I had three major goals Ohio's Sixth when I came to Congress: jobs, jobs and jobs. That focus has guided the major votes I've cast as a U.S. Representative.

In the 110th Congress, I worked on getting funds to our district to advance an energy corridor.  The district received nearly one million dollars in funding to study and implement carbon sequestration.  This is a key course of action as we work on turning coal into liquid energy. Helping to develop a coal-to-liquid plant in Columbiana County is one of my top priorities. Such a plant will mean up to 3,000 good paying jobs in our area. Please keep an eye on my press release section to see the latest developments.

In the 110th and 111th Congresses I consistently made small business development a priority.  Small businesses are the engine that drives the U.S. economy. They employ half of the American work force in the private sector, create half of the nation's GDP, and are responsible for creating three out of every four new jobs.    That is why it is imperative that we help small businesses thrive and grow in communities across the country. 

I have supported several bills such as small business tax relief, and bills that encourage women-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses. 

In addition, in the 111th Congress, I was proud to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is designed to help jumpstart our economy by saving or creating 3.5 million jobs. You can read more about the Recovery Act here.