U.S. Rep. Phil Hare's first two weeks in Congress have been fruitful, the Rock Island Democrat said during a town hall meeting Saturday in Quincy.

"I campaigned on an agenda to improve America's economic and national security, while addressing the concerns of ordinary families in the 17th District," Hare said. "As I reflect on the first 100 legislative hours, I am proud to say that promises made were promises kept."

Hare says the House, which has a Democratic majority, has passed several bills with strong bipartisan support since the start of the 110th Congress.

"Every one of these bills I'll be talking about, we had an average of 67 Republicans who voted on these bills," he said.

Among the bills the House passed since Hare took office Jan. 4 are ethics legislation, a minimum wage hike, implementation of the 9/11 Commission recommendations, expansion of stem cell research and a requirement for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.

Last week, Hare voted to cut the interest rate on subsidized student loans in half over the next five years, from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent.

"By passing this bill, the Democratic majority is reaffirming its commitment to providing average, hard-working Americans with more opportunities to achieve their goals," he said.

He also voted last week for a bill to redirect $14 billion in tax cuts for oil companies into the expansion of renewable fuels.

"It's nice to take on big oil and win once in a while and that's what we did the other day," Hare said.

The CLEAN Energy Act will invest in clean renewable energy and alternative fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel and other cutting-edge technologies.

"In addition to reducing our dependence on foreign oil, clean energy has the potential to provide a substantial economic boost to farmers and other renewable fuels producers throughout the 17th Congressional District," Hare said.

Hare also took President Bush's Iraq policy to task.

"The vast majority of the American people don't support this," he said of the recent announcement of a troops surge. "I agree with Sen. (Chuck) Hagel (R-Neb.) who says this is not a monarchy, this is a democracy. We are set to take this president on on this."

Hare is disappointed at the lack of diplomatic efforts by the administration.

"This president just doesn't get it," he said. "We're going to continue to lose people. I had to call the family of a young man who died over there, and I can't tell you how hard that was. I don't want to do it again. I want to bring them home safely."

Hare said he's also committed to restoring $1 billion in veterans benefits, and hopes to see the implementation of a prescription drug program for veterans.

Hare's appearance Saturday at the Machinists Hall was his first in Quincy since taking office. He was elected in November as the successor to U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, who did not seek re-election for health reasons.

"We'll be in Adams County a lot," Hare told the audience of about 40 people.