverage. Over 70 percent of uninsured Americans are in families where at least one adult works full time.   Read More...

McDermott has been, and continues to be, a staunch supporter of foreign assistance for humanitarian efforts and promoting economic development. Among McDermott’s biggest legislative achievements is passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).   Read More...

The significance of salmon in the Pacfic Northwest is not an issue to be discounted, or used to divide people. McDermott is sponsoring "The Salmon Planning Act" to unsure that public policy decisions are based on sound public policy.   Read More...

A prime challenge facing our nation is the reduction of our dependence on fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The U.S. has become the world's largest and least efficient energy consumer because we have artificially subsidized petroleum prices. Many difficult environmental problems, including acid rain, global warming, and air pollution, are the direct result of our fossil fuel consumption.   Read More...

"Every Member of Congress swears an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the laws of the United States. I take my oath of office seriously, and work hard to keep the people of the 7th Congressional District informed about issues and my positions."   Read More...

The global HIV/AIDS epidemic affects every nation on the planet. As our world becomes increasingly connected, health crises impact every realm of interaction, from the individual level to the international level. Trade, culture, diplomacy, communications, and human rights are all global concerns affected by HIV/AIDS. America's commitment to halting the virus's spread is therefore a political, fiscal, and ethical imperative.   Read More...

"My prayers are with our troops and the Iraqi people: that our troops will return home safely and that deaths of innocent Iraqi children and other civilians will be avoided." Read More...

Chronic kidney failure, often a result of hypertension or diabetes, is a critical problem for millions of Americans. More than 20 million Americans have some form of chronic kidney disease and over a million more are at risk of developing it.
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Congressman McDermott is committed to ensuring United States trade policy adequately responds to the challenges that face the United States and its economic partners around the world.   Read More...