My Stance on the Issues

Clean Energy

A comprehensive new energy strategy is critically needed in the United States. That is why in late June, 2009, I was proud to vote in favor of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed the House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate.

This legislation will strengthen our economy in both the short term and long term. This legislation will make America more secure, and ensure a cleaner, smarter, more cost-effective energy future that creates hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs and reduces global warming.

Currently, the United States spends $700 billion a year for foreign energy -- a lot of it to nations that do not always share our democratic ideals. This legislation, when combined with vehicle efficiency and biofuel standards enacted in 2007, will curb our use of foreign oil by more than 5 million barrels a day by 2030 – as much as we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela.

By implementing the American Clean Energy and Security Act, our country positions America as a world leader on this significant global issue. The option of the status quo is itself not acceptable.

Economy

At the beginning of the 111th Congress, we faced the most serious economic and financial crisis of any since the Great Depression. Fear was widespread and confidence was scarce. Our economy was in free fall with no apparent limit on how much worse things could get.

Yet, we have traveled a remarkable distance over the past several months in pulling our economy back from the brink of economic catastrophe. The wide-ranging efforts taken by the Democrat-led Congress – implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, restoring confidence in the financial system, providing assistance for responsible homeowners and pressing to get credit flowing to small businesses – have helped pull the economy out of a collapse, and have put us on a path toward a sustained economic recovery. While we still have a long way go, we are far closer to that recovery today than we were in January 2009.

While avoiding catastrophe and restoring a sound macroeconomic policy framework are necessary for the confidence on which economic recovery depends, they are not sufficient. In order to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle of the past several years, our economy must be rebuilt on firmer foundations. Job creation, an investment in renewable energy and a reform of our broken health care system are long term solutions that will lay the groundwork for a new foundation for our economy for years to come.

Education

Educating our youth is the cornerstone to productive future generations of Americans and equipping them to compete in a globalized market. We must make a national commitment to education by strengthening our public K-12 schools, fully funding special education, and modernizing our classrooms. At the same time, we must enhance the ability of students to afford and attain higher education, and make sure that we have the best trained, most qualified teachers in the world.

I am proud that in the 111th Congress, we are working with a President who shares this commitment. In fact, President Obama already demonstrated his commitment to education for the 21st century, when he signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law on February 17, 2009. This law creates a $53.6 billon state stabilization fund to help states prevent cutbacks and layoffs in our public education system, and create jobs by modernizing schools and colleges and universities.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also provides a $500 increase for each Pell Grant scholarship recipient in the next school year, benefitting up to seven million students. In addition, this vital legislation creates a new $2,500 tuition tax credit to help an additional four million students’ families pay for college.

In 2008, my colleagues and I passed the new GI Bill for the 21st Century, which restores the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. These benefits, which started August 1st, are available to an estimated 2.1 million veterans. This year, Congress also extended those college benefits to all children of fallen soldiers since 9/11 (with no minimum military service needed to qualify).

I am committed to working with my colleagues in the House and the President to provide high quality education to all of America’s students, creating a nation prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.

Environment

Protecting the environment is vital to protect the health of all Americans, particularly our children. I will continue to fight for cleaner air, cleaner water, and preservation of our natural resources, understanding that what we do today has an impact on future generations of Americans. We must stand up for fair policies that protect America’s environment while allowing for economic opportunity—priorities that can work together.

That is why I was proud to vote in favor of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This important comprehensive energy legislation will increase our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and preserve our planet by reducing the pollution that causes global warming.

Florida Everglades

The Florida Everglades is a national treasure which must be preserved for all Americans. The Everglades play a crucial role in the everyday lives of all Floridians, not only by serving as Florida’s main source for drinking and farming water, but also as a safeguard against flooding that threatens our state every hurricane season. The Everglades is also home to many threatened and endangered species. Protection of these animals will depend upon restoring the natural flow of water through the Everglades and cleaning up water pollution which threatens their natural habitat. I am proud that in the 111th Congress we have already provided more than $200 million for Everglades restoration.

Greening the Capitol

I believe that Congress must lead by example, and we are doing just that. As the Chairwoman for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, I am actively involved in the Greening the Capitol Initiative. This program takes the first steps towards an efficient energy policy. The House of Representatives is striving to make the Capitol a “carbon neutral” complex, which will reduce energy consumption by over 50% in 10 years. The plan also implements non-toxic cleaners, and improved recycling and water conservation.

Click here to learn more about the Greening the Capitol Initiative.

Click here to read my statement on the Greening the Capitol Initiative.

Health Care

Few challenges we face are as complex and consequential as fixing our health care system. We spend more money on health care than any other nation, yet we do not spend it wisely. Despite spending trillions each year – about $7,000 per person – two recent reports ranked the U.S. health care system last among industrialized nations for quality, access and efficiency. One in every five of my constituents is uninsured. We must do better.

Reforming our health care system is not only the right thing to do, it also makes economic sense. Unsustainable health care costs represent the single largest threat to American prosperity, draining our federal budget and jeopardizing the financial security of families across the country.

We need an American solution that will make health insurance more affordable for those who have it and provide affordable, quality health security to those who do not. I am committed to reform that:

Lowers costs by capping yearly out-of-pocket expenses and eliminates co-pays and deductibles for preventative care such as regular checkups and tests that help prevent illness, including mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics;
Provides stability and peace of mind by ensuring that insurance companies cannot refuse coverage because of a patient’s pre-existing condition or medical history; cannot drop or refuse coverage for those who become seriously ill; cannot charge people more because of their gender; and cannot place annual or lifetime caps on coverage;
Puts you and your doctor in control of your health care decisions, while making sure you can keep your doctor and your health plan if you like it, and;
Provides great choices in coverage, including allowing you to cover your children under family plans through the age of 26.

As we move forward, we must also work to protect and strengthen Medicare and close the gap in prescription drug benefit coverage, often referred to as the “doughnut hole,” that threatens the well-being of millions of seniors. We must also protect small businesses and stop health care related bankruptcies, which are slowing our economic recovery and endangering the welfare of millions of American families.

My colleagues and I are committed to passing meaningful reform now that fully addresses the health care crisis facing our nation.

Israel

I am a staunch supporter of the State of Israel and its right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state with secure and recognized borders. As our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel is a crucial ally of the United States, and its strength and stability is in our nation's best interest. In addition to our cultural ties and shared values, the U.S. benefits greatly from Israel's counterterrorism and security expertise, and its citizens have made global contributions to such fields as computer technology, agricultural development and medicine.

The past several years have been challenging times for Israel. Indeed, Israel continues to face peril on many fronts, from the ongoing threat of terrorism to the potential rise of a nuclear-armed Iran. Peace and stability in Israel and the Middle East at large is a growing possibility, but any long-term negotiation is precluded by continued attacks on Israeli civilian and military interests by radical groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

As one of our closest allies, Israel is the beneficiary of substantial U.S. aid. These funds are critical to ensuring Israel's qualitative advantage over security threats. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I am privileged to have the opportunity to make sure Israel has the resources it needs to defend its citizens.

As your Representative, I will continue to advocate for policies to make Israel more secure and our relationship stronger. I know the people of Israel want to live in peace with their Palestinian neighbors, and I will push for continued American engagement in the peace process. Together, the United States and Israel will continue to work in partnership to bring peace and security to the Middle East.

Military and Defense

The failed policies of the Bush Administration stretched our U.S. military to its breaking point and significantly damaged America’s readiness to confront new security challenges. America must invest in our modern military to maintain our conventional advantage while also increasing our capacity to defeat the emerging threats of tomorrow. But we must also balance the different elements of national power, including strong diplomacy, so that the entire burden of keeping America safe does not fall on our military alone.

We must rebuild and repair alliances strained during the Bush presidency. With strong partnerships, we can solve shared security challenges and prevent failed states through economic development and support. Together, we can stand firm against the threats of terrorism, genocide, and disregard for human rights, just as we have done in the face of dictatorship and tyranny. Through pragmatic and strategic diplomacy, we can not only strengthen old partnerships, but also forge new alliances to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.

I was proud to support H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which the President signed February 17, 2009. The Recovery Act provides $7.4 billion to the Department of Defense to improve and update military installations, expand homeowners' assistance for military families, and increase health care funding for veterans.

America's fighting men and women, who faced their battles on the battlefield, must be able to count on the full and unwavering support of their government. Congress has a duty to protect and provide for all those who serve, and I pledge to honor their sacrifices and their dedication.

Now, with the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress, we finally have the opportunity to move our defense and military policies past the broken and destructive policies of the last eight years. We must ensure that our men and women in uniform are given the resources they need and that our country has the clear direction it needs to keep America safe and achieve our objectives in the world.

Veterans

America's fighting men and women should be able to count on the full and unwavering support of their government. Our nation’s veterans have shown unwavering courage and bravery on the battlefield and should not have to fight to get the benefits they deserve here at home. I believe we have a duty to protect and provide for every American who serves, and I pledge to always honor their service, sacrifices and their dedication to their nation.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law in February, makes key investments for our veterans. It provides a tax credit for businesses to hire recently discharged unemployed veterans, and expands housing assistance for disabled veterans. This legislation also identifies and funds some of the most pressing infrastructure needs of the military and Veterans Administration, investing $1 billion to improve claims and benefits processing and to fund much needed maintenance projects. Funding these infrastructure projects will create tens of thousands of new jobs, along with taking another step in keeping our promises to our troops and veterans.

To date, we have made progress in the key areas for veterans; jobs and the economy, health care, family support, housing and education. Yet, I will work with my colleagues to push for continued progress as more troops return home and look to return to civilian life.

Women

As a woman and mother, I am committed to legislative initiatives that promote gender equality and awareness of women’s issues. I have worked consistently to create equality in the workplace and to improve the health, safety and quality of life for women and all Americans.

Women's Health

I am proud of the progress we have made in women’s health needs over the past ten years, but we must not lose sight of the fact that health and prevention are inextricably linked to education and awareness.

On March 26, 2009, I introduced the EARLY Act – the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009. The EARLY Act will teach both young women and medical professionals alike about risk factors, warning signs of breast cancer and good breast health, which will help women make informed decisions about their bodies.

Fairness in the Workplace

In the workplace, women have the right to be free from discrimination, and deserve equal pay and economic opportunities. Women make up a growing share of our workforce, and more women than ever before are corporate executives, business owners and high level government officials.

Despite this progress, certain inequalities persist. More than 40 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act and Title VI, statistics show that women continue to be paid less for performing the same job as their male colleagues. On average, women earn just 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. The Institute of Women’s Policy Research has found that this wage disparity costs women anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million in lost wages over a lifetime. For this reason, the Congress passed, and the President signed, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers.

Reproductive Choice

I believe strongly in a woman's right to make educated medical decisions regarding her reproductive health. Not only do I support a woman’s right to choose, but also her ability to obtain legal pharmaceuticals such as emergency contraception and birth control. Women must be able to access health care without fear of harassment. The United States government has the responsibility to expand access to quality and affordable health care as well as the duty to protect women’s rights.