Democrat-Niki Tsongas (incumbent)
Posted on 02. Aug, 2010 by ywwlawrence in Candidates for US Representative
In a special election to replace Marty Meehan in October 2007, Niki Tsongas
was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Budget Committee. She grew up in a military family and spent her childhood living all over the world. After she graduated from Smith College, she and her husband Paul Tsongas moved to Lowell, where they worked to establish themselves in the community. Over the years, Tsongas supported her husband as he ran for various offices, including a successful Senate campaign. Meanwhile, she obtained her law degree from Boston University and raised three daughters. After losing Paul to cancer in 1997, Niki has continued their work as a community leader in Lowell, which she has exemplified by starting her own law practice there and serving as the Dean of External Affairs at Middlesex Community College.
Stance on the Issues:
Afghanistan- Tsongas believes that the federal government must operate with a clear strategy and purpose in Afghanistan to bring regional stability and must commit to a clear exit strategy.
Iraq- She believes there should be a clear timetable for U.S. involvement in Iraq, including the removal of troops and transfer of responsibility of both security and governance to the elected Iraqi government.
Environment & Energy- Tsongas asserts that climate change must be addressed now by pursuing alternate energies, which will both create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil. She supports a cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions.
Homeland Security- She thinks that the government must support community policing, restore the Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004, increase firefighter funding, and work to decrease gang involvement and activity through local street worker and after school programs.
Veterans- Taking care of veterans and their families is one of Tsongas’s highest priorities, and she has worked to increase medical funding and college education opportunities for veterans.
Education- Tsongas believes in support for public education and has supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in its focus on education. In the Budget Committee, she has built upon the Recovery Act in the budget, has expanded the Pell Grant Program, and has advocated for early learning programs. She has also supported the College Opportunity and Affordability Act and wants greater congressional oversight of student loan programs.
Social Security- She opposes the privatization of Social Security and the diversion of Social Security payroll taxes into private investment accounts.
Economy- She supported the stimulus package and has called for the federal government to create a public works program to create jobs and to help small businesses through loan funding. In the Budget Committee, she has worked to reduce the federal deficit and has sponsored the pay-as-you-go rule which prevents new spending or tax cuts unless it saves money in other areas of the federal budget.
Website: http://tsongas.house.gov/
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