Because of America’s commitment to its youth and the future and the incredible economic growth of the 50s and 60s, I grew up in the security of the middle class. My parents taught us good values, patriotism, hard work, faith, and service to others. My brothers and sisters and I understood that America is the land of opportunity because we saw it in our own family. My goal in Congress is to serve the hardworking families of New Hampshire who want to offer their families the opportunities, security and love I had.

The policies of the Bush administration and Bush’s supporters in Congress have taken us into an unnecessary war, given us the biggest deficits in American history, failed to protect our citizens, waged war on the environment, and nearly destroyed the middle class with punitive tax policies, and the ever-increasing costs for health care, gasoline, heating oil, and education.

I have sponsored legislation to help home health care workers, to protect the Upward Bound program, and to provide increased funding for Pell Grants. I have co-sponsored bills to restore habeas corpus, and to provide better health care for children, seniors, soldiers and veterans.

In addition, I have voted for legislation that Republican leadership has blocked for years -- an increase in the minimum wage, new investment in renewable energy, lobbying reform, whistleblower protection, oversight on "no bid" contracts, fiscal discipline in the budgeting process, and more.

There is a lot more work to do, but I remain deeply committed to serving and representing "the rest of us".