Now more than ever, Oregonians need a representative who will fight for high-paying jobs and critical local projects, while standing up to the greedy Wall Street banks that caused our financial meltdown. I know that Oregon families are hurting, and I am working hard to end the partisan fighting and find common-sense solutions to create jobs and get our economy moving again.

During my time in Congress, I have built a strong record of achievement as an independent voice who is not afraid to cross party lines to get the job done for Oregonians. I have taken the lead in tough fights and secured federal funds for valuable projects in my district, like constructing the Newberg-Dundee Bypass, expanding Washington County drug courts, and rebuilding flooded schools in Vernonia.

I have passed legislation to make college textbooks more affordable, train people for available high-wage jobs in health care information technology, and move our health care system toward paying for the quality of care, not the quantity.

By standing up against Washington gridlock and entrenched interests, I help provide a voice for middle-class Oregon families and fix problems in our communities. For example, I recently learned that a volunteer fire department in Oregon was fined nearly $10,000 by the IRS due to arbitrary, confusing paperwork requirements, so I introduced bipartisan legislation to fix the problem and ease the burden on our first responders.

I am also working to grow our sustainable innovation economy by making locally produced clean energy fuel cells more affordable and improving the federal program that helps innovative small businesses turn cutting-edge ideas into new products, services, and jobs are all in the works.

I will continue to fight for civil liberties and human rights, clean air and water, a healthy economy, and all of the other values that we share. By working together, we can build a stronger Oregon for future generations.