MonticelloLive

On November 4, a record number of Americans across this nation braved the weather and long lines to cast their vote for president in a stunning demonstration of patriotism and democracy. As we transition to a new president and a new Congress, it is now time for all of us to unite in a bipartisan spirit and bring together a deeply divided country.

As Congress convenes, I will continue to bring the same common sense values to Washington that I learned growing up in small towns like Emmet, Hope and Prescott. It is past time for us to start investing in America again by focusing on the economy, our children, our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and our troops stationed abroad.I believe one of the ways to address our economic crisis and put people back to work is by addressing our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. We learned a tragic lesson on Aug. 1, 2007, when the bridge on I-35 West collapsed in Minneapolis killing 13 people. Currently, there are 6,126 structurally deficient National Highway System bridges in the United States, including 43 in the state of Arkansas and 11 here in the Fourth Congressional District. Additionally, 42,000 jobs are created for every billion dollars we spend on road construction.

As a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, I will promote my common sense energy plan to lessen our dependence on foreign oil by expanding domestic and offshore drilling while also investing in American made energy that can create new jobs right here are home.
We must also address the more than 10 million uninsured children in this country by expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, more commonly known in Arkansas as ARKids First. I will also continue my efforts working to enhance our country’s education system because we as a nation cannot compete on a global scale without offering our children a world-class education.

I will work to responsibly bring home our troops from Iraq and demand that Iraqis step up and take control of their own security. While our country’s national deficit is well over $500 billion, the Iraqi government is sitting on an $80 billion surplus. We should be investing our time and money on revitalizing the economy on Main Street America, not on the streets of Baghdad. As our troops come home, however, I will continue working to ensure our government keeps its promises to this new generation of veterans and to all of those who have served in our Armed Forces.

I will also continue to be a leader and active member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative House Democrats that advocates the principles of fiscal responsibility and government accountability. Last year, I helped reinstate the “pay-as-you-go” rule in the House of Representatives because if Americans are expected to balance their checkbooks, so should the federal government.

Americans have called for change, and I am committed to putting an end to the partisan bickering in Washington. We need to address the many issues facing this country-like the economy, health care, energy and ending the war in Iraq-not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans. As your United States Representative, I will continue taking with me each week to our nation’s capital the small town values that we were raised on and still believe in, and offer common sense solutions to the many issues facing our country today.