Op-Eds

My OpEd in USA Today

Inclusion of women in society indicates stability, and a stable Afghanistan will lead to greater international security.

The epidemic of military sexual assault requires continued pursuit of reform. With that in mind, we recently introduced the FAIR Military Act, which is aimed at eliminating bias in the military justice system and increasing accountability among all levels of the military.

On a sixth annual trip, our congressional delegation of women legislators spent several days in Afghanistan in May meeting with many of the women who have helped begin to reverse centuries of repression.

Massachusetts has long been known for its manufacturing history, beginning almost 200 years ago when mill workers spun and wove the first threads of our nation's industrial history. Today, Massachusetts' 3rd District continues that industrious tradition in ways those mill workers never could have imagined.

As Congress looks to reconcile myriad budget proposals, it would be wise to replace wish lists with reality. Partisan ideology does not answer the real-life questions facing our nation.

Extend unemployment to put the 3rd District back to work

Massachusetts' military tradition dates back to the founding of our nation. Today, Massachusetts continues that tradition by leading the way with next-generation technologies critical to our military's future.

As we look ahead to 2014, we can find confidence in the fact that beyond the dominant headlines of 2013 were some significant milestones in Washington and in Massachusetts.

Over the last seven days we have witnessed a failure of leadership unlike anything we have seen in recent memory.

In their day, Sara Payne Hayden and Edith Nourse Rogers were unique. Ever heard of them?

In the early 1940s, in order to advance the domestic industrial base in the time of war, Congress passed a law that required America's military to use American-made equipment.

In 2009, the Department of Defense released an alarming report on sexual assault in the military that was largely ignored by the media and military brass alike. Four years later, after a shocking documentary and a string of high-profile incidents where military commanders and supervisors abused their authority or allegedly committed the crimes they swore to protect against, everyone is paying attention.

My OpEd with Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)

In his State of the Union address to Congress this past February, President Barack Obama made a commitment to strengthening and encouraging prosperity for low-income families by making it easier for low-income couples to get married. His goal? "Removing financial deterrents to marriage to create stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger America."

Several months ago the manager of the Lawrence Municipal Airport notified my office that as a result of sequestration, automatic government spending cuts that went into effect in February, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) planned to close the air traffic control tower, costing jobs, economic growth and impacting safety at an airport that has seen an increase in flight traffic in recent years.

In the days of overwhelming grief and shock that followed the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, a man from Middlesex County, Massachusetts wrote to his Congresswoman with a simple request: seek change. He was not unique in his message; many others had sent similar letters demanding action to prevent gun violence. But this particular correspondence was more emotionally raw, more poignant because he was the family member of a Newtown victim.

On Friday, automatic government spending cuts commonly known as sequestration went into effect, blindly slashing the top off of federal agency budgets and leaving many Americans wondering how and when they will feel the pinch.

Last week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lifted the ban preventing female soldiers from officially serving in combat -- a decision that raised the urgency on efforts to address the festering crisis of sexual assault within the U.S. military. That crisis -- which claimed more than 50 victims of sexual assault a day in the latest year of Defense Department data -- is the subject of the Oscar-nominated 2012 documentary Invisible War. In this series, The Huffington Post invites victims and advocates to speak out about sexual assault in the military.

Liz Trotta reacted to a Pentagon report showing a 64% increase in violent sexual assaults since 2006 by stating: "What did they expect? These people are in close contact." Ms. Trotta went on to decry efforts to address the unacceptably high number of ass

For generations, Lowell has been a city where immigrants from across the globe have come to make a better life for themselves, seek new opportunity and contribute to the city's success.

Earlier this year, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget that proposed deep and permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. The Republican budget (often called the Ryan budget for its author, Budget Committee Chairm

Last week, I hosted a town hall meeting in Lawrence to discuss ways to grow the domestic manufacturing base and promote policies that keep jobs in the United States rather than losing them to our overseas competitors.

Six weeks ago, President Obama came before a joint session of Congress to announce the introduction of the American Jobs Act, legislation designed to create jobs and get our economy moving again. The President urged swift passage of the bill given that i

This weekend, we remember the nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens who were killed on 9/11 ten years ago. We also honor and pay tribute to the extraordinary heroism displayed by firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, National Guardsmen and all first responders, as well as so many ordinary citizens, whose selfless actions prevented the loss of life from being even greater and continue to inspire us today. This somber anniversary gives us the opportunity to recognize those who continue to serve and protect our communities every day. And, we express our sincere gratitude to those serving overseas defending the nation we love.

Recently I heard from a constituent who has been looking for a job for more than two years. He was laid off from his position as a software engineer when the recession began. After interviewing for numerous positions he was hired to do a similar job at a new firm, but was quickly let go when a new round of layoffs hit. His all too common story illustrates the need for Congress to focus on jobs and help break the cycle of long-term unemployment.

Not every mortgage can or should be saved from foreclosure, but Congress has a responsibility to ensure that lenders are playing by the rules and that homeowners are getting a fair chance to save their homes. Rather than leaving homeowners at the mercy of unresponsive financial institutions, we should be improving federal efforts so that deserving homeowners get the assistance they need and communities are able to rebound.

I recently heard from a constituent from Haverhill named Phil Gelinas who relies on Medicare for his health coverage. His wife's diabetes treatment and prescription drugs are also covered through Medicare and they have both paid into Medicare all their lives through payroll deductions. He remarked to my office that there was no way that they could meet the cost of health care today without Medicare. He and his wife are not alone.

MORE THAN a dozen veterans who were victims of sexual assault while serving in the US military, including two from Massachusetts, recently filed suit in federal court alleging that the Pentagon did not take adequate steps to protect them. Their complaint is reflective of the deep frustration and sense of betrayal that many victims feel with our military leadership, which seems to be unwilling to forcefully confront the issue of sexual assault within the ranks and which has not provided sufficient resources, rights, and legal protections to victims.

Small businesses employ just over half of all private sector employees and are responsible for more than half of all economic activity in the U.S. In Massachusetts alone, small firms account for 98% of the state's employers, creating outstanding local jobs that stay in the community.

Last week, President Obama appropriately accepted General Stanley McChrystal's resignation as the top commander in Afghanistan following disparaging comments he and staff members made criticizing the nation's civilian leadership.

Last week, President Obama welcomed Afghan President Hamid Karzai to the White House for a two-day summit. Their discussions were aimed at addressing the many and varied challenges of stabilizing Afghanistan. These include rooting out corruption in the Afghan government, establishing greater security throughout the country, developing a strategy that targets extremists just across the border in Pakistan, as well as promoting large scale civic and economic development in a country that more closely resembles the 19th century than the 21st.

I have spent the last week talking with the people I represent about the health care reform legislation that was recently signed into law and what it means for Massachusetts.

March 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of celebrating women's history month, a time to reflect on the notable gains that women have made in the last century. Many of these advancements quickly come to mind such as the right to vote, and we've experienced many famous firsts including the first woman astronaut, Supreme Court Justice, combat pilot, Nobel Prize winner, Cabinet Secretary, Academy Award winning director, and even Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Last weekend, I was having breakfast at Vic's diner in Lowell with a friend. When I left the restaurant, I found a note on my windshield with a phone number and a brief message: "Think I found something of yours – Alice."

For the last several weeks, Congress has been debating in earnest major legislation that will increase Americans' access to healthcare and address the unsustainable trajectory of healthcare costs in the United States. As critical as addressing these issues are, it is equally critical that we do so in a way that does not add to our burgeoning national debt.

At the beginning of this year, Congress passed and the President signed into law a bipartisan economic stimulus package which provided tax rebates for working families, senior citizens and disabled veterans in the Fifth Congressional District and across the country.

I recently received a letter from a small business owner in Billerica. She and her husband have owned a landscaping and paving business for over forty years. They will soon be forced to close their doors due to the skyrocketing cost of oil. Sadly their story is not unusual.

Late last year, I joined Meals on Wheels in Lowell to deliver lunch on one of their normal routes. I was shocked when we pulled up to several homes in a seemingly comfortable community to deliver meals to people, many of whom were seniors, who simply could not afford to buy food.

On Monday evening, President Bush delivered his last State of the Union address. The speech offered a preview of his legislative agenda for his final year in office and provided an occasion for all Americans to reflect on the challenges we face this year and beyond, both domestically and abroad.

I recently had the privilege of visiting with our brave men and women serving in Iraq during a bipartisan Congressional delegation trip I took to the region. Over the course of this visit I also met with General David Petraeus, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, as well as with Iraqi civilian leaders. As a Member of Congress, and a member of the Armed Services Committee, I felt it was essential to meet first-hand with those most directly involved in the daily security operations, political negotiations, and rebuilding efforts in Iraq.

I have heard from people throughout the Merrimack Valley about the many legitimate concerns they have with our system of immigration including improving border security and cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers. And, I share those concerns; the system of immigration is broken and I want to be part of the solution to fix it.