Op-Eds

Earlier this summer, I supported the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act because the future of our national security, economy and environment rests on the ability to move past our dependence on foreign oil and become the global leader in clean-energy development.

With our economy inching its way toward recovery, there has been some discussion about the need for a second stimulus package. I can think of none better than the Employee Free Choice Act.

One year ago a levee breach near Carthage Lake sent water flooding into Henderson County, changing the lives of the people of Gulfport forever. Homes and businesses were destroyed. A village of 200 turned into a ghost town for nearly four months. Gulfport was my district's New Orleans.

Last year, I spent a day travelling in my district with Bill and Donna Fair of Moline. Bill and his son Eric lost their health insurance after Butler Manufacturing closed its Galesburg plant in 2005. Eric then had to work for temp agencies and did not qualify for health care. Eric started having chest pains but because he did not have health insurance he was afraid to go to the doctor. Shortly thereafter, Eric died of heart failure. During our tour of the district, a member of the press asked Bill if he was upset that God took his son. Bill responded: "God did not take my son. The system did."

When I voted to provide the Treasury Department $350 billion in taxpayer assistance through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, it was with the understanding that the money would be used to help stabilize the financial markets, make credit more readily available to working families, and ultimately, save jobs.

What if you showed up late to your job 19 out of 22 days? Or paid your bills late 19 out of 22 months? You'd probably be out of work and out of luck. This deplorable record of tardiness is held by none other than those responsible for producing the annual VA budget.

Now that the election is over, the talk in Washington has shifted to a possible lame-duck session of Congress and the urgent need to revitalize our economy.

George Washington once said, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country."

Imagine this: You are a small business owner who depends on a community bank to borrow for supplies and make your payroll.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates's announcement last month that he was suspending the Air Force's competition for a multi-billion-dollar aerial tanker contract ended a six-month fiasco that brought to light serious issues of economic and national security.

On June 30, President Bush signed the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, despite his early and vocal objections.

When director of the Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs Tammy Duckworth returned from Iraq missing both legs, the VA asked her for paperwork to prove the severity of her injuries. The utter lack of common sense in this one case is emblematic of a department that in recent years has too often overlooked the health care and disability needs of our veterans.

If we had been born in Colombia, we would probably be dead. That's right. As members of our respective labor unions, the fight for higher wages, better working conditions, and a secure pension could have cost us our lives.

As we begin the New Year, we count our blessings and our challenges. And while there may be plenty of room to debate some issues, there should be no debate that the governor and the Illinois General Assembly need to pass a much-needed capital bill in 2008.

Veterans' Day is an opportunity to honor the brave men and women who wore our nation's uniform. America is stronger because of their sacrifice.

In baseball, if the pitcher on one team must throw off of a mound 90 feet from home plate while his opponent is allowed to stand 30 feet closer, that is an uneven playing field. And if the umpire refuses to enforce any of the rules of the game, you have an all-around flawed process. The same fundamental principle goes for our trade policies–with much more serious consequences for the failure to require fairness. As such, Congress cannot support unfair trade agreements destined to outsource more American jobs to countries that systematically violate human rights. And we cannot defer to an Administration unwilling to hold any of the key players accountable for their actions.

As a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws, I believe we must take a balanced approach to solving the problem of illegal immigration. While the emotion displayed by all sides of this issue is understandable, rhetoric does not bring us closer to securing the border and bringing millions of undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. I believe we need to work together – Republicans, Democrats, and Independents – to find a solution that benefits all Americans.

Dispatch-Argus, May 28, 2007 - Memorial Day is an important opportunity to honor those men and women who gave their lives while protecting our freedom. Since this nation's founding, America's soldiers have been staunch and steady defenders of our democracy.

Today, as people across the world celebrate the 19th annual Worker Memorial Day, we pay homage to those Americans who lost their lives, were injured in the workplace or suffered crippling diseases because of exposure at their jobs.

"Don't forget the little guy" was the slogan of my campaign and I have adopted that philosophy as a member of Congress. After completing just my second week on the job, I am proud to report that the House of Representatives has already passed a number of common-sense proposals to improve the everyday lives of the "little guy" and all other Americans.