Issues
Pete voted against going to war in Iraq in 2003 and now supports the orderly redeployment of our troops. He has consistently supported our troops and voted to remove them from harm’s way.
The one constant throughout the war in Iraq has been the great work of the brave men and women serving in our armed forces. That is why Pete is doing everything he can to support our forces on the ground. He worked to get the troops body armor and MRAPs, voted to give them a pay raise, supported legislation to give them more time at home between deployments. Pete also supports our troops once they return home from battle and is working to get our veterans the tools they need to prosper in life, such as decent healthcare, education, and job-training.
However, Pete believes we owe our troops a new, comprehensive Iraq policy that recognizes the situation on the ground, the limits of what we can accomplish, and the need to get our personnel out of the middle of a civil war. Pete believes we should (1) Begin the redeployment of our troops from Iraq while taking measures along the way to keep our soldiers safe; (2) Maintain a rapid reaction force in the region; and (3) Pursue more aggressive diplomatic means to achieve security and stability in Iraq
Pete believes that every American should have access to quality care, and that healthcare must be reasonably affordable. Consider the fact that a staggering number of Americans—more than 47 million—do not even have health insurance, and an estimated 89.6 million people under the age of 65 have been uninsured at some point in the last two years. This crisis is about people and their wellbeing.
In a country as rich as ours, seniors should not have to be cutting pills in half. Parents should not be asked to make the choice between buying food for the week and taking their kids to the doctors. And those who need critical care should not be turned away from a hospital because they do not have health insurance. That is why we must work together and determine the best course of action for our future. The people of Northwest Indiana can count on Pete as he continues to fight against rising healthcare costs, battle confusing insurance programs, and to improve the health of citizens in Northwest Indiana.
Pete is a regional leader in protecting the citizens of Northwest Indiana. Securing the right tools for our law enforcement officials has been one of his main focuses, and his tireless work for the National Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program displays a leader who understands the needs of those who protect and serve.
Additionally, in the last year Pete has secured over $2.2 million for crime-fighting and law-enforcement programs in the First Congressional District. This funding includes an improved wireless communication system, high-tech crime lab photography and fingerprinting equipment, and a state of the art gunfire detection system, all to ensure our crime-fighters are ahead of the curve.
Pete believes that a good job and strong economy are fundamental to improving the quality of life throughout Northwest Indiana and our country. In Congress, Pete has worked to strengthen our economy and support American workers by standing up to the corporations that ship their good-paying jobs to foreign countries. Pete has authored legislation that would not allow government funding, such as grants and loans, to go to the companies that continue to outsource jobs. Pete believes the flow of jobs overseas also puts downward pressure on the wage rate in our country, and he will continue to stand up for common-sense policies that put an emphasis on American job creation.
In Northwest Indiana, Pete has led the effort to create new jobs, attract new business and develop new economic opportunities for everyone that lives and works here. Recognizing the importance of diversifying our economy, Pete worked with Purdue University to secure $6.9 million for the construction of the Purdue Technology Center. Now open, this high-tech incubator houses companies involved in the cutting edge work that will help build a new economy in Northwest Indiana: industries like fuel-cell technology, life science pharmaceutical development, and national security initiatives.
Pete will continue to advance projects like the Purdue Technology Center, which invests in our resources, leverages the talented, hard working people who live in Northwest Indiana, and keeps us focused on the future.
Growing up in the Glen Park section of Gary, Pete remembers a time when people worked hard everyday with the knowledge that they had a promise of a pension and a secure retirement. Pete believes our future generations should have the same stability. That is why Pete favors acting now to strengthen Social Security for the future.
Unfortunately, too many companies have backed out of the pensions that have been promised their workforce. Too many hard-working people and retirees have been left to scramble to make ends meet. Pete believes that in order to improve the private pension system, we must make it more open and accountable, we must make it more difficult for employers to dump the pension promises that they have made, and that employers should remain responsible for any pension losses a retiree or beneficiary has experienced, even after the company uses the bankruptcy process to get rid of its pension responsibilities.
America's dependence on foreign oil threatens our living standards, increases the risk of war in the most unstable parts of the world, and accelerates environmental degradation. Both the public and private sectors must make it a priority to reduce this dependence. Through his position on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Pete has worked to secure more investment in energy research, new energy technology, as well as efficiency and conservation initiatives.
Pete also has worked to make the First Congressional District a leader in developing in developing energy alternatives. Working across party lines, Pete was able to secure $9.5 million for the construction of a biomass ethanol plant right here in Northwest Indiana. This plant is now operational, creating new markets for local producers, new jobs for area residents, and is a step in the right direction toward achieving robust energy independence for our nation.
As Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, Pete has been a champion for steelworkers and the steel industry in Northwest Indiana and throughout the nation. During the steel crisis that started in the late 1990's Visclosky successfully urged the President to impose tariffs that allowed the American steel industry to compete on a level playing field. Visclosky has pushed for a permanent steel import monitoring program, and he has fought against unfair trade policies that weaken our nation's steel and manufacturing industries.
One of the biggest challenges facing the domestic steel industry now is the Chinese steel industry, and the fact that our existing trade laws do not adequately address the threat posed by its unfair trading practices. China uses unfair practices to artificially enhance its steel and manufacturing industries - practices like manipulating its currency to artificial levels, dumping steel products into the U.S. market through other countries, and maintaining no practical labor or environmental standards. Pete believes that trade must first be fair. Just like he opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), Pete will also oppose giving China a free pass when it comes to unfair trade practices.
With our nation engaged in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Pete believes we must do everything possible to ensure the brave men and women serving in our military have the tools they need to be successful.
Members of our military serve our country with honor, and we must support them with the same level of commitment that they show to our country. As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Pete believes that politics stops at the water's edge, and he will continue to be a leader in Congress to make sure our troops have the armor, materials and support needed to do their job.
Pete also believes that we have a responsibility to our troops once they return home. Our nation's veterans have sacrificed for our country, and Pete believes we must continue to offer our veterans the tools they need to prosper in life, such as decent healthcare, education and job-training benefits.
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