Op-Eds

Thanksgiving Day is a time for us to reflect on the past year and many blessings upon our country. The values of our nation's founding fathers have kept us strong, and the men and women serving in our military have kept us safe.

As our nation celebrates Veterans Day, I would like to thank Veterans everywhere for their service and sacrifice to our country. Throughout the history of our great nation, veterans have answered the call to duty and have long fought to protect American i

This week Congress came together in a bipartisan way to pass crucial free trade agreements between the United States and Panama, Colombia and South Korea. These trade agreements will help create good-paying jobs in the United States without another govern

Challenging times force the strong to step back and reflect on what is working and what needs to be fixed in order to move forward and prosper.

On September 11, 2001 we all watched in disbelief and horror as the unthinkable acts of terror occurred in New York, Washington D.C. and in a Pennsylvania field. In many ways, it is hard to believe that 10 years have passed. That day still reminds us of the complex challenges we face in these times and the importance of defending the freedoms we are so privileged to enjoy.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Jobs is the number one issue on people's mind, including back home in my district. Currently, the national unemployment level is 9.1 percent and Ohio's unemployment level is around 9 percent. For 31 consecutive months, unemployment has been at or above 8 percent – a level this Administration claimed it would never reach if the stimulus bill passed.

With the national unemployment reaching 9.2 percent recently, it is clear that the borrowing and spending policies of this Administration have not worked.

With skyrocketing gas prices, we have all felt the pain at the pump lately. Increasing gas prices and gloomy predictions are hurting families, businesses and our economy.

On April 12, we were all extremely disappointed to hear that the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (NMUSAF) was not selected to receive a retired shuttle from NASA. By only putting shuttles on the coasts, NASA showed a blatant disregard for Ohio, the Midwest, and the Air Force. NASA's own mission to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research" is nowhere more fully embraced than at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine generated increased public attention recently when a flotilla attempting to pass through Israel's blockade of Gaza was intercepted by Israeli commandos after those on board refused to allow the Israelis to inspect its cargo.

At some point today our nation will make history for all the wrong reasons. Today, our national debt will surpass the $13 trillion mark, putting each American's share of the debt at around $42,000 and each taxpayer's share at $118,000.

Last week my office received confirmation from the U.S. Department of the Air Force that the Springfield Air National Guard (SANG) Base would receive the long awaited news of two new missions. The Springfield Guard Base is an important part of our community and our national defense efforts.

As more and more Americans begin to look at the new health care bill that President Obama signed into law, questions and uncertainty grow. Many are asking, how will this affect my family and business? For many individuals and states, it means higher costs, less choice and increased taxes.

The month of April marks Debt Day for 2009; this is the day when the federal government spending surpasses revenue for that fiscal year. Debt Day gives us an excellent opportunity to look at the amount of spending in relation to the revenue brought in by the government each year.

The month of March marks the start of my third month serving as your Congressman for Ohio's 7th District, and I would like you to know it has been an honor to serve you. In past weeks, I have updated you on a number of the important issues that have come up so far in this Congress, such as the stimulus bill, the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the DTV transition.

Last week, a number of local television stations voluntarily made the switch to exclusively broadcast over Digital Television (DTV). The DTV transition has been many years in the making and started back in February 1996 when Congress passed legislation providing TV stations with a second channel over which they could transmit digital signals. The second channel was given to the stations with the understanding they return the analog channel at a later date and broadcast entirely in digital.

As a Member of the Homeland Security Committee, I have been watching with great interest President Obama's executive order to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay in the next year. The president has suggested moving the terror suspects currently housed at Guantanamo to other military facilities on U.S. soil.

As you are aware, our nation is currently in the grips of a financial crisis. Americans are concerned about their jobs, bringing home a decent pay check and being able to save for significant costs, such as their child's college education or retirement. As a Member of Congress, I am totally committed to turning around the current situation and helping our nation's families and small businesses get back on their feet.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Martin Luther King Jr. These immortal words were spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. during his 1963 "I have a dream" speech that he gave at the Lincoln Memorial during his March on Washington.

Every four years after the drama of a presidential election has subsided, we get to witness the excitement of a Presidential Inauguration. The Inauguration marks a time for our nation to come together and look toward the future. No matter who citizens individually supported in the election, it is an opportunity for us as a nation to come together and observe the swearing in of our president.