My first priority in Congress will be to put people back to work and to get our economy moving again. 

Because of the reckless behavior of a few people on Wall Street, we still feel the effects of the financial crisis that destabilized the global economy.  At this critical juncture, the most important thing the federal government can do is to create jobs, whether by initiating public works projects, as Franklin Roosevelt did in response to the Great Depression, or by making money available to the private sector to provide capital which will stimulate spending and economic growth. 

Our continued involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan sadly reduces the resources available to spend here at home.  For the near future, our nation must focus on completing our military involvement in the Middle East with an outcome that is in the world’s best interest, so that America can be at the vanguard of the global economic recovery.

I support increasing our investments in America’s people and infrastructure, including aggressively expanding education and training initiatives which will prepare America’s students to compete with the best and brightest around the world. Our students can only do this if we provide them with the tools that will let them excel.

I also will work to strengthen America’s technology sector, energy policy, educational systems, and transportation infrastructure so that we remain at the cutting edge.  These investments will lead to fostering and sustaining America’s economic strength. 

While the rising national debt continues to remain a concern, I do know that the more prosperous America is, the faster we can pay off the debt incurred.