With 47 million uninsured Americans, adults and children, our country is obviously in the throes of a crisis.  Lacking insurance, these citizens seek health care in emergency rooms all across this country – and the costs of their treatment are passed along to us all. 

I believe we need a bipartisan health care solution to ensure quality, affordable, health care is available to the people of the 24th district and all Americans.  If more Americans had access to preventative health care, they wouldn’t show up in emergency rooms in dire need.  We can and we must begin to address this serious problem.

I also support federally-funded stem cell research.  Having heard from families in our region affected by life-threatening and debilitating illnesses – children with childhood diabetes and men and women with spinal cord injuries, Lupus, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s – I know there are millions of Americans who could benefit from stem cell research.

One of my first votes in Congress was in favor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (H.R. 3). I was a proud cosponsor this bipartisan bill, which enjoyed the support of 207 Democrats and 13 Republicans.  Although this bill passed the House and Senate, it was vetoed by President Bush.

I also voted in favor of the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act, which would reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This bill, which passed the House in July, would ensure that millions of children receive the care they need as well as protect Medicare for America’s seniors.