Issues
Education
I support strengthening our statewide accountability systems for all public schools, but local control is the foundation of a proper education. I will continue working to ensure that our schools remain a product of local teachers, parents, students and the community, and that the No Child Left Behind Act does not overburden our school systems with paperwork and bureaucracy.
I will continue fighting for full federal funding for the cost of special education to ease the tax burden impacting property owners. Currently, the federal contribution has climbed to about 20 percent, and while this is an improvement, one of my top priorities is to make sure that the federal government’s promise of a 40 percent contribution is realized so that New Hampshire taxpayers are no longer burdened by this unfunded mandate.
I also support measures to make obtaining a college education more affordable and accessible. I supported the “College Access and Opportunity Act” which increased the maximum Pell Grant award to $6,000.
Economy
Since the adoption of the tax cuts in 2003, over 5.5 million new jobs have been created nationwide, and the national unemployment rate fell from 6.3 percent to 4.7 percent.
We need to provide incentives that will continue to spur this growth in New Hampshire and the rest of the country. That is why I support reductions in the tax burden for individuals and small businesses. Eliminating the marriage penalty and increasing the child tax credit have helped many working families in New Hampshire keep more of their hard-earned money. Increasing the amount that small businesses are allowed to expense on their taxes effectively helps small businesses remain competitive and hire new workers as they invest more of their money into their own business. I have also introduced legislation to index the alternative minimum tax to inflation, which will ensure middle-income families are not unfairly taxed.
Environment
As an avid hiker and outdoorsman, I have always been an ardent advocate for land conservation and the protection of both the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. As New Hampshire’s population continues to grow, I believe it is important to protect our forestlands and preserve the wild areas that make our state such a special place to live.
I have been a strong advocate for the Forest Legacy Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provide funding for land conservation funding to protect tracts of forested areas from future development. I have also introduced legislation to designate over 10,000 additional acres as Wilderness in the Sandwich Range in the White Mountain National Forest. These lands will be protected for future generations and safeguarded from any new trails or logging.
During my years as Chairman of the New Hampshire House Committee on Science, Technology and Energy, I was the author of the first-in-the-nation Clean Power Act. This legislation makes possible the conversion of fossil fuel generation with an equivalent amount of cleaner power.
I have also fought throughout my time in Congress to hold oil companies accountable for cleaning up water in New Hampshire that has been contaminated by the gasoline additive MtBE. I opposed several attempts to give oil companies liability protection from lawsuits filed by states, like New Hampshire, and localities.
Health Care
We need to continue with a market-based health insurance system, but we also need to improve access and lower the costs of health care. Establishing universal health care could result in higher taxes, the rationing of care, long waiting lists for treatment, and diminished quality of care. That is why I support medical malpractice liability reform, which will prevent lawyers from filing frivolous lawsuits; allowing small businesses to pool together to buy health insurance; expanding community health centers in New Hampshire, which provide primary and preventative care in a place other than the expensive emergency room; and allowing individuals to contribute money into a tax-free account to pay for medical expenses. These reforms will all help to lower the cost of health care and improve access for all Americans.
Immigration
The United States welcomes immigrants like my Spouse: , Barbara, who go through the proper, legal channels to come to this country and become a U.S. citizen. But we are also a nation of laws, and affording those individuals who came to this country illegally an automatic path to citizenship is not fair for the immigrants patiently waiting in line, doing everything they are required to do to come here legally.
I supported a bill in the House last year that enhances our border security, strengthens our immigration laws and promotes policies that strongly enforce those laws. Securing our borders is essential to the future safety of our citizens and is essential to thwart potential terrorist attacks before the individuals who wish us harm set foot on our soil.
History tells us that rewarding illegal behavior leads to more illegal behavior. A person’s first act upon entering the United States should not be to break the law, and Congress should not reward the illegal behavior with an automatic path to citizenship. Illegal immigration weakens our security, burdens our social service programs, and hurts the American taxpayer.
National Security
The events of September 11th have shaped the way we provide security at home, and that is why I am a strong supporter of increasing funding for homeland security measures in New Hampshire and across the country. Since September 2001, Congress has increased homeland security funding by over $140 billion. New Hampshire has received over $68 million in grants to first responders through the Department of Homeland Security, which will help to protect our state’s critical infrastructure such as the Port of New Hampshire and the nuclear power plant in Seabrook.
I was a cosponsor of key legislation during the last session of Congress, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act, which increased funding to local fire departments so that they could increase their staffing levels. I was also a cosponsor of an amendment to this year’s Homeland Security Appropriations bill that added $111 million to the SAFER program.
New Hampshire plays a vital role in our national defense. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which repairs nuclear submarines for the Navy, sets the standard for other shipyards in efficiency, cost savings, and labor-management relations. I was proud to work with my colleagues in the Maine and New Hampshire Congressional Delegations to remove the Shipyard from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list. Closing the Shipyard would have hurt our state’s economy, cost over 4,000 people their jobs, and would have been detrimental to our national defense.
Securing our homeland continues to remain a top priority of mine, and I will continue to support measures that protect Americans.
War in Iraq
Since 2003, I have traveled to Iraq three times to meet with New Hampshire troops and military leaders on the ground and to personally review the progress being made in the training of the Iraqi Security Forces and the establishment of a functioning government in Iraq. One of the key elements to bringing our troops home, and the key to stability in Iraq, is helping the new Iraqi Security Forces to be able to provide security for their own country.
At home, regardless of one’s stance on American policy towards Iraq, I strongly believe that we should always support those who have chosen to serve in defense of our country and honor their sacrifice.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have consistently supported strong pay increases for our soldiers. I have been supportive of improving methods to counter improvised explosive devices and ensuring our troops have the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, including improving up-armored Humvees and state-of-the-art body armor. I will also continue to work to provide for our nation’s veterans, especially those just returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Top
Statement to Students
It has been a privilege and an honor to work on behalf of the people of New Hampshire for the last four years in Congress. Every day, I am thankful for the opportunity to work for New Hampshire and reflect the ideals important to our state in Washington.
Over the last four years, we have made great progress in tackling the challenges facing our country. I am running for a third term because I want to continue the progress we have made on fighting the war on terror, encouraging incentives that promote economic growth, making health care more affordable and accessible, and ensuring that we provide for those who have served, and continue to serve, our country.
As a Member of Congress, I have had the opportunity to visit many schools in New Hampshire and hear from young adults about the issues that are important to you. Learning about how our political process works is an important way for you to become an informed and involved citizen, and I commend your commitment to better understanding the electoral process and New Hampshire’s unique role in politics. Voting is a necessary aspect of democracy and this right should not be taken lightly. I am impressed by young adults like you who have taken this right and responsibility seriously, and I encourage all of you to continue to stay informed and active in the political process in your adult lives.
Thank you for the opportunity to let me tell you more about myself. I hope to meet many of you in the coming weeks.
Top | 
