Our Livelihoods

My top three priorities are (in no particular order): (1) jobs; (2) jobs; and (3) jobs.  In order to grow the economy, maintain our nation’s competitiveness across the globe, and put Americans to work, I have supported investing in rebuilding our nation’s roads, schools, ports, and other infrastructure; raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour to put more money into the hands of working Americans; bolstering education and worker training initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels; providing tax credits to employers to provide affordable health insurance to their employees; and reducing regulatory burdens and paperwork requirements to unleash initiative.

I am a strong supporter of policies that make health care more accessible and affordable to all Americans regardless of their background and income.  These policies include protecting Medicare beneficiaries’ access to physicians; increasing funding for medical research; expanding community health care centers; reducing physician shortages; preventing childhood obesity; lowering the costs of prescription drugs; holding insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of care and coverage, including for pre-existing conditions; and improving veterans’ health care.

It is vital that individuals and families have access to the American Dream – namely, homeownership.  I support legislation to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, stop predatory and irresponsible mortgage loan practices, increase the supply of affordable housing, expand veteran and rural housing opportunities, promote fair housing education and enforcement activities, and finance community development initiatives.

I am a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.  I believe that law-abiding adults should be free to exercise their right to purchase, own, and carry firearms for the protection of their homes and families.  I received an A+ from the National Rifle Association for the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and the 111th Congress (2009-2010).

Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy.  I support legislation to establish a lending fund to provide community banks with capital to increase small business lending.  I also support investing in innovative state small business lending programs, providing tax incentives to purchase employee health insurance coverage, reducing regulatory burdens and unnecessary paperwork, and enacting measures to spur small business creation and new jobs.